SCALES was yesterday awarded the 2008 winner of the Richard (Dick) Fletcher Award at the WA Consumer Protection Awards 2008. The award is for the Tenants Advice and Court Service (TACS). This service is part of the SCALES and Murdoch University's Law Clinic with students and volunteers attending the Rockingham Magistrates Tenancy Court each Tuesday morning to assist Tenants.
The award acknowledges a non-government organisation or group of individuals operating in Western Australia that has, through their particular field of endeavour, made a significant and enduring contribution to the advancement of consumer protection in their community. They effectively deliver services or carry out projects or initiatives that raise community understanding and awareness of consumer protection issues.
The prize is a framed certificate, trophy and $2,500.
SCALES established the Tenants Advice and Court Service (TACS) in August 2006. TACS was established in response to the disempowerment of tenants in the increasingly competitive Western Australian rental market.
TACS is the first model of a tenancy court duty service in Western Australia. The service assists tenants with advice, advocacy and court processes in the Residential Tenancy Division of the Rockingham Magistrates Court. TACS ensures that all sides of a story are told and that all parties abide by the procedures and practices outlines in the legislation.
The service operates without any additional funding though an innovative partnership of SCALES staff, Murdoch University School of Law students and the Rockingham Magistrates Court. TACS staff are committed to ensuring that anyone with a tenancy dispute before the court has an opportunity to receive advice and assistance before their case is heard. This process has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on tenants helping them to avoid ongoing debt, black listing on tenant databases, eviction and homelessness.
The Rockingham Magistrates Court recognises the valuable role TACS plays in limiting the number of matters needing to be determined in court. TACS has recently codifies its practices and procedures in to a handbook which may eventually assist other community legal centres to provide a similar service at magistrates courts throughout Western Australia.
Tenants wanting advice may contact SCALES on 95500 400 and should note that the service has recently moved into the new St Nicholas Community Centre at 14 Council Avenue.
