Southside Justice has secured more than $1.1 million in funding through the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner’s Strong Foundations and Justice Anew grant programs.

The funding will support both the long-term sustainability of our organisation and the development of innovative new approaches to improving access to justice in Melbourne’s inner south.

Investing in a Strong Foundation

Through the Strong Foundations program, Southside Justice has received $500,000 to strengthen the leadership, systems and organisational capability needed to deliver on our 2023-2028 Strategy.

The funding will support the continuation of the Director, Engagement and Impact role and ensure Southside Justice has the organisational infrastructure, partnerships and strategic capacity required to remain sustainable and impactful into the future.

As demand for legal assistance continues to grow and the funding environment becomes increasingly challenging, this investment will help position Southside Justice to continue delivering high-quality, community-centred legal services for years to come.

Building the Future Through PlaceConnect

Through the Justice Anew program, Southside Justice has been awarded $600,748 over three years to develop PlaceConnect – Connecting Workers, Strengthening Justice.

PlaceConnect is a staff-facing digital referral and collaboration platform designed to strengthen and scale Southside Justice’s Partners in Place (PiP) model. Co-designed with community partners and developed alongside Justice Connect, the platform will provide referral organisations with a secure, accessible space to make referrals, track progress, access legal information and communicate directly with lawyers.

PlaceConnect aims to improve early intervention, reduce administrative burden and create a more seamless experience for people accessing support.

Over time, the platform will be expanded across Southside Justice’s network of partners, strengthening connections between legal and community services and helping ensure people receive coordinated support earlier.

A Vote of Confidence in Partnership-Based Justice

These investments recognise the importance of strong organisations, strong partnerships and innovative approaches to access to justice.

Southside Justice works closely alongside local organisations to address the legal issues that sit behind some of our community’s most pressing challenges, including family violence, homelessness and financial insecurity. This funding will enable us to deepen that work while building the organisational strength needed to meet future challenges.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner for their support and confidence in our vision.

We also thank our partners, staff, board and supporters whose commitment and collaboration make this work possible every day.