THE OLDER PERSONS LEGAL SERVICE("OPLS")
In January 2008 Legal Aid NSW provided funding for the establishment of an Older Person' Legal and Educational Program under its Community Legal Centres Funding Program.
The Older Persons' Legal and Education Program is a partnership between Legal Aid NSW and TARS aimed at improving older persons' access to legal services through advice, assistance, advocacy representation and education.
Under the funding agreement TARS established THE OLDER PERSONS LEGAL SERVICE ("OPLS") which provides legal advice, assistance and education for older people in the community as well as residents of aged care facilities and retirement villages throughout NSW including rural regional and remote areas of the state.
This new legal service will be targeted at older people who are socially or economically disadvantaged. We have a staff of two solicitors who will give advice in the following matters:
- Consumer Issues - debt management, certain contractual matters and unfair contracts, provision of goods and services
- Human Rights matters - age discrimination, financial abuse by relatives and carers, assistance access to the administration of State and Commonwealth Law and Programs.
- Social Security - elderly members of the community will have access to legal assistance from TARS if their interaction with the welfare systems fails.
- Alternative Decision Making - Issues involving the capacity to make financial care decisions. TARS can provide legal advice and assistance in relation to Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship issues.
TARS will also provide community legal education on topics of interest to older persons in community settings and events. These education sessions will be followed by the provision of face to face advice opportunities for members of the community. These sessions will be limited by time and resource constraints at individual venues.
