Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) is a community legal centre offering free legal assistance to women. We have offices in Brisbane (Annerley), Caboolture, Ipswich and at the Gold Coast (Southport).
We provide legal advice and support with domestic and family violence, family separation or divorce, parenting, child safety and protecting counselling notes in sexual assault matters.
WLSQ does not regularly represent clients in ongoing matters, and people cannot ‘employ’ us as we are a not-for-profit organisation.
If you are supporting someone to seek legal advice from WLSQ, please be aware that our team must speak directly with the person who is seeking advice. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
If you are worried about someone you care about, you can encourage them to contact WLSQ by calling our Helpline on 1800 957 957 to speak to our intake team, all of whom are specially trained. When they contact the WLSQ Helpline they will always speak to a female.
They can also book an appointment to our Monday evening legal advice clinic through our Helpline or find our domestic violence duty lawyers at the Ipswich*, Holland Park and Caboolture Magistrate Courts.
If you are supporting someone to seek legal advice from WLSQ, please be aware that our team must speak directly with the person who is seeking advice. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
When someone is receiving legal advice from WLSQ we may also be able to help them speak to a social worker or financial counsellor from our service or suggest other suitable organisations for them to contact.
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.
*Please note, WLSQ do not attend the Ipswich Magistrates Court on a Wednesday or Thursday.
If you, or someone else, are in immediate danger, please call ‘000’.
If no one is in immediate danger, you can access our list of helpful numbers and services. These services can help people to stay safe. This can include supporting you, and the people you care about, to make a ‘safety plan’ over the phone. Safety planning is about the practical things that can be done to stay safe. If the person you’re concerned about doesn’t need legal advice, but you or they would like advice about staying safe, contact one of these services.
As a supporter, you can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. Counsellors are available 24/7 to chat with you about how you can support yourself, and the people you care about, and direct you to other support services if needed.
Our solicitors can give women free advice about their legal options if they feel afraid of their partner or ex-partner. This may include legal advice on how to obtain a domestic violence order in Queensland.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that we must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
If they are not sure if they need legal advice or practical safety planning, please encourage them to give us a call. WLSQ has social workers who can provide practical support, or we can refer them to an appropriate service that may be able to help.
Divorce can mean many things. Legally speaking, divorce refers to changing someone’s marital status from married to not married.
Sometimes when a couple are ‘getting divorced’ they will also need to deal with finances, property, parenting arrangements, child support or safety issues (for themselves and/or their children). Our separation and divorce resources may help to understand where to start and how you can support someone you care about who is getting divorced.
Our solicitors can give women free advice about their legal options if they are getting divorced. Depending on their circumstances, they may be eligible to receive support from our divorce clinic.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
Separation can mean there are many things to work out which might include: dealing with finances, property, parenting arrangements, child support or safety issues (for them and/or their children). Our separation and divorce resources may help to understand where to start and how you can support someone you care about who is separating.
Our solicitors can give women free advice about their legal options if they are separating.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
If you, or someone else, are in immediate danger or need immediate medical help, please call ‘000’.
If no one is in immediate danger but you, or someone else, want to report a crime, call PoliceLink on 131 444, report the crime online or go to your local police station in person.
You can also access our list of helpful numbers and services to find support services that may be able to assist.
Our solicitors can give women free advice about their legal options for future protection, including applying for a domestic violence order, if they have been assaulted by a partner, ex-partner or family member.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
We provide free legal advice, assistance, and representation to protect the counselling records of victim-survivors of sexual assault or alleged sexual assault.
WLSQ can give women free advice about legal options if another party is attempting access their counselling records as part of a sexual assault court matter.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with our Counselling Notes Protect team.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
They can also get legal advice about protecting their counselling records from Legal Aid Queensland by calling 1300 267 762.
If you, someone you care about, or any children are in immediate danger, please call ‘000’.
If no one is in immediate danger, you can access our list of helpful numbers and services to find support services that may be able to assist.
If there is any concern about the safety of children, for example when spending time with their other parent or carer or another family member, seek legal advice.
If you reasonably believe a child may have suffered harm it is important to be aware of your mandatory reporting requirements.
We can provide free legal advice on how to navigate arrangements for children, regardless of whether the matter is before the court.
You can support, or encourage, someone you care about to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
Women experiencing domestic and family violence may also experience financial abuse.
They may be struggling with debts because of an abusive relationship even if that relationship is over.
Our financial abuse resources may help to understand where to start and how you can support someone you care about who is experiencing financial abuse.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
If they receive legal advice from WLSQ and may benefit from assistance from a financial counsellor or with debt, we can organise a referral to our Financial Abuse Prevention Unit.
They can also call the National Debt Helpline to talk to a free financial counsellor by calling 1800 007 007.
If someone you care about is in Australia on a temporary visa and are worried about how this might impact issues they are having with safety in the relationship or separation/divorce they can call Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) for legal assistance.
We have partnered with the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) to provide free legal assistance to women experiencing legal issues with visas and safety or family.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue. If needed, we can arrange an interpreter.
If they only need advice on their visa, it is best to call RAILS on (07) 3846 9300.
We can provide legal advice to women all over Queensland in domestic and family violence, family separation or divorce, parenting, child safety and protecting counselling notes in sexual assault matters.
If someone you care about lives outside of southeast Queensland, and needs legal advice, you can support, or encourage, them to call our Rural, Regional and Remote advice line on Tuesdays between 9:30am to 1:30pm. Where available, callers to this line will be prioritised for an appointment.
Alternatively, they can call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
If they are in north Queensland, they can also contact the North Queensland Women’s Legal Service on 1800 244 504.
Yes. Domestic and family violence matters are state based. We can provide advice on DFV matters in Queensland. Even if the person with the legal issue is in another state, we can provide legal advice about Queensland domestic and family violence matters.
You can support, or encourage, them to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
We can provide free legal advice to women going to court:
We generally cannot appear for women in court, however we can give advice on what services may be able to represent women in court, or about how to prepare to represent themselves.
If the matter is a domestic and family violence matter being heard at the Ipswich Magistrates Court*, Holland Park Magistrates Court, or Caboolture Magistrates Court we may be able to provide representation through the free Duty Lawyer Service. There is no need to call for an appointment first. When attending court, ask to see a duty lawyer.
You can support, or encourage, the person you care about to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
*Please note, we do not attend the Ipswich Magistrates Court on a Wednesday or Thursday. If the matter is being heard on these days please call the WLSQ Helpline.
Legal Aid Queensland is a government funded organisation which provides legal help to people experiencing financial disadvantage. Legal Aid Queensland may: provide one-off advice; represent people (in certain matters); or provide funding for people to receive help from approved private solicitors who will be paid by Legal Aid Queensland.
WLSQ is not the same entity as Legal Aid Queensland and we cannot receive funding from Legal Aid Queensland to represent people.
Sometimes we might suggest that you apply for support from Legal Aid Queensland, and in some circumstances, we can assist people to complete their application.
You can support, or encourage, the person you care about to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that our team must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
WLSQ has Health Justice Partnerships at several hospitals in southeast Queensland. Health Justice Partnerships link women experiencing domestic and family violence with solicitors to provide them with legal advice.
Our solicitors can provide free legal advice about any family law, domestic and family violence or child safety matters through this service.
Women can be referred by hospital social work staff or another health practitioner, or they can self-refer by calling the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that our team must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
The current hospitals WLSQ have partnerships with are:
We provide free legal assistance to women at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre (in Wacol) and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre (in Gatton).
WLSQ only provide legal advice to women at these centres in relation to family law, domestic and family violence and child safety matters. We do not provide advice in relation to criminal law matters, including breaches or alleged breaches of DVOs.
Appointments can be requested through offender development.
We can provide free advice on how to prepare for mediation in relation to organising your property or parenting arrangements.
If the mediation is being held through the Mt Gravatt Family Relationship Centre or the Logan Family Relationship Centre, an appointment may be able to be made through the centre for discrete legal advice prior to the scheduled mediation. Appointments are arranged by the team at Mt Gravatt or Logan Family Relationship Centre.
You can support, or encourage, the person you care about to call the WLSQ Helpline on 1800 957 957, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, to speak with our specially trained team of female intake officers who can provide information and referrals to women and, if appropriate, arrange a legal advice appointment with a lawyer.
Please be aware that WLSQ must speak directly with the person experiencing the legal issue. We cannot provide anyone else with advice on behalf of the person with the legal issue.
Australia’s legal systems can be challenging and complex to navigate. Knowing the basics and understanding what to expect can help you feel more confident and better prepared.
WLSQ acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work, particularly the Turrbul, Yuggera, Gubbi Gubbi, Ugarapul peoples and the Yugambeh Language Region on whose lands our offices sit. We recognise their continuing connection to this Country, its waters, and culture. We acknowledge that their sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present, and we especially honour First Nations women and the traditions they carry.
Click here or press the ‘esc’ key to exit this site quickly.
