31 August 2007
Darwin, 31 August 2007: Clayton Utz’ ongoing commitment to providing pro bono and community support to the Australian Red Cross Youth and Community Services has been recognised by the Law Society Northern Territory (LSNT).
Clayton Utz has received the LSNT Contribution to the Community Award for 2007 – awarded every two years to a lawyer or law firm which has provided its legal skills free of charge to an organisation. The Australian Red Cross nominated Clayton Utz for the Award.
The partner-in-charge of Clayton Utz' Darwin office, Mark Spain, said the firm was thrilled to receive the Award.
"The Award is recognition of the strong community partnership Clayton Utz has built with the Northern Territory division of the Australian Red Cross over the past six years," Mr Spain said.
"The Australian Red Cross has an energetic Board and Executive with a track record of delivering practical and effective programs for disadvantaged youth in the Northern Territory. We value our partnership with them and their many volunteers."
In addition to providing pro bono legal assistance, Clayton Utz staff in Darwin participate in a number of community service activities with the Red Cross including the Tiwi Island Holiday program[1], the Good Start Breakfast Club[2], the Larrikin Radio program on Radio Larrakia[3] and the annual fundraiser Red Cross Calling.
The Tiwi Island Holiday program is operated by Red Cross during the school holidays for Indigenous youth in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island. Often these youth are faced with problems associated with isolation and boredom. Clayton Utz staff work with Red Cross in helping the local community with these challenges by providing recreation and social activities.
The Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club ensures a healthy breakfast and a nutritional boost to the school day. Over 90,000 breakfasts are served at 15 Breakfast Clubs throughout the NT, which includes six remote indigenous communities. The Larrikin Radio program on Radio Larrakia is a community based radio program directed at Darwin youth, and is run by SHAK (Safe Haven for All Kids). The Red Cross has operated SHAK for 23 years.
Commenting on the firm's involvement, Mr Spain said: "These initiatives enable everyone in our Darwin office to contribute to the local community in a structured environment, which is both good fun and very rewarding."
National Pro Bono Partner David Hillard said Clayton Utz had conducted more than 1,000 hours of pro bono work in the Northern Territory during the 2007 financial year at an average of more than 80 hours per lawyer.
"In the last financial year we provided pro bono work for clients in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Groote Eylandt and East Arnhem Land," Mr Hillard said.
[1] The Tiwi Island Holiday program is run twice a year for indigenous youth in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island. Staff assist the Red Cross in running its four-day holiday program for children in the community, with activities including sport (swimming, basketball, Auskick and cricket) and craft (face painting, jewellery making, mask making).
[2] The Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club is a program which delivers over 90,000 breakfasts to 15 Breakfast Clubs throughout the NT, which includes 6 remote indigenous communities.
[3] The Larrikin Radio program on Radio Larrakia is a community based radio program directed at Darwin youth and run in conjunction with the organisation Secure Haven for All Kids (SHAK). Next time you speak to one of our Darwin colleagues, ask them what their DJ name is!
