Chapter 9: Referrals and Resources

 Download this chapter: Chapters 8 and 9: Legal language and Referrals and resources (PDF)

9.1 Referrals
9.2 Useful resources

9.3 Family Law Fees

9.1 Referrals

For people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can ring any telephone number using the National Relay Service.

TTY/Voice calls 133 677
Speak & Listen 1300 555 727
SMS Relay 0423 677 767
Internet Relay nrschat.nrscall.gov.au/nrs/internetrelay
Captioned Internet Relay nrscaptions.nrscall.gov.au/nrs/captionrelay (Some services may not use)
Video Relay Choose the available NRS video relay contact on Skype Open Skype and contact NRS.VIDEORELAY (Some services may not use)

If you are unsure how to use the National Relay Service, you can contact the National Relay Service Helpdesk.

Hours Monday–Friday (8am–6pm Sydney time)
Helpdesk Information nrscaptions.nrscall.gov.au/nrs/contactus
Voice 1800 555 660
TTY 1800 555 630
Fax 1800 555 690
Email helpdesk@relayservice.com.au
SMS 0416 001 350

For people who are non-English speakers

If you do not speak English or it is not your main language, you can call TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service) for an interpreter. It is free to call most government services and many non-profit services.

Phone 131 450
Website tisnational.gov.au

Services Australia

Service Contact Hours
Families 136 150 • Family Tax Benefit • Parenting Payment Monday–Friday 8am–8pm
Child Support 131 272 • General enquiries • Applications Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:45pm
Indigenous phone services 1800 136 380 • Centrelink
1800 556 955 • Medicare
Monday–Friday 8am–5pm
Monday–Friday 8am–5pm
Multilingual phone services 131 202 • Centrelink Monday–Friday 8am–5pm
TIS National phone services 131 450 • Medicare and Child Support Monday–Friday 8am–5pm

For details of your closest Centrelink, Medicare or Child Support location, go to the Services Australia website: servicesaustralia.gov.au

Children’s Contact Services

Contact the Family Relationship Advice Line for the location and telephone number of your closest Child Contact Service.

Phone 1800 050 321
Hours Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm Saturday, 10am–4pm

Community Legal Centres NSW

CLCs NSW is the peak body for community legal centres in NSW. To find the Community Legal Centre closest to you, go to the CLCs NSW website or phone LawAccess.

Phone LawAccess: 1300 888 529
Website findlegalhelp.clcnsw.org.au

Domestic Violence Line

The Domestic Violence Line is a 24 hour, 7 day a week phone service that offers referral to refuges and accommodation, counselling and support services to victims of domestic violence.

Phone 1800 656 463
TTY 1800 671 442

Domestic Violence NSW

Phone (02) 9698 9777
Fax (02) 9698 9771
Email admin@dvnsw.org.au
Website dvnsw.org.au

NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) (formerly DoCS or FaCS)

The Child Protection Helpline is a phone service to report suspected child abuse or neglect, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Phone 132 111
TTY 1800 212 936
Enquiries, feedback & complaints
Phone 1800 000 164
To find a Community Services office closest to you, go to the Community Services website.
Website facs.nsw.gov.au/families

Family Relationship Advice Line

The Family Relationship Advice Line is a national telephone service that provides information on family relationship issues, advice on parenting arrangements and referrals to local services.

Phone 1800 050 321
Hours Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm Saturday, 10am–4pm

Family Relationships Online

The Family Relationships Online website provides families with information about relationship issues and services to assist them with their relationship issues, including family dispute resolution services. The website also includes the contact details of Family Relationship Centres across Australia.

Website familyrelationships.gov.au

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law Court)

The Federal Circuit and Family Court website has general information about Family Law Court procedures and can make referrals. The website has information on many topics, court forms, do-it-yourself kits and information about court fees.

Website fcfcoa.gov.au

You can call the National Enquiry Centre 24 hours if you have an urgent family law situation, such as children at risk of being taken overseas without consent:

Phone 1300 352 000
Hours Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5pm
Email enquiries@fcfcoa.gov.au

Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (NSW)

Family Violence Prevention Legal Services are community-based organisations that provide legal assistance and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of family violence.

Bourke, Moree HO, Walgett (Thiyama-li Family Violence Service) (02) 6752 1188
Broken Hill (Warra Warra Legal Service) (08) 8087 6766 or 1800 812 800
Forbes (Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service) (02) 6850 1234 or 1800 700 218
Kempsey (Many Rivers Family Violence Prevention Legal Service) (02) 6562 5856

Link2Home – Statewide Homeless Service

Link2Home provides an information and referral service, including for refuge accommodation.

Phone 1800 152 152
Website facs.nsw.gov.au/housing

International Social Service (ISS) Australia

The International Social Service provides telephone information and social work support for international parental child abduction and tracing cases.

Phone 1300 657 843
Email iss@iss.org.au
Website iss.org.au

LawAccess NSW

LawAccess provides free legal information, advice and referrals. It is a main referral point to find your nearest Legal Aid, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Community Legal Centre, Family Violence Prevention Legal Service or Aboriginal Legal Service as well as private solicitor referrals.

Phone 1300 888 529
Hours Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
Website lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

Law Society of New South Wales

The Law Society of NSW provides a solicitor referral service and a pro bono solicitor scheme.

Phone (02) 9926 0300
Hours Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
Email lawsociety@lawsociety.com.au
Website lawsociety.com.au

Legal Aid NSW

Legal Aid NSW provides free legal advice and information, as well as legal representation for eligible clients.

Phone (02) 9219 5000 (Head Office)
1300 888 529 (LawAccess)
TTY (02) 9219 5126
Website legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Legal Aid NSW Child Support Service

Phone (02) 9633 9916 or 1800 451 784
Hours Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm

Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC)

The Legal Information Access Centre provides legal research assistance and access to legal information resources (including legislation and case law). Specialist librarians are available to assist with legal research.

Phone (02) 9273 1414
Hours Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm Monday–Friday, 10am–1pm (Telephone enquiries)
Location State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000
Email liac.library@sl.nsw.gov.au
Website legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au

LGBTIQ Services

Inner City Legal Centre

ICLC is a community legal centre which provides lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex people with legal services including court assistance for people escaping domestic and family violence and a statewide legal advice service.

Phone (02) 9332 1966 or 1800 244 481 (Toll free)
SMS 0466 724 979
Email iclc@iclc.org.au
Website iclc.org.au

ACON

Phone 1800 063 060 or (02) 9206 2000
Hearing Impaired (02) 9283 2088

Another Closet – Domestic and Family Violence in LGBTIQ

Relationships website ssdv.acon.org.au

Say it Out Loud – Domestic and Family Violence

Information website sayitoutloud.org.au

Local Courts NSW

To find the Local Court closest to you, go to the Local Courts’ website.

Website localcourt.nsw.gov.au

NSW Office of the Legal Services Commissioner (OLSC)

You can contact the OLSC to make a complaint against a legal practitioner or service.

Phone (02) 9377 1800 or 1800 242 958
TTY (02) 9377 1855
Email olsc@justice.nsw.gov.au
Website olsc.nsw.gov.au

Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV)

The Staying Home Leaving Violence program helps women and children escaping domestic violence to remain safely in their homes.

Albury (02) 6058 6200 or 1800 885 355
Armidale 1800 073 388
Bathurst/Lithgow 1300 384 357
Bega (02) 6492 6239
Blacktown (02) 9677 1962
Blue Mountains 1300 384 357
Broken Hill (08) 8088 2520
Campbelltown 1800 077 760 or (02) 4633 3777
Canterbury/Burwood (02) 9602 7795
Coffs Harbour (02) 6652 9944
Coonamble/Walgett (02) 6829 4352 or (02) 6828 3570
Dubbo (02) 6883 1561
Eurobodalla (02) 6492 6239
Fairfield, Liverpool (02) 9602 7795
Georges River (02) 9319 4088
Griffith (02) 6964 3381
Inverell 0417 858 634 or 0417 786 736
Kempsey (02) 6562 2272
Lake Macquarie (02) 4943 9255
Lachlan/Weddin 1800 067 067
Maitland, Cessnock (02) 4934 2585
Mid Coast (02) 4979 1120
Mid-Western Regional 1300 384 357
Moree (02) 6752 8027
Muswellbrook/Upper Hunter (02) 4934 2585
Newcastle (02) 4926 3577
Orange 1300 384 357
Parkes/Forbes/Cowra (02) 6850 1788
Parramatta (02) 9636 8437
Penrith (02) 4721 2499
Port Stephens (02) 4987 4674
Queanbeyan/Palrang (02) 6189 4808
Randwick/Waverley 0439 414 673
Redfern (02) 9699 9036
Richmond Valley (02) 6662 2898
Shoalhaven (02) 4421 7400
Snowy Monaro Regional Council (02) 6492 6239
Sutherland (02) 9528 2933
Tamworth Regional 1800 073 388
Tweed/Byron (02) 6684 4299
Wagga Wagga/Junee (02) 6964 3381
Wollongong (02) 4255 5333
Wyong, Gosford (02) 4356 2600

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre

Wirringa Baiya is a statewide community legal centre for Indigenous women.

Phone (02) 9569 3847 or 1800 686 587
Website wirringabaiya.org.au

Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services (WDVCAS)

WDVCAS provides information, support and referrals to women who have experienced domestic violence. To find a WDVCAS closest to you, or to find if there is one at the court you are going to you can contact the local police DVLO or call LawAccess.

Phone 1300 888 529 (Law Access)

Women’s Health NSW

Women’s Health NSW is the peak body for Women’s Health Centres in NSW. To find the Women’s Health Centre closest to you, go to the Women’s Health NSW website.

Email info@whnsw.asn.au
Phone (02) 9560 0866
Website whnsw.asn.au

Women’s Legal Service NSW

Women’s Legal Service NSW (WLS) is a statewide community legal centre for women. WLS provides free legal advice, information and referrals through the advice lines and outreaches provided below. Limited casework and representation may be available. WLS also does community legal education and law and policy reform work.

Phone (02) 8745 6900 / 1800 WLSNSW
Website wlsnsw.org.au

Outreach Services

Please check our website for information about our outreach services

9.2 Useful resources

Organisation Resource Website
Attorney General’s Department Information about international child abduction. ag.gov.au/FamiliesAndMarriage/Families/InternationalFamilyLaw/Pages/default.aspx
Australian Federal Police Family Law Kit: Information about recovery of children and the family law (airport) watchlist. afp.gov.au/our-services/national-policing-services/family-law-watchlist
Family Law Court Pamphlets, fact sheets and kits about court’s services, court processes, costs and a range of family law issues. fcfcoa.gov.au
Thomson Reuters The Law Handbook 15th edition, Sydney 2020. legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/guides/law_handbook
Legal Aid NSW Pamphlets and fact sheets on family law, child support and domestic violence as well as other criminal and civil law issues. legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Legal Information Access Centre(NSW State Library) Hot Topics: Publications about legal issues in plain language.Find Legal Answers: lists useful legal resources, by topic, available on the web and in print from public libraries across NSW or in the State Library of NSW. legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au
Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre Family Law Property Settlement Workbook and other publications about children’s court care matters. shoalcoast.org.au
Victims Services Forms for applying for Victims Support, publications and links to other resources. victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au
Welfare Rights Centre Factsheets about social security benefits and dealing with Centrelink (e.g. ‘Declaring your same sex relationship to Centrelink’, and ‘Prosecution of social security offences’). welfarerightscentre.org.au
Wirringa Baiya Infosheets on a number of topics including victims’ support, sexual assault, domestic violence and AVOs. wirringabaiya.org.au
Women’s Legal Service NSW Women and Family Law Booklet and brochures about domestic violence. wlsnsw.org.au

9.3 Family Law Fees

Fees are as at 1 May 2024 subject to increase please check with the court or service for up to date fees.

The Family Court and Federal Circuit Court may give you an exemption from fees if you are in financial hardship. Check court guidelines to see if you have to pay the fee or if you may fill in the application for exemption from fees.

Family Court of Australia

  • Application for consent orders – $195
  • Initiating application (Parenting or financial, final only) – $410
  • Initiating application (Parenting or financial, final and interim) – $550
  • Initiating application (Parenting and financial, final only) – $670
  • Initiating application (Parenting and financial, final and interim) – $810
  • Response to initiating application (final) – $410
  • Interim application – $140

Federal Circuit Court of Australia

  • Application for divorce – $1060
  • Application for divorce—reduced fee – $350 (no fee waiver allowed)
  • Initiating application (parenting or financial, final only) – $410
  • Initiating application (parenting or financial, final and interim) – $550
  • Initiating application (parenting and financial, final only) – $670
  • Initiating application (parenting and financial, final only and interim) – $810

Multicultural NSW (was Community Relations Commission)

  • Translation of Standard documents—7 days – $80
  • Translation of Standard documents—Express Service – $105

NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

  • Marriage Certificate—Standard – $65
  • Marriage Certificate—Urgent – $95

For more details, other filing fees or exemption applications call the Family Law Court National enquiry line 1300 352 000.


 Chapter 8: Legal language – what does it all mean?

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