The North and North West Community Legal Services provide youth living, studying or working in Inverell with advice and direction on employment issues, domestic situations, financial or criminal law, relationship breakdowns or family violence.

The service's acting principal solicitor Terri King said there is no age threshold to youth seeking help.

“Obviously they need to be old enough to be able to independently contact us,” Terri said.

“In saying that, though, I have assisted children in matters as young as four, but they obviously come with their parents or guardians.”

Employment issues may relate to people in or after a job, and concern issues of pay, entitlements, awards, termination, bullying and sexual harassment. 

“If a young person is just starting employment and they aren’t sure if what’s happening is OK, then we would be able to give them a start,” Terri said.

Financial issues might involve stolen identities, mobile phone contracts, credit card debt and personal loans.

“We don't have a financial counsellor as such, so we would be able to assist a person more so with either recovering a debt if it’s owed to them, or dealing with it when it’s at the court stage - or if debt collectors are chasing you for money,” Terri said.

Young people confused with issues of sexting, and how they might be found liable by sharing, keeping, posting, or receiving sexually explicit images can receive confidential advice, and the service has provided seminars to young people on the issue. 

Terri said many youth are uninformed about the age of consent legislation. 

“The commonwealth legislation is 18, so in NSW at 16-years-of age, you’re able to consent to sexual intercourse, but the commonwealth legislation means that if you were to take a photo and send it, you could be charged,” she said.

Those caught in a violent family situations may receive free assistance with historical sexual assault, as current victims of domestic violence or simply living in a home where it is taking place.

Terri said where they cannot assist directly, they can set people up with referrals toward housing or other agencies to provide assistance.

“At the end of the day, our service is here to assist people, and regardless of the situation, we will do our best to either help them or send them on to someone who can,” she said.

Terri visits Inverell each month, and happy to set up a face-to-face meeting. Other advice is accessible over the phone.

For more information, phone North and North West Community Legal Service on 6772 8100.