Safety online Search 1800 957 957

Get help

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

If you are not in immediate danger but are worried about your safety, see this list of helpful numbers and services, many of which are available 24-hours a day. You can also report a crime after it has happened by phoning the non-urgent police line on 131 444.

Statewide Helpline

Call our Statewide Helpline to book a free legal advice appointment.

9:00am – 4:30pm

Monday to Friday

 

We are committed to having a safe workplace for all staff. Any form of abuse or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated and may impact our service to you.

Rural, regional & remote legal advice helpline

Rural, regional & remote callers can call this line and, where available, be prioritised for appointments between 9:30am – 1:30pm on Tuesdays.

9:30am – 1:30pm

Tuesdays only

Monday evening legal advice clinic

Book an appointment through our Helpline to visit our Brisbane office on Monday evenings for free in-person legal advice for women in Queensland in relation to domestic violence and, family law matters.

WLSQ Head office,

8 Ponsonby Street (corner of Ipswich Road), Annerley

Entry via Ponsonby Street

5:30pm – 8:00pm

Mondays only

Accessibility information

Do you mainly speak a language other than English?
Call WLSQ on 1800 957 957 and ask for an interpreter. State your name, phone number and the language you speak. We will organise an interpreter for you.

Do you have difficulty speaking or hearing?
You can contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS) in two steps:

  1. Contact the NRS. Phone numbers and access points are on the NRS website.
  2. Give them WLSQ’s telephone number: 1800 957 957.

Do you need assistance accessing this website?
We’ve added the Recite Me web accessibility and language toolbar to our website to make it accessible and inclusive for as many people as possible.

You can open the Recite Me Accessibility Toolbar by clicking on the “Speak or translate” button in the top right corner of the page.

Find out more about using the Recite Me toolbar on the WLSQ website: Accessibility

What to expect when you call our Helpline

Frequently asked questions

Find out if Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) is a suitable service for you, see some of our frequently asked questions, simply click on the question to expand, and read the answer.

Read all FAQs
Who does WLSQ help?

WLSQ is a specialist community legal centre which provides free legal advice to women in Queensland in the areas of domestic and family violence, family separation or divorce, child safety and if someone is trying to access your counselling records in a sexual assault Court matter.

Call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957 to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to all women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a WLSQ lawyer. For more information about the WLSQ Helpline visit the Get Help page.

Our rural, regional and remote (RRR) line provides priority access, where possible, to the service for women who are outside Southeast Queensland on Tuesdays between 9:30am to 1:30pm. For more information about the RRR Priority Line visit the Get Help page.

Please note that we are not able to offer second opinions when you already have a lawyer.

When you contact Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) seeking assistance, you may be advised that we cannot assist. For more information about reasons why we may not be able to assist you please download the If WLSQ Cannot Assist You factsheet. If we cannot assist, our team will do our best to direct you to a service which can help.

For any other legal matter please visit the Community Legal Centres Queensland website to find a community legal centre in your area that may be able to offer free legal advice. If you are unsure about where to start, please contact our Helpline on 1800 957 957 and our intake officers can provide you with information and/or appropriate referrals depending on the legal issue you are experiencing.

Can I get legal advice on behalf of someone else?

No. We need to speak directly to the woman seeking advice so that we can collect the relevant information and provide accurate and complete advice.

Can you arrange an interpreter?

If you mainly speak a language other than English: Call WLSQ on 1800 957 957 and ask for an interpreter. State your name, phone number and the language you speak. We will organise an interpreter during the call.

If you experience challenges speaking or hearing: Call the National Relay Service (NRS). Give NRS the WLSQ phone number, 1800 957 957.

For more information, visit Get Help.

Do you provide representation in court?

If you are going to court for a family law, domestic violence or child protection you can call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957 for free legal advice.

We generally cannot appear for you in court, however we can provide advice regarding services that may be able to assist, or about how to prepare to represent yourself.

If you are attending a domestic and family violence matter at the Ipswich Magistrates Court*, Holland Park Magistrates Court, or Caboolture Magistrates Court we may be able to represent you through the free duty lawyer service. You do not need to call for an appointment first. When attending court, you can ask to see a duty lawyer and you will be guided through the process on the day.

*Please note, we do not attend the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesdays or Thursdays. If you are appearing on these days, please call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

How long will my legal appointment be?

For eligible women, the WLSQ Helpline team can arrange a free 30-minute appointment with an experienced solicitor. If you are eligible for an appointment, you can nominate a day or evening appointment, by phone or in person, subject to availability. For more information see our Get Help page.

Can I bring my children to my appointment?

WLSQ provides a welcoming environment, however we generally cannot accommodate children being taken into your appointment. If you are bringing children with you, we recommend you bring a female support person to supervise them during your appointment.

Can I bring a support person to my appointment?

WLSQ is committed to the provision of a safe environment for our clients to discuss their legal matter with our team. If you want a support person to attend your appointment with you, WLSQ will discuss this with you. We usually do not permit men to attend the appointment or wait in the waiting room. We are focused on ensuring clients feel safe and supported during their appointments and that their privacy is maintained.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions about WLSQ? Look at the full list of frequently asked questions on our FAQs page.

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Helpful numbers & services

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Resources

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About WLSQ

Find out more about our organisation, the people behind it and our origins.

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