Can temporary visa holders (working holiday, student, 485, etc.) get free legal help?

Yes, many services are open regardless of your residency status. Community legal centres (CLCs), tenants' unions, and the Fair Work Ombudsman can be used regardless of visa type, and phone advice through Legal Aid helplines is also available in most cases. However, ongoing assistance such as lawyer representation (a grant of aid) is subject to separate criteria including case type and a means test, so check the official guidance from your state's Legal Aid.

My English isn't strong — how can I get advice?

Call TIS National (131 450) and you can speak with government and participating organisations through an interpreter in your preferred language. The interpreting fee is often covered by the organisation, so in most cases it is free for you. If you need an interpreter for a court or tribunal hearing, you can request one in advance — let them know before you attend.

It says 'free' — is there really no cost at all?

Helpline phone advice, CLC and tenants' union consultations, and the Fair Work Ombudsman are free. However, ongoing Legal Aid assistance (lawyer representation) may require a partial contribution depending on the outcome of the means test. Always check the expected costs and conditions before applying.

I'm in a dispute with my landlord over the bond and repairs. Where do I ask?

Your state's tenants' union (e.g. Tenants' Union of NSW, Tenants Victoria) or a tenancy-focused CLC provides free advice. If the dispute isn't resolved, you can apply to your state's tribunal (e.g. NCAT in NSW). Application deadlines apply, so it's best to seek advice as early as possible.

I haven't been paid my wages. Can I get help for free?

Yes. The Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) provides free information and handles investigations into minimum wage issues, unpaid wages, and unfair treatment. Visa holders working in Australia have the same workplace rights protections, and you can also seek free advice from an employment-focused CLC at the same time.

Can I get immigration or visa advice from just anyone?

No. In Australia, only an OMARA registered migration agent or an Australian lawyer may provide immigration assistance for a fee. Advice from unqualified brokers or acquaintances may be illegal and can have serious consequences for your visa, so check registration at mara.gov.au. Some Legal Aid offices and immigration-focused CLCs run free immigration legal services.

What should I do if I'm questioned by the police?

Generally, you have the right to remain silent beyond providing basic details such as your name and address, and you can ask to speak with a lawyer before making a statement. Your state's Legal Aid provides early advice in criminal matters, so contact them as soon as possible. This is general information only — for your specific situation, you must speak with a lawyer.

Free legal help in Australia — Legal Aid, CLC and interpreter guide - Shepparton

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Getting free legal help — Legal Aid, community legal centres, interpreters

A clear overview of Australia's public and non-profit legal assistance system, so you can get help with tenancy, employment, fines, or immigration problems without worrying about the cost.

What is free legal help — who helps, and with what?

Australia has a network of public and non-profit legal assistance services for people who can't afford lawyer fees. Each state and territory's Legal Aid (e.g. Legal Aid NSW, Victoria Legal Aid, Legal Aid Queensland) provides free information, advice, and conditional lawyer assistance in criminal, family, and some civil matters, while community legal centres (CLCs) across local areas give free advice on everyday problems such as tenancy, employment, and debt. This guide doesn't recommend any particular law firm — it points you to the public services anyone can use.

Legal Aid, CLCs, and specialised bodies — what's the difference?

Legal Aid is a statutory body funded by state governments. Its helplines and duty lawyers are broadly available, but lawyer representation (a grant of aid) requires passing an income and assets assessment (means test). CLCs are independent non-profit organisations whose advice is free, and they specialise by location and area of law (tenancy, employment, immigration, etc.). Beyond these, specialised public bodies such as the Fair Work Ombudsman (employment), tenants' unions (tenancy), and each state's Fair Trading (consumer) can also be used for free.

The basic steps for getting free legal help

The key is don't struggle alone — start by calling a helpline. Most state Legal Aid offices run a free phone advice line (e.g. LawAccess 1300 888 529 in NSW), where staff listen to your situation and connect you to the right organisation or book an appointment. If English is a barrier, you can call with an interpreter via TIS National on 131 450.

If you need lawyer representation — grant of legal aid

If you need ongoing help such as court representation, apply for legal aid with your state's Legal Aid. Your application goes through a means test (income and assets) and an assessment of the nature of your matter, and even if approved, a partial contribution may be required. Eligible areas and criteria differ by state, so always check that state's official website.

Work out the area of your problem (tenancy, employment, fines, immigration, consumer) and any deadlines
Call your state's Legal Aid helpline or the relevant specialised body (call 131 450 first if you need an interpreter)

Eligibility criteria and what to prepare

Phone advice, CLC consultations, and the Fair Work Ombudsman — initial advice is mostly free with no eligibility restrictions. By contrast, Legal Aid's lawyer representation applies an income and assets assessment (means test), and Centrelink recipients and low-income earners are often prioritised. To get the most out of your consultation, organise your case documents in advance.

Case documents: tenancy agreement, employment contract, payslips, fine notices, visa documents, etc.
A chronological note of what happened, plus evidence such as texts, emails, and photos
Proof of income and assets (for the means test): payslips, bank balances, Centrelink payment records, etc.

By dispute type — where should you go?

Even for the same 'legal problem', the fastest and most accurate service differs by area. Beyond the four common types below, consumer disputes (refunds, contracts, etc.) can be raised for free with your state's Fair Trading (e.g. NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria).

Tenancy and housing disputes

For bond, repair, and eviction issues, your state's tenants' union and tenancy-focused CLCs provide free advice. If unresolved, you can apply to your state's tribunal — deadlines apply, so act quickly.

Employment and wage issues

Unpaid wages, minimum wage breaches, and unfair treatment are handled by the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94, free). Visa holders are equally protected, and it's worth also getting advice from an employment-focused CLC.

Fines and criminal matters

For matters requiring a court appearance, Legal Aid is the key service. You can ask the court's duty lawyer for help on the day, and Legal Aid helplines can also guide you on disputing fines or difficulty paying them.

Immigration and visa matters

Some state Legal Aid offices and immigration-focused CLCs run free immigration legal services. Paid advice may only be provided by an OMARA registered migration agent or an Australian lawyer, so check registration at mara.gov.au before your consultation.

5 tips for making the most of free legal help

Even with free services, preparation makes a big difference to the outcome. Keep these five things in mind.

Ask for an interpreter without hesitation — TIS National 131 450 is mostly free when connecting to government and participating organisations, and you can request an interpreter for court and tribunal hearings in advance. It's far safer than making an unfavourable statement in shaky English.
Check the time limit first — disputing a fine, unfair dismissal claims, and tribunal applications each have deadlines. At your first consultation, always ask 'By when do I need to act?'

Warnings — 5 common mistakes

Many people make their problems worse by not knowing free help exists, or by relying on the wrong sources. Avoid the mistakes below.

Relying on unqualified immigration 'brokers' — paid immigration advice from community acquaintances or social media brokers may be illegal and can lead to visa refusal. Always verify OMARA registration (mara.gov.au) or Australian legal qualifications.
Mistaking 'free consultation' ads for public services — some commercial law firms' 'free first consultation' can lead to paid engagement afterwards. Don't engage a firm until you've seen the fee structure (costs agreement) in writing.

Life in Australia Guide