Quick Exit
Quick Exit

Community Justice Services South Australia – Radhe

Community Justice Services South Australia

Radhe Kharel, Solicitor

4122_clca_justicewherewelive_dayinthelife_instagram_southaustralianmurraybridge_4
4122_clca_justicewherewelive_dayinthelife_instagram_southaustralianmurraybridge_42
4122_clca_justicewherewelive_dayinthelife_instagram_southaustralianmurraybridge_43
Image of a building with a Murray Bridge sign, with text "Murray Bridge, or Pomberuk in Ngarrindjeri language, is a regional community of about 22,000 people, around 75km south-east from Adelaide."
Community Justice Services SA does regular outreach travel here to provide legal assistance, from the Murray Bridge Community Centre. There were a few different wins this week. I was happy because one family law property and children's matter was finalised. I was also able to get permission to represent someone in the Fair Work Commission.
4122_clca_justicewherewelive_dayinthelife_instagram_southaustralianmurraybridge_36
Image of a boat on the river, with text "Murray Bridge is a major service centre for the wider Murray River region."
Many people in the area still experience long-term legal and financial challenges related to the flooding. Other key issues out here are housing affordability, family violence, financial hardship, youth disengagement, mental health, transport barriers, and legal problems around tenancy, debt, employment, and family law. There are challenges with access to services generally, not just legal services. People also struggle to access counselling, financial counselling and other supports.
Image of lots of bread on a shelf, with text "I really like working from this community centre because so many people come here. There is a food bank, and there are a range of community services."
So many of the people who use those other services are also the people who need free legal assistance. They already know about the location, which makes it easy for them to access us. Travel can be difficult. We don’t have a permanent office in Murray Bridge, so if someone needs to meet with us in person they may have to travel to our Noarlunga office. That makes accessing legal help more difficult than it is for people living closer to the cities. People also often have to travel long distances to attend court. Even when hearings can be conducted online, not everyone finds that easy.
Image of Radhe standing outside smiling at the camera, with text "I enjoy travelling out to regional areas. Many people I see have been referred from one service to another before finding us. Being able to fill that gap is really rewarding."