A new centre for women in NSW will help ensure women have access to legal advice and representation on workplace issues.
On Friday, the NSW Working Women’s Centre was officially launched by Minister for Women Jodie Harrison and Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney, with Women’s Legal Service CEO Katrina Ironside.
“Places like the Working Women’s Centre are so important, giving women an access point to seek protection in the event of experiencing workplace discrimination or harassment,” Kearney said.
“Whether it’s workplace harassment, underpayment or discrimination against working mothers – no woman should face that alone. The Working Women’s Centre will be there for all women; it’s free, confidential and on her side.”
The Minns Labor Government has invested $8 million over four years into the Centre, which will provide free legal advice and support to women in the workplace, education and training to businesses and staff, as well as working to enhance workplace safety for women across the state.
Women’s Legal Service NSW has been selected to deliver the NSW Working Women’s Centre and has also received $8.1 million over 5 years in Commonwealth funding.
NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison praised the Women’s Legal Service’s more than 40 years’ experience providing specialist legal support to working women.
“During that time, their work has improved the safety and economic security of working women, and their advocacy has advanced gender equality and women’s rights at work,” said Harrison.
“It is this longstanding passion and commitment, as well as their significant experience, that makes Women’s Legal Service NSW highly qualified and best placed to deliver these crucial legal, education and advocacy services that will ultimately help make workplaces fairer and safer for women across NSW.”
In response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2020 Respect@Work Report, the Commonwealth Government has committed a total of $32 million over five years to establish or fund existing working women centres in all states and territories and create a new national body.
Complementing the Commonwealth service, the NSW government’s investment in the Working Women’s Centre will provide for frontline services that help women across the state navigate workplace issues such as underpayment, wage theft, parental leave, sexual harassment and non-disclosure agreements.
The holistic, trauma-informed service includes free and confidential legal advice, representation, individual advocacy and support.
Thanking the NSW Government for the partnership, CEO of Women’s Legal Service Katrina Ironside said that “for the first time, women across NSW will have access to a dedicated, free service for legal assistance on workplace issues that disproportionately affect them and compound inequality.”
“Whether it’s a single mother in Nowra dismissed after returning from parental leave, a migrant woman in Griffith being underpaid, a young woman in Bourke bullied by her employer after disclosing her sexuality, or a First Nations woman in Western Sydney threatened with defamation for seeking medical care following a workplace sexual assault, the Working Women’s Centre will ensure they can access the free legal help and wrap-around support they need.”