Client case study 1: Social security
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PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
Access to social security benefits ensures that people who have a disability can live with dignity and have their basic needs met. For people with a disability it can be challenging to negotiate a complex social security system to obtain social security benefits to which they are entitled. After approaching a number of government and non-government agencies for assistance to obtain disability support payment, Michael sought advice from Local CLC. He was experiencing high levels of stress about how to pay for his daily needs, as he did not have regular income. Local CLC assisted Michael by contacting Centrelink and negotiating with them about Michael’s entitlement to income support. This involved providing documents to Centrelink that showed evidence of Michael’s situation. |
As a result of Local CLC’s work, Michael is now in receipt of disability income support. Michael has been able to start paying off a back log of bills, and has said that:
Thanks to Local CLC, I feel less stressed and more in control.
Client case study 2: Grandparents
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PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
All children have a right to be cared for in a safe environment. When a child's parent is unable to provide that care, grandparents can be an important part of extended families to take over this responsibility. The child protection and family law systems are complex to negotiate when a grandparent is wanting to ensure their grandchild is living in a safe environment. Jannali sought assistance from Regional CLC when her grandchild, Mia, was taken into the care of Child Safety as a result of her daughter, Tarni, being unable to take care of Mia. The relationship between Jannali and Jane broke down as a result of Tarni’s drug use. Mia was disruptive in school, on the days that she made it. After Mia was taken into the care of Child Safety, Jannali didn’t have any contact with her, despite many requests. |
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Regional CLC assisted Jannali with her application to the Regional Magistrates Court to obtain guardianship of Mia. A solicitor from Regional CLC represented Jannali in her guardianship hearing. As a result of the assistance provided by Regional CLC, Jannali was successful in her application to care for Mia. Jannali is feeling less stressed about Mia’s future care and Mia is regularly attending school, with her behaviour at school improving.
Client case study 3: Tenancy
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PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
Just because tenants don’t own the properties that they live in, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t receive fair treatment. Ahmid was renting a house in Beachside. One summer night he turned on the air-conditioner in the house and it caught fire. Ahmid extinguished the fire and called the fire brigade. Ahmid’s landlord then sent him a bill of $3,000 for the cost of the replacement of the air-conditioner. Ahmid moved out of the house and the landlord withheld his bond due to the outstanding air-conditioner bill. As a result of not getting his bond back, Ahmid was struggling to rent a new place, as his name had been added to the tenancy database. |
Ahmid didn’t think he was liable to replace the air-conditioner and sought help at the Beachside CLC to get his bond back and have his name removed from the tenancy database. Beachside CLC provided Ahmid with advice that confirmed that he was not liable to pay for the air-conditioner and helped him prepare his Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) application for the return of his bond. Ahmid appeared for himself at the QCAT hearing and as a result, had his full bond repaid and name removed from the tenancy database. With the assistance provided by Beachside CLC, Ahmid was able to secure a new rental home.
Client case study 4: Elder law
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PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
Elderly parents like to know that they can help out their adult children when they experience a crisis, but it is unreasonable for adult children to abuse this. Three years ago, Violet’s daughter, Jenny, asked Violet if she could use her credit card to pay for medical bills. While Jenny had Violet’s credit card, she paid for other purchases until she reached the credit card limit. Jenny was paying off the credit bill very slowly, so Violet asked Jenny to pay more than the monthly minimum amount. Jenny refused to pay any extra. Violet had always prided herself on paying her bills on time all her life, so seeing the debt mount up on each monthly statement for purchases she did not make was very distressing to her. |
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A friend at the local bowls club suggested that Violet contact Seniors CLC for help. The solicitor at Seniors CLC wrote to Jenny, and Jenny agreed to a payment plan that was acceptable to Violet. Violet was relieved that she didn’t have to use her small financial reserves to pay off the credit card bill and is hopeful that she and Jenny can reconcile their relationship as a result of this new understanding about payments. Violet said:
It was a really difficult time, and without the solicitor at Seniors CLC's help, I would have lost my life savings.