In today’s economic landscape, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by complex complaint processes, aggressive debt collection conduct, or unexpected changes to your financial situation.
For many Western Australians, community legal centres are a lifeline – offering free, expert legal help when it’s needed most.
The Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc. (CCLS) is a not-for-profit, specialist community legal centre with a mission to strengthen the consumer voice in WA by advocating for and educating people about consumer and financial rights.
CCLS provides free, confidential legal advice and representation to people facing credit, debt and consumer law issues. They support people navigating disputes with businesses and financial firms or who are facing financial hardship with credit products like credit cards, personal loans, car loans, home loans, payday loans, buy now pay later and more.
There is often a significant power imbalance between consumers and big businesses and banks. CCLS helps people understand their rights and responsibilities, so they can stand up for themselves.
Their experienced legal team are supported by dedicated law student volunteers, ensuring vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers are not left to face legal challenges alone.
Through its free Telephone Legal Advice Line, the organisation offers legal information, referrals and discrete legal advice on a wide range of credit, debt, and consumer law issues. For more complex matters, CCLS also provides ongoing legal assistance and representation, especially in disputes involving banks, lenders or buy-now-pay-later services.
Beyond individual assistance, CCLS is committed to strengthening the broader community through legal education workshops and resources that build financial resilience and legal awareness.
The organisation also plays a key role in law reform and advocacy, regularly engaging with government and industry to push for fairer laws and policies. As the only WA-based organisation often represented in national forums, CCLS ensures the voices and concerns of Western Australians are heard at the highest levels.
The Financial Abuse Legal Service (FALS) is a specialist, integrated program combining legal assistance, social work, and financial counselling to support people who have experienced financial abuse in intimate partner relationships.
This trauma-informed service is delivered by CCLS and helps victim-survivors regain safety, control, and long-term financial independence through coordinated, wraparound support.
lawCCLS is a member of the Community Legal WA network, which includes 26 community legal centres across the state. Together, the community legal sector provides legal support in family law, tenancy, employment, domestic violence, and more, ensuring people across WA can access justice regardless of income or background.
Find out more about this valuable service – www.cclswa.org.au or call the free telephone legal advice line on 9221 7066.
