HVFLPA Statement – Legal Aid Funding Changes – 21 May 2026
The Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association expresses grave concern regarding the recently announced changes to eligibility criteria for family law matters by Legal Aid NSW, and the foreshadowed restriction on the funding of Independent Children’s Lawyers.
The Association is concerned that these changes will disproportionately affect vulnerable families in regional communities including in the Hunter.
The Newcastle Registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is already under immense strain. These changes risk compounding existing pressures on the Court and undermining the effective administration of justice in a region already experiencing significant levels of disadvantage and family violence.
Read our full statement here: