A NEW resource will help parents with an intellectual disability navigate the legal language used in the child protection system.
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The Steps to Speaking Up resource turns legal jargon used by the Department of Health and Human Services into 'plain English'.
It is an initiative between Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre and the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with a Disability, who will launch the document in Maryborough next week.
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Centre community lawyer Rob Southgate said language gets very legal very quickly when there's a court proceeding afoot.
Confusing language can pose a challenge to parents involved with child protection, making it more difficult to make informed choices.
For this reason, several organisations have come together to revamp a resource in plain English detailing how the child protection system works.
Steps to Speaking Up has been designed to help parents with an intellectual disability navigate the system and language used by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre and Arc Justice aim to reach a new group of vulnerable people by launching the document in Maryborough during Law Week.
LCCLC community lawyer Rob Southgate said it can be harder for parents to make a informed choices if they don't understand the legal language used.
Any parent can get quite perplexed with the terminology used in orders from the Department of Health and Human Services, he said.
Wording could become quite specific when talking about orders such as "interim accommodation orders" or "family preservation orders", Mr Southgate said.
Not understanding documents or wording made it hard for parents to make an informed choice, creating stress and anxiety.
Mr Southgate said the document was a guide to give people a sense of the process.
The Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with a Disability worked on the document, with help from the LCCLC.
Providing a plain language guide was part of LCCLC's advocacy, Mr Southgate said.
"If you're looking at a court process there are obviously orders that are often sought by DHHS, they're based on legislation. They're kind of worded in that form," he said.
"What we want to do with the resources is give a plain language version of what those orders are and what they mean.
"Whilst this is a plain language guide that is directed at parents who have an intellectual disability, it probably has a broader application for many parents involved in that process."
LCCLC and Arc Justice will launch Steps to Speaking Up during Law Week.
The week is a festival of events a series of events aimed at helping people learn about the legal system, run by the Victorian Law Foundation.
Mr Southgate said the week was a real opportunity to broaden LCCLC's reach in the community, helping people feel supported by an organisation that can provide legal advice.
Law week runs from May 13-19. For information about events, visit: lawweek.net.au
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