Rental Rights in Focus: How the Tenants Union Supports Australians

As a young Australian it is a common experience to be showered with cheery sentiments like “your generation is screwed,” “good luck ever owning a getting your foot in the door,” or the more blunt, “you’ll never own a home.” With that reality settling in, you turn to the rental market, only to wonder how you’ll ever manage to survive there. You hear of friends whose leases were cancelled just weeks before renewal. Who endured the uncertainty of 6-month lease after 6-month lease, or, worse, rolling leases. Friends who for years have tolerated mould, broken appliances, chipped doorframes, pests, and dismissive real estate agents, because they fear that if they complain too much, eviction will follow.

Tenants News Issue 59

I’ve had my fair share of bad rental experiences: a house that flooded almost every time it rained; a landlord who believed ownership entitled them to barge in unannounced. Mould has destroyed more than one item of my clothing, thanks to a wall leak that had been ignored for years, hidden behind layers of chipped paint.

It was during one of these challenging times that I first encountered the Tenants Union. We weren’t informed until the day before that our rental’s roof would be replaced, and when the work began, fine dust filled our home. All we asked for was the bare minimum – an asbestos report to assure us that it was safe to breathe in our own home. The real estate agent claimed one existed but refused to provide it when we asked. In the midst of this ordeal, we were referred by a friend to the Tenants Union. Although my housemates and I ultimately didn’t need their direct assistance, just knowing they were there – ready to offer advice and advocate on our behalf – was a tremendous source of reassurance.

The Tenants Union have been there for renters, borders, lodgers, the owners of mobile homes, the sick, tired and elderly for 48 years. Throughout their history they have partaken in protests, supported rent-strikes, helped win legal battles, and proved proficient in the political manoeuvring needed to garner support for the passage of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, updating the previous, (appallingly outdated), 1899 legislation.

Additionally, the Tenants Union is the cornerstone of the NSW Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Services (TAAS), which provide 15 generalist services and 4 specialist services focused on Indigenous and elderly tenants across the state. These services allow for tenants to receive free quality advice to help fight battles against dodgy real estate agents and greedy landlords.

Their history is one that is increasingly important in Australia; as generational wealth threatens to create unbreachable class boundaries, and stable living becomes a luxury to all but a few, their work towards fighting for the rights of tenants across NSW is both inspiring and energising, serving as a light in what can, at times, seem like a darkening world.

If you need assistance or advice on your rights as a renter, visit the Tenants Union of NSW at https://www.tenants.org.au/ .

Distant Music – The Hidden Heart and Craft of Sydney’s Pipe Organs

Across Sydney, high in the lofts of cathedrals and sequestered in suburban churches and school halls, lie hundreds of complex mechanical musical instruments. Some are silent and forgotten, and others thunder with music every day of the week.

The Sydney Town Hall Organ, the largest in the world when it was built in 1890, ‘with no expense spared’

The pipe organ doesn’t feature in the lives of many 21st-century Sydneysiders. What was once the herald of public occasions and celebrations, providing music for the joy of weddings, the grief of funerals, and weekly church worship in Sydney, is considered by many a vague curiosity from a bygone era. But for a select group, the organ is a cherished and time-consuming passion.

The Organ Music Society of Sydney has aimed to foster interest in these instruments and their music for almost 80 years. A mix of organists, musicians, and enthusiasts gather for regular recitals and organ ‘rambles’ (going from instrument to instrument in one sitting). They also organise competitions, advocate and fundraise for instruments in danger of loss, and publish a quarterly journal on the ‘organ world’ of Sydney.

What is a Pipe Organ?

Until the turn of the 20th Century, the pipe organ was considered the most mechanically complex machine ever built. Evolving from the Roman Hydraulus, an early keyboard instrument that operated on displacing air with water through a series of tuned pipes, the modern organ is a continuation of an ancient tradition. Most organs have more than one keyboard, which play multiple ‘sets’ of pipes that make different sounds. These different sounds are activated by pulling ‘stops’, creating a wide palette of timbres, from a soft flute to a whole orchestra. This is where we get the expression ‘pulling out all the stops’.

Sydney Town Hall Organ console, with five keyboards and 127 stops

Some organs in Sydney have over 100 stops spread over five keyboards, producing a chest-shaking roar at ‘full organ’, and others only have a few stops, making a softer but still deeply moving and musical sound. Connecting a key to a pipe can involve complex electronics, magnets, valves, leather, bellows, and mechanical linkages that travel several metres, cross divides, and turn corners. Organ builders were at the forefront of mechanical engineering, creating intricate machines that filled entire rooms and weighed several tonnes.

The complex system of valves and tubing in a Pneumatically operated organ.

Organ Building Today

The Victorian organ-building industry in Sydney maintained stiff competition between large local firms and English builders, who leave behind instruments of every size and character. Today, only a handful of organ builders remain in Australia, and even less in Sydney. In partnership with the Organ Music Society of Sydney, I hope to document the work of these craftspeople in video, recording the rich skills handed down over centuries and promoting the work of the OMSS in popularising the organ. The clear passion and expertise held by the OMSS for this instrument will enrich an accessible, documentary-style introduction and record of the remaining Sydney organ builders.

Not being a portable instrument, the organ is a unique link between the aural and physical space they occupy. As history has shifted, the organ is a sound and a space that would be recognised by centuries of our forbears. Sydney’s organ builders are custodians of an immense tradition and skillset, and their dedication to preserving the organ for a new generation deserves recording and a wider interest.

A recording of the Sydney Town hall organ by City of Sydney Organist Titus Grenyer

Riding Develops Abilities

This is the motto that characterises the Riding for The Disabled Association in Ryde, Sydney.

First RDA centre: England, 1970.

In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.

HELEN THOMPSON WOLLEY

The Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is a remarkable organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through equestrian activities. Founded in the UK in 1969, the RDA has grown into a global movement, with centres across Australia. I have chosen to work with the local Ryde Centre (NSW), which stands out for its commitment to providing inclusive equestrian experiences, fostering both physical and emotional development for its participants.

Young rider at the Ryde centre, NSW.

Empowering Lives Through Equine Therapy
The core mission of the RDA is to promote the therapeutic benefits of horse riding, which can significantly improve balance, coordination, and confidence in individuals with various disabilities. The organisation offers riding lessons tailored to the unique needs of each rider, ensuring that everyone, regardless of abilities, can experience the joy of being on the saddle. Beyond riding, the RDA enhances life skills, teamwork, and social interaction, creating a holistic approach to therapy that empowers its riders. The Ryde centre does this through creating a safe environment and an inclusive sense of community that enriches lives.

I chose to work with this organisation as I am deeply passionate about their work. Growing up with horses, I know the enriching impact riding can have. I also have a personal connection to the RDA, as my family have been volunteers for many years. Even just volunteering three times with the centre in Ryde so far, I have witnessed the transformative effects of equine therapy. During my first visit, I was told a story that will stay with me forever. A young boy was riding a horse that wouldn’t move forward. The instructor encouraged him, saying, “Tell him to walk on.” With a quiet yet determined voice, the boy replied, “Walk on.” At that moment, his mother, standing at the side, burst into tears. When asked if she was alright, she replied, “that was the first time I heard my son’s voice.” This powerful moment exemplifies the profound impact that riding can have on individuals, further inspiring me to contribute to the RDA Ryde Centre, especially through a project that raises awareness and uniquely documents its wonderful history.

Ryde centre, NSW.

Upon discussing what I can do to help the organisation, we arrived at the idea of a promotional video that showcases the diverse activities and stories of the RDA Ryde Centre. The volunteers explained to me that many people do not know the centre exists so this project would help to spread awareness. This video could feature interviews with participants, volunteers, and instructors, sharing their experiences and the positive impacts of the RDA. I also intend to incorporate oral history into this project, capturing the voices of long-time volunteers and riders. This initiative would not only document personal experiences but also the history of the RDA Ryde Centre in a way that is widely accessible. By gathering these personal narratives, I could create an overview of the centre’s evolution, showcasing its commitment to serving the community for current and future generations. Ultimately, my goal is to create a project that not only promotes awareness of the RDA Ryde Centre but also documents its history in a way that has not been done before. By utilising visual technology, I can reach a wider audience, inspiring more people to engage with this vital organisation.

The RDA is not just about riding; it is about building confidence, independence, and creating lasting connections through the power of horses. As I embark on this project, I hope to honour the legacy of the RDA while highlighting the incredible work they do for individuals with disabilities.

https://rdaryde.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/rdaryde/

A Story of Strength: Kinchela Boy’s Home Aboriginal Corporation

I acknowledge that I write on stolen land, the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and I pay my respects to elders past and present. For over 65,000 years, before British colonisation, this land has been a place of storytelling. As a history student at the University of Sydney, it is imperative to recognise the significance of this past and the enduring impact of colonialism on the stories and histories of Australia today. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

On Dunghutti land, not so far from where I grew up in Port Macquarie, lies what used to be Kinchela Boys Training Home – an Aboriginal Children’s Home established in 1924 by the Aboriginal Protection Board. For more than 400 boys, KBH was a site of incarceration. It was justified as a protection act, yet it was anything but that. The boys who passed through the gates of Kinchela were not known by their names but by a number. They endured conditions that were hostile and dehumanising, no home for any child or person.

The stories of KBH are just one in countless others from the Stolen Generation, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across Australia were forcibly removed from their families by the Australian Government with the intent of assimilation and cultural destruction.

However, this story of pain and trauma is also a story of strength. In 2002, the survivors of KBH established Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, an organisation “built on and informed by the guidance and unique insights offered by survivors and which, contributes to the social and emotional wellbeing of survivors, their communities, and culture.” KBHAC offers services such as:

  • Kin Connect Program, created to support the healing of KBH survivors, and address the intergenerational trauma faced by their descendants and families.
  • Connecting Abilities Program, which provides NDIS registered services for Indigenous or non-Indigenous Australians with a disability.
  • Education Program, to further First Nations truth telling on the Stolen Generation. Initiatives include the Mobile Education Centre and Educational Resources available to schools for History, English and Aboriginal Studies curriculum across NSW.
  • Support for those eligible to gain access to the National Redress Scheme

As a proud Gamilaraay women, and descendent of a survivor of the Stolen Generation, the work of KBHAC is powerful and so important to everyone it reaches. KBHAC not only advocates truth telling, preserving the stories and memories of survivors, but it also is making the meaningful steps needed for healing and rebuilding cultural connection and community.

If you would like to learn more about the KBHAC, have a read of their website here: https://kinchelaboyshome.org.au/. Additionally, if you are interested in offering any support, you can email: office@kinchelaboyshome.org.au for more information on volunteering or you can provide a donation at https://www.givenow.com.au/kinchelaindigenousstolengensupport.

Indeed, there is the opportunity to get involved and help out this October on the 18th – 19th! This October will mark one hundred years since Kinchela Boys Home first opened. KBHAC invites KBH survivors, their descendants and families as well as you, your families and the wider community to “honour the spirits of the children who walked through the gates of KBH.” If you would like to volunteer on the day, contact 100kbh@kbhac.org.au.

The Sydney Convicts History Project

My rugby career was longer than it had to be and ended with a whimper on a cool summer’s morning in 2020 in a something-nil loss against another GPS schools’ socials team. My Father’s was far more prestigious, from the Chevaliers First 15, to Woollahra Colleagues Rugby, to the Bowral Blacks, and finally coaching the Sydney Convicts in their 2004 debut year.

This connection with the Convicts turned into a meeting with one of its founders, Andrew ‘Fuzz’ Purchas, who returned to Sydney from San Francisco in 2003 intent on establishing an inclusive gay rugby team after his own experiences of exclusion from the sport after coming out as gay some years earlier.

In that meeting it was found that despite having won the International Gay Rugby Bingham Cup 5 times in its 24 year history, and hosting the 2014 Cup in Sydney, the Club’s activities on and off the field have been subject to an irregular amount of documentation. It seemed that the stars had aligned. I had several months of experience in the Australian Museum’s archives as part of their digitisation program and was already familiar with the front-end and user experience of an archive.

Archives are trickier than just shoving a bunch of folders into a cabinet in a cool & dry attic. The actual physical and digital storage of data that needed to be reliable enough to survive years without seeing the light of day but also accessible enough that that same data can be found at a moment’s notice. Especially because I had already dropped the word ‘digital’ in my meeting with Andrew.

A hard drive will last about 5 years with regular use, a SSD will last between 5-10, and that’s before considering the computer that goes with them. Hypothetically hard drives can actually last forever if the disk-reading mechanism remains intact and no one drags a magnet over the disk. Another option is 3rd party storage, with its own problems, what if the service stops in 7 years? Or someone forgets to change the card for the payment plan? What’s worse, human or technical error losing what could become the only copies of items of Sydney Convict history?

Aside from the logistics of archives, the act of retrieving the items themselves poses its own challenge. Media coverage by the likes of the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC is simple enough thanks to their digitised articles, but from more local and queer specific sources recovery can be more spotty. Doubly so for items that only exist in physical form, did anyone keep a copy of the program of the 2014 Bingham Cup for 10 years?

Regardless of these difficulties, the club and its members have so far been very enthusiastic about the history project and a pleasure to work with. I’m looking forward to what can be achieved by the end of semester.


The Sydney Jewish Museum

 Sydney Jewish Museum’s Sanctum of Remembrance

Since its founding the Sydney Jewish Museum has played a significant rule in the remembrance and education of the Holocaust. The Sydney Jewish Museum was founded in 1992 by Holocaust survivor and philanthropist John Saunders. According to the museum’s website, Mr Saunders desired the museum to be a “place to share their memories, commemorate the six million Jewish people who were murdered and provide important messages to future generations.”

Despite its relatively short history, the Sydney Jewish Museum has become well known for the vital service it provides in education on the Holocaust as well as in the history of antisemitism and the persecution of the Jewish people.

The museum provides a variety of educational opportunities for varying age groups, from school children to adults. The Sydney Jewish Museum could appear from the outset to be a “normal” museum where you just glance at objects without considering them. However, from my own personal experience I would say this is not the case. This is because the museum always ensures that the stories that are being told are human focused. This is what makes the experience of going to the Sydney Jewish Museum different and emotive.

Sydney Jewish Muesum’s Holocaust exhibt

The museum has demonstrated its ability to convey the story of one of the darkest moments in human history, the Holocaust. This is done in way that makes visitors reflect and consider the story of the people who once owned the artefacts they are now viewing.

 I have always loved going to museums, but no museum has ever had such an emotional impact on me in the same way that the Sydney Jewish Museum has. I remember vividly on both occasions I had the privilege of going to the museum when I was 14 and 16 with school.  I had tears in my eyes when I listned and considered the stories I heard. This was something I must admit was not common for the teenage me to do.

The museum has exhibits that tell the story of both the survivors and victims of the Holocaust through traditional curatorial means. This is done in a very powerful and emotive way and ensures that the appropriate respect is shown considering the very serious subject matter. However, the museum is also lucky to have several volunteers who are Holocaust survivors and generously give talks about their experiences. When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to listen to Dasia Black-Gutman on two separate occasions, her story of loss and survival has always stuck with me.

For that reason, I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Sydney Jewish Museum as I hope that by volunteering I may assist in the important work of Holocaust remembrance. Next year will be 90 years since the end of the 2nd World War and by extension the Holocaust. Whilst the Holocaust might have ended, antisemitism continues to be a stain on our society. For that reason, I strongly believe that it is important that we as historians and patrons support the work of institutions like the Sydney Jewish Museum that promote education on antisemitism and the commemoration of the Holocaust.  

The Australian National Maritime Museum: A unique perspective on Australia’s past

The Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney is Australia’s national centre for maritime history collections, exhibitions and knowledge. Opened in 1991, it is one of six museums directly administrated by the Australian Federal Government and the only one located outside of the ACT. The museum also plays a key role in supporting local maritime museums and smaller historical organisations across Australia. The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme, which began in 1995, has given over $2.53 million to support smaller historical organisations, and provided funding for more than 551 projects and over 85 museological training opportunities. 

The museum’s collection includes a huge variety of objects significant to Australian and international maritime history, varying from photographs, paintings and models of ships to the 4 ships displayed on the water outside the museum. The Museum’s exhibitions and programs include topics as diverse as immigration, colonial history, Indigenous Australian history and maritime archaeology.

Photo from The Australian National Maritime website: https://www.sea.museum/en/whats-on/our-fleet/hmb-endeavour-replica

I had visited the Maritime Museum many times when I was younger, but Peter and Roland’s tour of it for our class gave me a new perspective on it.  Hearing their insights about the process of acquiring objects for the collection and designing exhibitions at this museum gave me a glimpse into a particular way of producing history that I hadn’t encountered before in my History degree.

Unlike many of the organisations that students are working with in History Beyond the Classroom, the Maritime Museum’s entire purpose as a national museum is to engage with the public. Museums are a space where the skills of academic history are used to write and present quite a different form of history, addressing the general public with concise object based histories. I was immediately interested in the process behind this way of producing history, which could be limited by the fragility of certain collection objects, or the architecture of the exhibition space, but which offers unique opportunities to bring together varied physical objects from the past to educate the public.

Maritime history offers a particular lens on Australia’s history, cutting through the chronological periodisation, geographical and cultural partitions I am familiar with. The sea and human societies lives on and around it has always been a part of Australia’s past, and has played a pivotal role in Australia’s recent history. Maritime History appears narrow in its focus, but it is expansive in the varied themes it can encompass.

After the tour Peter Hobbins mentioned there were volunteering opportunities at the museum and I was keen to get involved in volunteering there, even though at that point I had already contacted another organisation to work on a project for History Beyond the Classroom. I wanted to learn more about the kind of historical work the museum did, and I also found their approach and purpose interesting. 

When I realised that my previous choice of organisation wasn’t going to work due to the lack of response, I chose to contact the Maritime Museum to find out if I could work on a historical project there. The topic of my project is still undecided, but Peter Hobbins has proposed two suggestions of projects focused on presenting either photographic primary sources or archaeological reports to the public. I am still planning on volunteering at the Museum alongside this, either now, or in future.

More Than Just A Game: The Importance Of Community Building At My Local Netball Club

One of the first West Ryde Rovers Netball Teams. 1969.

At some point or another, every child dreams of being a famous singer… or an astronaut… or a film star. Well, as a girl, my biggest dream was to one day play professional netball for the NSW Swifts. A little unconventional, I know, but as an 8-year-old nothing could be better. So it goes that my Saturdays (and my parents’) were spent running around Meadowbank Park where I played for my local club, the West Ryde Rovers. 

West Ryde Rovers began its life in 1956 when Lester Waud travelled to the Olympic Games in Melbourne and watched Australia defeat Japan in the men’s football (soccer for those of you who may be confused). With co-founder, Perce Rouse, he coached two boys football teams in the Hornsby-Epping Association that same year. Of course, some credit must be given to Mavis, Lester’s wife, who helped to hand sew the first teams’ jerseys. 

It wasn’t until 1967 that Rovers’ first netball team emerged, although at the time the sport was known as ‘women’s basketball’. It went from strength to strength and by 1971, the West Ryde Rovers Netball Club had fourteen teams. I don’t know what was more impressive; the rapid development of teams in the netball club or the perms of the ladies who played in them! As of the 2024 season, the Rovers Netball Club has over 25 teams ranging from Under 6’s to Open Ages. As well as this, in 2015, Rovers was proud to introduce an All Abilities training program which aimed to encourage girls and women living with disability to participate in a team sport. Since then, the program has flourished and there are now three All Abilities teams in the Eastwood-Ryde competition. 

While I eventually grew out of my dream to play professional netball, the importance of West Ryde Rovers in my childhood has not been lost on me. More than this, I can now see the importance of the club to the development of my own community. Although West Ryde Rovers has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1956, its evident that the values upon which the club was built are still at its core today. The club is primarily a community organisation and it relies purely on the hard work of volunteers to keep running. This is evident if you ever go down to Meadowbank Park on a Saturday morning where you will see an army of volunteers; there is Ruth coaching her team, and over there is Despina in the umpires room, and there is Karen making the rounds. Alongside them are the many more committee members as well as parents and friends who coach, manage, score and come to cheer on the teams. Nowhere will you see a greater show of community spirit and I believe that this is what makes Rovers’ history worth telling. I hope you’re as excited as I am to hear these amazing peoples’ stories!

A busy Saturday at Meadowbank Park. 2024. 

The Power of Community Netball

For as long as I can remember, a winter Saturday morning has only meant one thing: netball. Ever since primary school, my mum, my sisters and I have spent countless Saturdays down at our local netball association, where we play, coach, umpire, and, every so often, enjoy a bacon and egg roll from the community-run BBQ. It’s often an all-day, if not all-weekend, affair. As juniors, Mum and Dad would cart us all around Sydney for representative carnivals, and we’re now avid fans and members of our national league team, the NSW Swifts, and frequently head out to Olympic Park to watch their matches in person. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to have your weekends not taken up by the all-consuming force that is netball. But despite the commitment, there’s something about it that keeps us coming back every year.

For many girls and women across the country, their winter Saturday morning plans mimic mine. For decades, women and girls have flocked in droves to their local netball courts every weekend. Netball is Australia’s leading team sport for female participation, ranked only just behind AFL for overall participation across men and women. At its core, netball is a sport that was built for women, by women. In fact, Super Netball is the only professional league in Australia where the female code is the main event.

Perhaps that’s what makes the sport so special, and part of the reason I’m so passionate about it. It’s a sport where women have paved their own path, carving out a space for girls to thrive. And at the very heart of the sport is local associations. It’s here where a community is built, where friendships are made, and where the netball superstars of the future are born.

Community netball at Hills District Netball Association.

That’s why I have chosen to complete my public history project with Hills District Netball, my local association. Originally founded as the Hills District Women’s Basketball Association, it has been a thriving community organisation since 1968. Each year, HDNA runs a Winter Day competition which takes place every Saturday, as well as Spring and Summer Night competitions, which also involve mixed teams with both men and women. These competitions are run by a group of passionate and committed volunteers, some of whom have been involved in the association for decades. They’ve even had former players go on to become national league players, including Cath Cox, who played with HDNA and went on to captain the Australian Diamonds.

HDNA netballers in action.

Throughout my project with HDNA, I hope to use my passion for netball to delve into the association’s rich history. Having been a part of the association’s netball competitions for years, I’d love to give back to the organisation through using my knowledge and skills to create an engaging public history project. Along the way, I hope to uncover how HDNA has evolved over the years into the netball-loving community it is today.

Levelling the Scales: Marrickville Legal Centre

This post was written on Gadigal land, and discusses an institution developed on Wangal and Gadigal land. I pay my respects to the traditional owners. This land was stolen, but sovereignty was never ceded.

In 1979 ‘Little Greece’ sprawled along the Cooks River and up Illawarra Rd, consumed by the scent of hot bread which plumed from Vietnamese bakeries. The ever-exotic ‘cappuccino’ was just making its debut. Marrickville was considered a recognisably migrant community in Sydney at the time, and was a broadly working-class area. The Marrickville population did not have easy access to legal aid. A group of University students recognised that this lack of legal aid, alongside differing literacy levels and greater economic vulnerability, meant that a pro-bono community legal centre had to be developed, and so Marrickville Legal Centre (MLC) was established in the Town Hall.

Despite humble beginnings, MLC now has a catchment area of over 1.5 million people, and has expanded its service to advise and advocate in several different areas of law, including:

  • General legal services
  • Family and domestic violence (FDV) services
  • Youth legal services
  • Strata services
  • Family law
  • Tenancy services

MLC’s services are not isolated purely to direct legal action, as the Centre runs several community workshops and education efforts to give the communities they serve the knowledge and dignity to act. It is this demystifying approach that has been instrumental in generating lasting impact – in precedent and spirit.

Information cards created by the Law Foundation of NSW, featuring MLC as a point of contact for young clients.

The passion with which MLC approaches its work is palpable, and it is evident that the Centre thrives on the stories of hope and solidarity that emerge from it. So, to mark its 45th year, I will be facilitating an oral history project (with video) for MLC, focusing on the impact of the organisation on migrant communities. This will involve interviewing prominent community members, community organisations, and significant individuals directly involved in past matters. The integrity of the project lies in providing space for the people that MLC was established for, to be the people who tell the organisations history.

MLC represents a shifting attitude in legal spaces towards education and power, posing direct questions to the traditionally guarded institution surrounding who deserves advocacy, and how legislative dignity can be derived from immediacy with the communities that the legal system dictates and serves. While access to legal aid is significantly less difficult today, the proverbial road is still long. It was only this year (2024) that visa workers saw genuine protections be brought into their workplaces – reforms like this will save lives.

Please click here to learn more about the work of MLC, educate yourself on your entitlements, or otherwise engage with the Centre.