Health Justice Partnership

KLC is part of a health justice partnership with Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH) and the Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service (ESMHS). Health justice partnerships (HJPs) are collaborations between legal and health services that support people who are both more likely to experience chronic health conditions and need help with legal problems. HJPs recognise that legal problems can negatively impact a person’s health, and that early intervention legal assistance can play an important role in increasing wellbeing.

KLC sends a solicitor to Prince of Wales Hospital campus for a full day every week to see inpatients and to discuss referrals to health staff. We can continue to assist clients we have seen at the hospital even after they are discharged. We also assist outpatients who are referred to us from POWH and ESMHS community health centres and outpatient clinics.

KLC works closely with POWH and ESMHS social workers in a shared-care model. Referrals are usually made through the social work teams, although we also accept referrals from clinical staff.

Our HJP frequently assists patients with a broad range of matters, including:

• Tenancy and housing;
• Debt;
• Social security;
• Criminal law;
• Employment law;
• Victims compensation; and
• Guardianship and powers of attorney.

There are some things that KLC cannot advise on including personal injury, medical negligence and immigration. In these cases, KLC will refer to other services.

For more information for patients download our pamphlet.