Media release: Clayton Utz grants $100,000 grant to Melbourne access to justice organisation

The $100,000 grant will help fund IMCL's "Resolving Barriers to Recovery" program, which aims to improve legal outcomes for individuals experiencing mental ill health and psychosocial distress through a specialist health justice partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Alongside the financial grant, Clayton Utz will also provide IMCL with pro bono legal support.

Clayton Utz Partner and Chair of the Clayton Utz Foundation, Marcus Davenport, said the firm's inaugural Access to Justice Grant aims to shift the dial on access to justice for Australians who need it most.

'We know that for some in our community, access to justice is hindered by health, social or financial factors,' Mr Davenport said.

'The "Resolving Barriers to Recovery" program that IMCL has established in partnership with RMH is a clear example of an initiative that seeks to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community access legal support.'

'We received many applications for our Access to Justice Grant, and it's heartening to see so many initiatives dedicated to improving access to justice for all.'

IMCL CEO Nadia Morales said the organisation was honoured to receive the grant from the Clayton Utz Foundation.

'This generous and transformative donation will allow us to implement the next iteration of our highly regarded Health Justice Partnerships (HJPs), building on years of successful collaboration between lawyers and health professionals.'

The "Resolving Barriers to Recovery" program involves imbedding a dedicated lawyer within various mental health settings to provide tailored legal services, train mental health professionals to identify and address legal needs, and develop co-designed resources to encourage help-seeking.

IMCL’s Director of Engagement & Projects, Molly Williams, said that by addressing unmet legal needs as part of mental health recovery, the initiative seeks to not only reduce barriers to recovery, but inform broader systemic reform.

'We have a proud decade-long partnership with RMH. With its expertise in health justice partnerships and IMCL's legal expertise, we hope to create a replicable model for other community legal centres across Australia.'