ARC Justice

What ARC Justice does

ARC Justice (legally Advocacy and Rights Centre Ltd) is a not-for-profit community legal centre and housing advocacy organization operating across central and northern Victoria, Australia. Founded in 2000 and rebranded to its current identity in 2014, the organization delivers free legal information, advice, and representation services to people on low incomes or experiencing disadvantage, alongside tenancy advocacy for renters. Its service portfolio is organized around three core programs — Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre (LCCLC) based in Bendigo, Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre (GVCLC) based in Shepparton, and Housing Justice — supplemented by a suite of integrated service partnerships including Health Justice Partnerships with Bendigo Community Health Service and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, and place-based initiatives such as the Maryborough Tipping the Scales Project and Bendigo Family Violence Justice Partnership. The organization operates from offices in Bendigo, Shepparton, and Maryborough, with a team of approximately 37 staff serving ten local government areas.

The organization's go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on referrals from partner health and family violence services, court-based duty lawyer services at ten regional magistrates courts, and direct intake via face-to-face appointments and telephone advice. All services are provided free of charge; there is no proprietary technology platform and no pricing model beyond philanthropic donations. Revenue is derived primarily from Victorian Government grants (Department of Justice and Community Safety, Department of Health and Human Services), Victoria Legal Aid, Consumer Affairs Victoria, and philanthropic foundations, supplemented by tax-deductible private donations and pro-bono volunteer solicitor services. The organization has extended its scope into climate and disaster resilience through the Campaspe Climate Partnership and associated research reports, signaling strategic broadening of its advocacy mandate.

Name

ARC Justice

Legal name

Advocacy and Rights Centre Ltd

Website

https://arcjustice.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ARC Justice is a not-for-profit community legal centre providing free legal advice, representation, and tenancy advocacy to people on low incomes across central and northern Victoria, operating through offices in Bendigo, Shepparton, and Maryborough with embedded health justice partnerships and court-based duty lawyer services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Legal Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Legal Services (54119)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC), Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Community legal services
• Tenancy advocacy services
• Family violence legal aid
• Health justice partnerships
• Rural legal assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Bendigo

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: ARC Justice receives funding from Victorian Government departments including Department of Justice and Community Safety, Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria Legal Aid, and Consumer Affairs Victoria, as well as Australian Government funding for specific programs.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from private donors. Donations support the Client Support Fund which helps vulnerable clients purchase essential household items.
3. Pro-bono Legal Services: Volunteer solicitors from the local community provide free legal advice appointments, contributing legal expertise without financial compensation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARC Justice provides free legal information, advice, and representation services to people on low incomes or experiencing disadvantage in Central and Northern Victoria, through two community legal centres (Loddon Campaspe CLC in Bendigo and Goulburn Valley CLC in Shepparton) and the Housing Justice tenancy advocacy program. It covers family violence, child protection, family law, tenancy, debt, and civil matters, delivered via in-person appointments, telephone advice, court-based duty lawyer services, and lawyers co-located within community health services and Aboriginal organisations.

Product overview

ARC Justice is a not-for-profit organisation providing a portfolio of free legal and tenancy support services through three core programs: Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre (LCCLC) based in Bendigo, Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre (GVCLC) based in Shepparton, and Housing Justice tenancy advocacy services. These operate alongside integrated service partnerships including Health Justice Partnerships with Bendigo Community Health Service and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, place-based partnerships like the Maryborough Tipping the Scales Project and Maryborough Therapeutic Justice Partnership, and the Bendigo Family Violence Justice Partnership with Centre for Non-Violence. The organisation also delivers the Campaspe Climate Partnership collaborative action plan and produces research publications including the Impossible Decisions and Where do we go now? reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre (LCCLC) Free legal information, advice, and representation services for people on low incomes in Central Victoria, covering family violence, child protection, family law, fines, debt, and civil matters. Based in Bendigo with a second office in Maryborough.
• Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre (GVCLC) Free legal information, advice, and representation services for people across Northern and North East Victoria, covering family violence, child protection, family law, credit/debt, consumer complaints, and minor criminal matters. Based in Shepparton.
• Housing Justice Tenancy information, advice, and practical support for people living in private rental properties or social housing across Central Victoria, helping renters solve tenancy problems and avoid homelessness.
• Tenancy Plus Service supporting people in public and community housing to sustain their tenancies through tailored support plans.
• Tenant Assistance and Advocacy Program (TAAP) Supports vulnerable tenants in private rental properties, including rooming houses and caravan parks, with advocacy at VCAT. Funded by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
• General Legal Advice Service - Loddon Campaspe Region Free legal advice appointments for help with family law, family violence, child protection, fines and infringements, and debt problems in the Loddon Campaspe region.
• General Legal Advice Service - Goulburn Valley Region Free legal advice appointments covering family violence, child protection, family law, credit and debt, consumer complaints, and minor criminal matters in the Goulburn Valley region.
• Family Violence Service - Loddon Campaspe Region Duty lawyer service at Magistrates' Courts in Bendigo, Echuca, Maryborough, Kyneton, and Castlemaine for family violence intervention orders and related legal issues.
• Family Violence Service - Goulburn Valley Region Legal advice and court support for people experiencing family violence at Shepparton Specialist Family Violence Court and regional Magistrates' Courts.
• Child Protection Service Legal assistance for parents and young people with child protection and related legal issues at local Magistrates' Courts.
• Rumbalara Legal Service Free legal advice for the local Aboriginal community at the Harmony Centre in Mooroopna through partnership with Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative.
• Maryborough Legal Service Partnership with Maryborough District Health Service providing legal help for clients with criminal law and family violence matters.
• Impossible Decisions Report Research report examining insurance affordability issues affecting communities in north central Victoria following the 2022 floods.
• Where do we go now? Report Research report examining how climate impacts affect renters in regional Victoria.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68% of clients have legal problems related to family violence
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Centre for Non-Violence (CNV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Bendigo Family Violence Justice Partnership established between LCCLC and CNV. A lawyer is co-located at CNV office three days per week, working with CNV case managers to identify clients with legal needs and provide integrated legal support for women experiencing family violence. Since 2019, assisted 254 women who may otherwise have struggled to access legal assistance.
• Maryborough District Health ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Maryborough Therapeutic Justice Partnership between LCCLC and MDHS. A lawyer and social worker work together to help people with criminal law matters and family violence issues. Lawyer is based at MDHS three days per week. Since late 2018, provided 62 legal assistance services to 52 clients.
• Go-GoldfieldscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Maryborough Tipping the Scales Project contributes to Go-Goldfields collective impact initiative in Central Goldfields Shire. A lawyer from LCCLC is based in Maryborough three days per week providing legal advice and representation to victim/survivors of family violence. Since 2017, provided 300 legal assistance services to 217 individual clients.
• Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Rumbalara Health Justice Partnership between GVCLC and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative. Two lawyers work from the Rumbalara site five days a week providing legal advice and support to community members. Since 2016, provided 319 legal assistance services to 295 individual clients in areas including family violence, child protection, family law, and credit issues.
• Bendigo Community Health ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Bendigo Health Justice Partnership between LCCLC and Bendigo Community Health Service. A lawyer works from BCHS site at Kangaroo Flat three days per week. Since 2013, provided 667 legal assistance services to 352 individual clients. Lawyer also provides legal education and secondary consultations to health staff.
• Safe StepscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 Family Violence Response Centre. ARC Justice works with Safe Steps and other family violence services to provide integrated support for victims/survivors.
• The Orange DoorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily violence referral hub in Bendigo. LCCLC and CNV working closely with The Orange Door to strengthen referral pathways for women needing legal assistance.
• Jesuit Social Services (Centre for Just Places)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Centre for Just Places at Jesuit Social Services, ARC Justice is delivering the Campaspe Climate Partnership project. This brings together community service and health organisations to strengthen how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from climate and disaster impacts.
• Eastern Community Legal CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivering the Climate Partnership project in Yarra Ranges while ARC Justice delivers in Campaspe region. Federation of Community Legal Centres supporting knowledge translation across state and nationwide CLCs.
• Federation of Community Legal Centres VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body for community legal centres in Victoria. Supported the Campaspe Climate Partnership through knowledge translation across state and nationwide community legal centres. Administers Integrated Services Fund for partnerships.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Justice Connect: National community legal centre operating pro bono and direct service programs across multiple legal practice areas; comparable mission, funding mix (government + philanthropy + pro bono), and integrated service delivery model, though at greater national scale.
• Tenants Victoria: State-wide tenancy advocacy organisation providing advice, representation, and policy advocacy for renters — directly comparable to ARC Justice's Housing Justice program and overlapping with ARC Justice's tenancy advocacy remit across Victoria.
• Consumer Action Law Centre: Victorian community legal centre specialising in consumer and credit law; shares ARC Justice's funding base (Victoria Legal Aid, philanthropic grants) and free-service model while operating in an overlapping civil-law practice area.
• LawRight: Queensland community legal centre delivering pro bono and direct legal services through partnerships with private law firms; structurally analogous to ARC Justice's pro-bono solicitor model and court-based duty lawyer services across regional magistrates courts.
• Eastern Community Legal Centre: Victorian community legal centre delivering free legal services across the eastern region; co-delivers the Climate Partnership project with ARC Justice and operates on an identical community legal centre funding and service-delivery model, making it the closest operational peer.
• Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service: Aboriginal community-controlled legal service providing free legal aid to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria — directly comparable to ARC Justice's Rumbalara partnership work and similar funding/governance structure (Aboriginal community-controlled NFP).
• Salvos Legal: Salvation Army-affiliated community legal practice providing free legal services to disadvantaged Australians; shares ARC Justice's mission, funding mix (government + donations), and free-service model, with comparable specialisation in family and housing law.

Others

• Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria: Peak body for Victoria's community legal centres that supports ARC Justice through knowledge translation and administers the Integrated Services Fund; not a direct service peer but a sector-coordinating body whose funding decisions materially affect ARC Justice's program pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arc-justice
• Xx.com/arcjustice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ARC Justice