Community Legal Centres Multi Business Agreement: What You Need to Know
Community legal centres (CLCs) are non-profit organisations that provide legal assistance and advice to people who may not have access to the justice system due to financial, social, or cultural barriers. These centres are funded by the government and donations from individuals and organisations.
To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of CLCs, the Australian government has introduced the Community Legal Centres Multi Business Agreement (CLC MBA). In this article, we’ll explore what the CLC MBA is and how it benefits CLCs and their clients.
What is the CLC MBA?
The CLC MBA is a funding agreement between the Australian government and CLCs across the country. The agreement is designed to provide a stable funding base for CLCs, enabling them to plan and deliver high-quality legal services to their clients.
Under the CLC MBA, CLCs receive funding for three years, with annual performance targets and indicators to measure the quality of their services. The performance targets include client numbers, case resolution rates, and client satisfaction rates, among others.
How Does the CLC MBA Benefit CLCs and Their Clients?
The CLC MBA has several benefits for CLCs and their clients, including:
1. Stable funding: The CLC MBA provides CLCs with stable funding for three years, allowing them to plan their services, hire staff, and purchase equipment and resources. This stability enables CLCs to focus on delivering high-quality legal services to their clients.
2. Enhanced service delivery: The performance targets and indicators under the CLC MBA encourage CLCs to improve their services and outcomes for clients. CLCs are required to report on their performance annually, providing transparency and accountability to the government and the public.
3. Collaboration and innovation: The CLC MBA promotes collaboration and innovation among CLCs. CLCs are encouraged to work together to share resources, knowledge, and expertise, and to develop new ways of delivering legal services to their clients.
4. Access to justice: The CLC MBA aims to improve access to justice for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and communities. CLCs provide legal assistance and advice to clients on a range of issues, including family law, consumer law, employment law, and housing and tenancy law.
5. Empowerment of clients: CLCs empower their clients by providing them with the information and skills they need to understand and manage their legal issues. Through education and advocacy, CLCs also work towards systemic change to address the underlying causes of social and economic disadvantage.
In conclusion, the CLC MBA is a funding agreement that provides stable funding to CLCs, encourages innovation and collaboration, and improves access to justice for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and communities. CLCs play a vital role in our justice system, and the CLC MBA supports them in delivering high-quality legal services to those who need them most.
