History
The Early Days
Suncoast Community Legal Service Inc. was founded in November 1984 as the Sunshine Coast Community Legal Service, from discussions between local lawyers Ian McAlister, Bruce McDiarmid and Dennis Callinan.
Seeing an urgent need in the community which was not being met they initially approached the then fledgling Caxton Legal Centre in Brisbane and Highway Legal Service on the Gold Coast for advice.
Subsequently they liaised with social worker Lindsay Kranz who was President of the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre at Cotton Tree. The Neighbourhood Centre agreed to host legal advice sessions on Monday evenings between 6pm and 7pm as well as take appointments and provide a receptionist for the advice sessions.
The service was formally opened by then Queensland Governor Sir Walter Campbell and the first roster consisted of 13 local lawyers. A management committee was pulled together from this group and included the three founders as well as Ray Barber, Paul Friedman, Kerry-Anne Craig and Ken Waddington.
The Sunshine Coast Law Association provided initial funding to operate. By 1989 the Service had four volunteer receptionists as well as the volunteer lawyers. A small amount of funding was provided by the State Government to employ Edna Birleson for two hours per week for management of rosters, to handle correspondence and for general administration.
Consistent Growth
As the legal service became better known it increased to two hours on a Monday evening and more solicitors became involved. The service became an incorporated association in July 1992 under the name Suncoast Community Legal Service Inc. and began to expand its services as the population of the Sunshine Coast swelled.
The Service attracted funding from the Commonwealth Government as well as the State and Edna’s coordinator role grew with the service increased. Edna was to play a pivotal role in developing the service until her retirement in October 2005.
Soon the Monday evening session increased to two lawyers, then a Tuesday service commenced in October 1993. In 1999 the service began rostering two lawyers on alternate Tuesday evenings and in 2005 this was increased to two lawyers every Tuesday evening. A fortnightly Wednesday lunchtime service commenced in 1996 and increased to every Wednesday in 1999.
In 2004 interest from Noosa-based practitioners, in particular Bob Cartledge, saw an outreach service commenced at the Noosa Leisure Centre servicing the needs of Noosa, Tewantin and the northern part of the Sunshine Coast. Initially on a Wednesday evening, the service is now offered every Thursday evening.
Education
The service began conducting Community Legal Education seminars in 1993 with a family law session on seminar on “Custody, Access and Maintenance” held at Caloundra.
Over the years seminars have been presented by volunteer lawyers all over the Sunshine Coast region including Nambour, Maroochydore, Coolum, Maleny, Cooroy and Pomona.
Subjects have always reflected the areas of law covered in advice sessions and other topics particular to the region’s population demographics, eg “Wills and Power of Attorney”, “Neighbourhood Disputes”, “Buying Into a Retirement Village” and “Family Law Property Settlements”.
The Future
In 2007 Suncoast Community Legal Service Inc. received a significant increase in the funding it receives through State and Commonwealth Community Legal Service Programs. This allowed the service to set up its own premises at 7 Ocean Street, Maroochydore and employ a full-time coordinator, a part-time administrative assistant and a principal solicitor to oversee the Service’s work.
While employees are of great assistance in keeping things running smoothly, the Service’s prime focus remains the provision of advice, referral and education through its enthusiastic group of volunteer lawyers and receptionists.
In the coming years the Service hopes to increase the availability of these services to other population centres on the Sunshine Coast through outreach services provided by local lawyers with a commitment to serving their community.