Legal help for flood-affected communities

 

Community legal centres are here to help if you've been affected by floods in NSW. Our thoughts go out to the people, families and communities impacted by the flooding, storms, and dangerous rainfall across the state. 

Community legal centres provide free, independent, and confidential legal support. We can help with the many legal problems disasters can cause, which might include:

  • insurance claims
  • housing and tenancies
  • income and social security
  • credit and debt
  • domestic violence and AVOs
  • destroyed documents and wills
  • parenting arrangements

This page has information about how to contact community legal centres, other legal assistance services, and financial and emotional supports.

LawAccess NSW

  • LawAccess NSW can help you find free legal help.
  • Phone 1300 888 529 between 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Find free legal help, Community Legal Centres NSW directory

  • This online application will help you find which community legal centre you should contact.
  • There are 41 community legal centres across NSW. 

Justice Connect

Disaster Response Legal Service NSW (Legal Aid NSW)

  • Legal Aid NSW can help with everyday legal problems including insurance claims and disputes, financial hardship, tenancy and Centrelink.
  • Phone: 1800 801 529 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday

Financial Rights Legal Centre: Insurance Law Service

  • Insurance Hotline: 1300 663 464

Making a claim for flood damage factsheet, Insurance Law Service

  • If you’re affected by flooding, it might be hard to know how to start a claim on your insurance policy for flood damage to your home, car – or other unexpected costs. Use this fact sheet for information only.

Domestic Violence Legal Service, Women’s Legal Service NSW. 

  • Phone: 8745 6999 or 1800 810 784.

Natural Disasters Factsheet, Women's Legal Service NSW

  • Information about family law parenting issues and child support if you are you are affected by a natural disaster.
     

Domestic Violence and AVO issues following a natural disaster factsheet 

  • Factsheet which provides information if you have an AVO for your protection and you are affected by a natural disaster.

Contact your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service

  • If you need renting advice, please contact your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service – use the search bar above to find your local service. 

Tenants' Union of NSW

  • Tenants’ Advice Line: 1800 566 101

Factsheets

Sample letters

Welfare Rights Centre

Natural Disaster Community Support, Justice Connect

  • A tailored legal service to support small businesses, primary producers and farmers grappling with legal problems as a result of floods, cyclones and bushfires.

 

Flood Emergency and Relief Assistance, NCOSS

  • There are a number of supports available to individuals and communities impacted by the floods in NSW. We have compiled a resource to assist you to access these supports. This resource is a living document and will be updated as needed.

Natural disaster resources for community groups, Services Australia

  • Resources to help you support people in your community who have been affected by a natural disaster.

Disaster Response Legal Service NSW, Legal Aid NSW

  • Phone: 1800 801 529 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
  • Legal Aid NSW can help with everyday legal problems including insurance claims and disputes, financial hardship, tenancy and Centrelink.

Mental health support after a natural disaster, Lifeline

  • Phone: 13 11 14

Responding to natural disasters, a trauma informed approach

  • This webinar is for community workers on how to take a trauma informed approach when working in flood-affected areas.

Assisting clients affected by natural disasters, AskLOIS

  • A factsheet on assisting clients affected by natural disasters.

Insurance basics - following a disaster

  • A podcast featuring the Legal Aid Disaster Response Service NSW.

Illawarra Legal Centre

Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre

  • Call 02 6621 1000
  • Follow Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre on Facebook for updates on which evacuation centres they will be attending

Central Coast Community Legal Centre

  • 31 Alison Rd, Wyong NSW 2259
  • (02) 4353 4988. To make an appointment for advice please telephone.

Please note that Community Legal Centres NSW is a peak-body and cannot directly provide people with assistance for flood relief. 

Need free legal help?

Community legal centres help thousands of people every single day with a whole range of issues – housing, fines, family matters, domestic and family violence, and more.

Call Law Access on 1300 888 529 or use our online directory to find out who to speak to.