2020/21 Knowledge Grants awarded

The projects that were supported this year demonstrated potential to make a significant contribution to the community and legal sectors through investigation of a legal issue.

By
Monday, November 9, 2020

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Knowledge Grants. The projects that were supported this year demonstrated potential to make a significant contribution to the community and legal sectors through investigation of a legal issue.

Congratulations to our three successful applicants. We look forward to sharing their results.

Our successful applicants are:

Developing the evidence base on underpayment recovery and civil justice

Springvale Monash Legal Service Inc

This project will develop a profile of wage theft and underpayment recovery actions through analysis of administrative data, case characteristics and outcomes at Springvale Monash Legal Service. With project partner, the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (Faculty of Law, Monash University), the research will build an evidence base for use in service design, advocacy, policy development and law reform. This project will also develop resources to improve service delivery and build research capacity.

Child Protection Permanency Research

Women's Legal Service Victoria

In partnership with Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, Women’s Legal Service Victoria will undertake a state-wide study of the experiences of families seeking reunification within the Victorian child protection system. The project will explore barriers faced by parents working to address protective concerns within the legislated 24-month timeframe. The project will use qualitative methods including interviews with affected parents and focus groups with community legal centre lawyers who represent clients seeking reunification with their children. Project findings will contribute to a growing evidence base and be used by Women's Legal Service Victoria to inform service responses and advocate for change.

Gendered Injustice: Identifying the intersections between unmet civil legal and social needs and women's criminalisation

Fitzroy Legal Service

Fitzroy Legal Service will explore how civil legal and social issues contribute to women’s involvement in the criminal justice system, particularly how unmet civil legal and social need escalate and compound pathways to women being criminalised. In partnership with La Trobe University’s Centre for Health, Law and Society, this project will draw on data from existing casework and conduct interviews with a range of professionals working in legal, community, housing, and family violence sectors to map the intersection of civil and social needs of women experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage with their involvement in the criminal justice system. The project aims to develop a model or framework to capture knowledge and information from casework to be used in systemic advocacy.

Knowledge Grant applications are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted – we received many creative and worthwhile projects. We will offer Knowledge Grants again in 2021/22 and encourage you to apply.

Community Legal Grants and Small Grants are still available. Please see our website for more information or contact the Foundation on (03) 9604 8100 if you have a project idea.

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