Episodes

  • School rules: Exclusion and non‑attendance in NSW

    School rules: Exclusion and non‑attendance in NSW
    Apr 14 2026

    What happens when a child stops attending or is excluded from school - and what are the legal consequences for families and schools?

    In this episode, Yolanda takes a deep dive into school law in New South Wales, joined by legal experts Carey and Brodie. Together, they unpack how schools manage attendance and discipline, the legal obligations of parents, and what compulsory schooling orders actually mean in practice.

    The conversation explores school exclusion in detail, including suspensions and expulsions, and the rights students have when these decisions are made. You’ll also hear about the complex social factors that sit behind non‑attendance, the respective roles of schools, Legal Aid NSW and community workers, and why early, supportive intervention can be critical in changing a young person’s life course.

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Suspension and expulsion procedures | NSW Department of Education
    • Disability Standards for Education | Australian Government Department of Education
    • Youth Law Australia | Legal Services for Young People
    • Shopfront Youth Legal Centre
    • Marrickville Legal Centre
    • Community Legal Centres NSW

    Chapter markers:

    00:03:18 - School attendance rules

    00:05:17 - School refusal

    00:09:18 - Compulsory schooling orders

    00:24:57 - Carey's tips for community workers

    00:27:40 - School discipline rules

    00:29:49 - Bullying

    00:31:37 - Suspension and expulsion legal issues

    00:43:30 - Disability and discrimination

    00:47:22 - Case studies

    00:52:45 - Brodie's tips for community workers

    Download the transcript.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Hard Conversations: Episode 1 - Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service and Central Coast Community Legal Centre

    Hard Conversations: Episode 1 - Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service and Central Coast Community Legal Centre
    Mar 2 2026
    Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW. The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable. This first episode was recorded from conversations with social workers, community workers and lawyers from Legal Aid NSW Edler Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Most of the people you will hear in this episode no longer work with these services. The Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre continue to provide services for older people. You will hear from: Tracy Jackson- then a social worker at the Central Coast Elder Abuse ServiceBobbi Murray – then an Aboriginal access worker at the Central Coast Community Legal CentreBarry (BJ ) Duncan- then an Aboriginal access worker at the Central Coast Community Legal Centre/ member Darkinjung Aboriginal Land CouncilMary Lovelock - Solicitor in charge at the Central Coast Elder Abuse ServiceTanya Chapman – then a lawyer at the Central Coast Elder Abuse Service Download the transcript for this episode. Other episodes of Hard Conversations: Ep2: Talking about elder abuse and First Nations communitiesEp3: Talking about elder abuse and culturally diverse communitiesEp4: Talking about engaging with diverse communitiesEp5: Talking about elder abuse and rural and regional communitiesEp6: Dr Kay Patterson - former federal Age Discrimination Commissioner talks about elder abuse More information Central Coast Community Legal Centre 02 4353 4988Legal Aid NSW 1300 888 529Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service (Central Coast and Hunter) - 02 4324 56111800 ELDERHelp: National elder abuse phone line- 1800 353 374NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and Abuse Helpline - 1800 628 221Seniors Rights Service NSW - 1800 424 079OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 700 600NSW Aboriginal Land Councils – 02 9689 4444 and Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council – 02 4351 2930National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations -NACCHORelationships Australia Elder Support and Mediation service -1300 364 2771800 Respect: National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling - 1800 737 732Compass- Guiding action on elder abuse -resources and support directory Music by Gambirra Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW Subscribe to the Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service e-newsletter This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Hard conversations-Episode 2: Working with First Nations communities and elder abuse: Central Coast Community Legal Centre and Legal Aid NSW

    Hard conversations-Episode 2: Working with First Nations communities and elder abuse: Central Coast Community Legal Centre and Legal Aid NSW
    Sep 2 2020
    'Hard conversations' is a 6 part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. In this second episode we will hear from: Barry Duncan(BJ); an Aboriginal Access Worker with the Central Coast Community Legal Centre, and also the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council who will talk about his work with Elders; Scott Hawkins - manager of the Aboriginal Service Unit at Legal Aid NSW who will talk about things community organisations can do to engage with Aboriginal communities, and Terri a First Nations Elder from the Central Coast, who talks about the complexities of abuse. Throughout this series you will hear from lots of different people about their understanding of elder abuse, the ways they think about it in their communities and how we can start to address it together. There is no one right answer, there are lots of things we can do to help people who may be experiencing or are at risk of elder abuse and we will talk about some of them. This series has been made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Other episodes of hard conversations: Ep1: Talking about elder abuseEp3: Working with CALD communitiesEp4: Engaging with diverse communitiesEp5: Rural and regional communitiesEp6: Dr Kay Patterson Age Discrimination Commissioner Referrals and more information Legal Aid NSW 1300 888 529 and Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service (Central Coast) 02 4324 5611Central Coast Community Legal Centre 02 4353 4988Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council – 02 4351 2930NSW Aboriginal Land Councils – 02 9689 4444Mingaletta - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation – 02 4324 7515Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline - 1800 628 221Seniors Rights Service NSW 1800 424 079Seniors Rights Service Reconciliation Action Plan ConnectAbility – 02 4962 1000OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 700 600Elder abuse support and mediation service - Relationships Australia 1300 364 277Staying home leaving violence1800 respect - 1800 737 732COTA NSW – 1800 449 102Carers NSW - 1800 242 636https://www.compass.info/– resources and support directoryLawAccessSpeak my language: A community radio project from the Ethnic Communities CouncilSettlement Services International and Northern Settlement Services 49 693 399 43 343 877(Central Coast) If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. Music produced by Gambirra. Edited by Jessica Sullivan Legal Aid NSW Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Hard Conversations: Episode 3 - Culturally diverse communities - Jenelyn Terkildsen

    Hard Conversations: Episode 3 - Culturally diverse communities - Jenelyn Terkildsen
    Mar 2 2026
    Hard conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW. The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable. In this 3rd episode we talk with Jenelyn Terkildsen about elder abuse in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This episode was recorded when Jenelyn was working as a Multicultural Access Project Officer at ConnectAbility on the Central Coast NSW. This role no longer exists. Download the transcript for this episode. Other episodes of 'Hard conversations': Ep1: Talking about elder abuseEp2: Talking about elder abuse and First Nations communitiesEp4: Talking about engaging with diverse communitiesEp5: Talking about elder abuse and rural and regional communitiesEp6: Dr Kay Patterson - former federal Age Discrimination Commissioner talks about elder abuse More information Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service 02 4324 5611Legal Aid NSW 1300 888 529Central Coast Community Legal Centre 02 4353 49881800 ELDERHelp: National elder abuse phone line- 1800 353 374NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and Abuse Helpline - 1800 628 221Seniors Rights Service NSW 1800 424 079Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 1800 951 822Statement of Rights | Aged Care Quality and Safety CommissionOPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 237 9811800 Respect: National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling - 1800 737 732Carers NSW - 1800 242 636Speak My Language | Podcasts from CALD and indigenous communitiesCompass- Guiding action on elder abuse -resources and support directoryPartners in Culturally Appropriate Aged CareCentre for Cultural Diversity in AgeingTranslating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) 131450Lifeline 131114 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Music by Gambirra Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Hard Conversations: Episode 4 - Engaging with diverse communities- Diana Bernard- Seniors Rights Service.

    Hard Conversations: Episode 4 - Engaging with diverse communities- Diana Bernard- Seniors Rights Service.
    Mar 17 2021
    'Hard conversations' is a 6 part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. In this 4th episode we talk with Diana Bernard. Diana was the former manager of education and special projects at the Seniors Rights Service. She will talk about their work in the area of elder abuse and some of the strategies they use in their education work with diverse communities. Throughout this series you will hear from lots of different people about their understanding of elder abuse, the ways they think about it in their communities and how we can start to address it together. There is no one right answer, there are lots of things we can do to help people who may be experiencing or are at risk of elder abuse and we will talk about some of them. This series has been made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Other episodes of hard conversations: Ep1: Talking about elder abuseEp2: Working with first nations communitiesEp3: Working with CALD communitiesEp5: Rural and regional communitiesEp6: Dr Kay Patterson Age Discrimination Commissioner Referrals and more information Legal Aid NSW 1300 888529Seniors Rights Service NSW 1800 424 079Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline - 1800 628 221Seniors Rights Service video and audio resourcesOPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 700 600Connect Ability – 02 4962 1000Staying home leaving violenceElder abuse support and mediation service - Relationships Australia 1300 364 2771800 respect - 1800 737 732NSW Aboriginal Land Councils – 02 9689 4444Speak my language: A community radio project from the Ethnic Communities CouncilSettlement Services International and Northern Settlement Services 49 693 399 43 343 877(Central Coast)COTA NSW – 1800 449 102Carers NSW - 1800 242 636Compass- Guiding action on elder abuse -resources and support directoryLifeline 131114 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 If you need an interpreter, please call the translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 Music produced by Gambirra. Podcast edited by by Jessica Sullivan from Legal Aid NSW and Bernadette Nguyen from Audiocraft. Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Hard Conversations: Episode 5 - Rural and regional communities

    Hard Conversations: Episode 5 - Rural and regional communities
    Mar 2 2026
    Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW. The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable. In this 5th episode we talk with Maria Berry about elder abuse in rural and regional communities. This episode was recorded when Maria was previously a community development officer with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN). Download the transcript for this episode. Other episodes of Hard Conversations: Ep1: Talking about elder abuseEp2: Talking about elder abuse and First Nations communitiesEp3: Talking about elder abuse and culturally diverse communitiesEp4: Talking about engaging with diverse communitiesEp6: Dr Kay Patterson - former federal Age Discrimination Commissioner talks about elder abuse More information Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service 02 4324 5611Legal Aid NSW 1300 888 529OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 237 9811800 ELDERHelp: National elder abuse phone line- 1800 353 374NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and Abuse Helpline - 1800 628 221Seniors Rights Service NSW 1800 424 079Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 1800 951 822Statement of Rights | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission1800 Respect: National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling - 1800 737 732Carers NSW - 1800 242 636Compass- Guiding action on elder abuse -resources and support directoryLifeline 131114 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Music by Gambirra Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW Subscribe to the Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service e-newsletter This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • Hard Conversations: Episode 6 - Dr Kay Patterson Federal Age Discrimination Commissioner talks about elder abuse

    Hard Conversations: Episode 6 - Dr Kay Patterson Federal Age Discrimination Commissioner talks about elder abuse
    Aug 2 2021
    ‘Hard conversations’ is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. This final episode features Dr Kay Patterson AO – the federal age discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). In this informative and engaging interview, Dr Patterson talks with Mary Lovelock, who is the solicitor in charge of the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service. They talk about ageism, how it contributes to elder abuse, and the work of the AHRC to raise awareness about elder abuse. In this series, you hear from lots of different people about their understanding of elder abuse, the ways they think about it in their communities and how we can start to address it together. There is no one right answer, but there are lots of things we can do to help people who may be experiencing or are at risk of elder abuse. Dr Patterson says that it takes a whole community to keep their eyes open to prevent elder abuse - starting with an awareness of the signs of elder abuse, and to know where people can get help. This series has been made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Previous episodes of hard conversations: Ep1: Talking about elder abuseEp2: Working with first nations communitiesEp3: Working with CALD communitiesEp4: Engaging with diverse communitiesEp5: Rural and regional communities Referrals and more information These links are mentioned by Dr Patterson in this podcast. For other links and services see the podcast notes for the previous episodes of ‘Hard Conversations’ in the list above. National Elder Abuse phone line – 1800ELDERHelp or 1800 353 374Legal Aid NSW 1300 888 529Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline (NSW) - 1800 628 221Australian Human Rights Commission - Age DiscriminationAustralian Human Rights Commission elder abuse projects AHRC Elder abuse awareness campaign including video ‘Elder abuse - know the signs’AHRC Bookmark - elder abuse signsYou decide Who decides – or download from publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/your-rights/enduring-power-of-attorney/planning-aheadCompass- Guiding action on elder abuse -resources and supportOPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) – 1800 700 600E safety CommissionerRelationships Australia- Elder abuse support and mediation service 1300 364 277Elder Abuse Action AustraliaNSW Ageing and Disability Commission- tools and resourcesAustralian Law Reform Commission: Elder Abuse — A National Legal Response and Recommendations | ALRCCouncil of Attorney General: National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older AustraliansFederal Attorney General-Protecting the Rights of Older AustraliansNational Australian Research Institute elder abuse resources and researchVideo - Margarita - OPAL InstituteAustralian Institute of Family Studies Elder Abuse reports gov.au/projects/national-elder-abuse-prevalence-studygov.au/publications/elder-abuse-national-research Lifeline 131114 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Music by Gambirra. Editing by Tiffany Dimmack from Audiocraft. Please send questions, comments and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au. Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • The Rental Shift: NSW reforms explained

    The Rental Shift: NSW reforms explained
    Sep 17 2025

    Originally recorded for NSW Law Week, the Tenants' Union of NSW breaks down the latest changes to rental laws in New South Wales.

    Community Education Coordinator, Charlie Wilde chats to Principal Solicitor, Grant Arbuthnot about key reforms including changes to evictions, rent increases, pets, water efficiency requirements and more.

    Find out more about the Tenants' Union of NSW and the new laws at tenants.org.au

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Tenancy law changes - Tenants' Union of NSW webpage and factsheet
    • Changes to rental laws - NSW Fair Trading
    • NCAT tribunal factsheets
    • Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) website
    • Austlii

    Watch the webinar of this episode.

    Download the transcript.

    Want to provide feedback or collaborate on a podcast? Email us at cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

    Disclaimer:

    Disclaimer: This podcast is general information only and cannot be relied on as legal advice. The information is accurate at the time of posting but may have changed. If you need assistance about a particular situation, contact our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 888 529.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins