Events in your area
Bushfire Legal Help – free information and advice sessions
Bushfire Legal Help partner organisations are coordinating a range of information sessions and clinics to assist you in addressing legal issues that you may face as a result of the recent bushfires. These activities include:
Legal clinics in your area
Yarra Glen
Eastern Community Legal Centre is conducting weekly legal clinics on Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm at the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall, corner of Bell Street and Anzac Ave, Yarra Glen. Appointments can be made by calling Eastern Community Legal Centre on 1300 79 70 88 or you can drop in to the clinic without an appointment.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea Community Legal Service has expanded its bushfire legal service. A lawyer is now available at:
Whittlesea: Thursday morning by appointment at Whittlesea Community Hub, 36-38 Walnut Street, Whittlesea.
Kinglake Hub: Wednesdays between 10 am and 3 pm. This is a drop in service.
Epping Plaza: Mondays and Fridays, by appointment.
Flowerdale Hub: beginning 2 February 2010 then every second Tuesday from 10 am until midday. This is a drop in service – no appointment necessary.
Please ring our Epping office on 9401 6655 for more details or to make an appointment.
Broadford
Broadmeadows Community Legal Service is conducting weekly legal clinics on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 12pm at the Broadford Community Centre (The Hub), 158-162 High Street, Broadford. Appointments can be made by calling Broadmeadows Community Legal Service on 9302 3911 or you can drop in to the clinic without an appointment.
The clinic which previously operated at Wallan has now closed.
About the sessions
Legal help clinics
Representatives from Bushfire Legal Help's partner organisations are providing legal information and advice to people who have been affected by bushfires.
Services are being provided from the organisations' offices, and also through local clinics in affected areas.
At the clinics, a lawyer will be available to try and help you with your specific issue. Individual sessions are generally 30 minutes.
No appointment is necessary and sessions are available on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommended you attend the venue at least 30 minutes before the end on the scheduled session time to ensure you don’t miss out. For some of the clinics, you can book specific appointment times.
For more information please contact the Bushfire Legal Help line on 1800 113 432 from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm, Monday to Friday.
Insurance roadshow sessions
Lawyers from Bushfire Legal Help and partner organisation Insurance Ombudsman will provide information, take questions and provide assistance to anyone with a problem such as:
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dealing with your insurance company
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your insurance policy – definitions, signing a release
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the amount insured under your policy
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the amount received under your policy
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how to have your insurance payout reviewed
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underinsurance – what it means?
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the Insurance Ombudsman – how it works
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information on complaints
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disaster claims review rights
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mortgage stress – personal and financial hardship
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mortgage payments on destroyed property
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replacement loans and rebuilding
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fencing issues
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housing and tenancy issues
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applying for your superannuation
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your property - repairs, rebuilding and selling, removing debris and demolition (‘clean up’)
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replacing your identification and other documents
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other issues.
For more information about the insurance roadshows or legal clinics, call the Bushfire Legal Help line on 1800 113 432. The help line is open from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm, Monday to Friday. This line will close on 31 March 2010.
