Family Dispute Resolution

Our accredited Family Dispute Resolution practitioners assist separating couples work through issues such as living arrangements for their children and property settlements. Impartial practitioners provide mediation to help both parties reach an agreement. Family Dispute Resolution is a voluntary process. It is non-adversarial,confidential and inexpensive compared to the Family Court system and can produce quicker results. Child-inclusive sessions may be recommended to ensure the voice of children can be heard – these seesions are conducted by specially trained Child Consultants. *We use a sliding scale to set fees. Let us know if you are experiencing financial difficulties or are on a low income. No-one is excluded. Fees will be negotiated at your first appointment.

For the Kids’ helps parents understand what makes co-parenting work and to build skild and their capacity to sustain a cooperative co-parenting arrangement following separation,in the best interest of their children. The program helps parents understand the effects of conflict on children, build positive communication and reduce court action. For the Kids offers: individual counselling for parents; individual counselling for children and For the Kids group education short courses. Check website for course availability,noting indiviual sessions and followup support cna also be provided. *We use a sliding scale to set fees. Let us know if you are experiencing financial difficulties or are on a low income. No-one is excluded. Fees will be negotiated at your first appointment.

Community Development Program (CDP)

The Community Development Program (CDP) supports job seekers in remote Australian communities to become \’job-ready\’, address employment barriers, and contribute to their communities through a range of high-quality activities.

ALPA operates a community-controlled model for the delivery of CDP, ensuring that we are working closely with community members to co-design the priorities of the program and to ensure it meets the needs of the wider community in each area that we deliver CDP.

Training

ALPA is a Registered Training Organisation endorsed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) offering nationally recognised qualifications, currently offering Certificate 1 to 4 from the Retail Services training package SIR, Certificate 1 & 2 from the Community Services training package CHC and Certificate 1 & 2 from the Foundation skills training package FSK.

East Arnhem Youth Model

The East Arnhem Land Youth Model, also aptly named Guŋga’yunga Djamarrkuḻiny (Helping our Children), is a pilot research program that is facilitated by ALPA and is three way funded as a venture between ALPA, The Northern Territory Government and National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

Community members from Gapuwiyak, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi and Ramingining are able to propose activities and projects for young people. These proposals are then assessed by local ‘Leadership Groups’. These groups of community leaders direct which projects and activities should be trialled in their communities to strengthen young people. The Leadership Groups manage a pool of funding to support the right activities, run in the right way aligning with a locally developed strategy. Through careful monitoring and evaluation of these activities, we work with the Leadership Groups to monitor what has and hasn\’t worked to strengthen youth, and how to adapt for next time.

Allied Health services for children, young people and adults with a range of requirements in urban and remote areas. Our therapists incorporate a multi-disciplinary team including Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists.

NT Legal Aid has a Family Court duty lawyer service to help people who don’t have a lawyer.

The family law duty lawyer can help talk to the other party, fill in simple forms, get an adjournment (set another court date) and can also organise legal information and advice.

To contact the Family law duty lawyer:

• In Darwin, go to the legal aid duty lawyer office at the Federal Magistrates Court on the day you have to go to court.
• Outside Darwin in the NT, call the duty lawyer on 08 8982 0821 from 8 30 am on the date your case is in court.

We provide free and confidential legal information, referral to other helpful services and legal advice appointments for most legal problems in the NT.

Call the Legal Aid Helpline on 1800 019 343. The Helpline operator will talk about what type of problem you need help with and connect you to the correct office at Legal Aid to make an appointment. We provide legal advice over the phone, or in person if that is preferred.

Your nearest Legal Aid office runs legal advice clinics in family law, criminal law and civil law matters.

Ongoing legal representation is available to people who qualify for a grant of legal aid. We require you to meet a financial means test and your legal problem must be something we are funded to provide representation for.

Take your first step towards a solution and call the Legal Aid Helpline on 1800 019 343

We provide free and confidential legal information, referral to other helpful services and legal advice appointments for most legal problems in the NT.

Call the Legal Aid Helpline on 1800 019 343. The Helpline operator will talk about what type of problem you need help with and connect you to the correct office at Legal Aid to make an appointment. We provide legal advice over the phone, or in person if that is preferred.

Your nearest Legal Aid office runs legal advice clinics in family law, criminal law and civil law matters.

Ongoing legal representation is available to people who qualify for a grant of legal aid. We require you to meet a financial means test and your legal problem must be something we are funded to provide representation for.

Take your first step towards a solution and call the Legal Aid Helpline on 1800 019 343

Family Dispute Resolution, also known as family mediation, helps separated or divorced couples to reach agreements around their children, money or property. Mediation is an alternative to going to court. Reaching an agreement without going to court can save parents or couples a lot of money, time and stress.

Parenting

Family Dispute Resolution is available for parents, carers and other family members. It’s a chance to talk about the children and discuss future parenting arrangements. We help people to talk with respect and focus on what the children need. We can also offer a Child Consultation to assist parents with their decision making.

Property

We can also help separated couples discuss their money, debts and property. You do not need to have children to get help with property issues.

Specialist Elder Abuse Service

Specialist Elder Abuse Service can help older people and their families to:
• Feel respected and safe,
• Resolve or prevent family conflict in ways that aim to improve relationships,
• Have ‘difficult conversations’ and improve communication skills,
• Reduce the risk of abuse, exploitation, or neglect

TEWLS provides free civil and family law services, including legal information and referral, advice, casework and representation services, community legal education, and advocacy to women in the Top End.

TEWLS is able to provide free legal advice and legal information and referral services to all women and people identifying as women in the Greater Darwin region. Women wishing to access our services are able to seek free legal help in person at the TEWLS office or at our various clinic locations, as well as over the phone.

How we can help

TEWLS provides holistic and culturally appropriate legal and related non-legal services.

For more information about how TEWLS can help you, please see How We Can Help.

Legal advice and representation

TEWLS is able to provide free legal advice to all women and people identifying as women in the Greater Darwin region, including legal information and referral services. TEWLS also provides casework and representation services on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about TEWLS’ provision of legal advice and representation services, please see Legal Advice & Representation.

Areas of Law

TEWLS provides legal services in most areas of civil and family law, including:

• Family Law, including separation, parenting, property and divorce
• Domestic and Family Violence
• Debts
• Tenancy and Housing
• Complaints
• Compensation, including victims of crime compensation
• Superannuation and Estates
• Employment Law

For more information about the areas of law that we are able to assist with, please see Areas of Law.

Where can I meet with TEWLS?

TEWLS provides legal services in-house at our Darwin office, as well as at various outreach and clinic locations.

For more information about where you can meet with TEWLS, please see Clinic Locations.

Community Legal Education

TEWLS has a strong commitment to community legal education – we believe that by empowering women with knowledge and information about the legal system, women and the community at large will be able to better access the legal system.

For more information about TEWLS’ Community Legal Education programs and how you can contact TEWLS to discuss legal education workshops and/or campaigns, please see Community Legal Education.

Not in the Northern Territory?

If you are in a state or territory other than the Northern Territory, or need a different community legal centre, please see the National Association of Community Legal Centres website for information about a community legal centre, including women’s legal service, in your local area.