The Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria Inc. engaged the Victoria Law Foundation to conduct a survey of the community legal assistance sector workforce with the aim of capturing issues, experiences and views of their workforce across diverse roles, centres, and geography.

The COVID-19 report explores how the community legal centre workforce pivoted and adapted to the pandemic. The report outlines how community legal centres embraced new technologies, but also highlights the issues that emerged for clients, staff and management in the face of pandemic-fuelled changes. The impact was not all negative - rapid change has facilitated benefits that will continue into the future.

Key findings:

• Court and tribunal cancellations and delays contributed to increased workloads.
• Long overdue technological upgrades occurred and benefits that will continue.
• Hybrid ways of working – including returning to face-to-face services – is likely to ameliorate the professional and personal isolation the workforce experienced during the pandemic.
• Sector-wide digitalisation will have continued benefits – but those who experience digital exclusion should not be forgotten.