Equality Law Capability Project
MUHREC Study ID: 42338
Summary
This project investigated the legal capability and service accessibility needs of study participants, who self-identified as belonging as belonging to the Afghan, Vietnamese, Indian or South Sudanese Communities (the Four Communities) in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
The study was commissioned by Westjustice and funded by a Victoria Law Foundation Knowledge (VLF) Grant 2024, and its report was launched by MPs Katie Hall and Sarah Connolly at a roundtable on 10 February 2026.
The project was conducted in accordance with approval by the Monash Human Research Ethics Committee and in collaboration with Carol Ransley, Director of Human Rights Education Associates. The project was generously supported by stakeholder consultation with organisations and individuals across the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The study used a mixed methods approach to produce new understandings about the legal needs of participants who self-identified as belonging to one of the Four Communities, and the barriers that some participants faced to getting free legal help about discrimination or sexual harassment at work.
The research reviewed and built on a rich body of studies regarding the legal needs of people in Victoria, Australia. The findings and recommendations of the study are set out in a report, which will inform how equality law services are delivered by Westjustice to continuously improve them and promote their accessibility.
The new findings and understandings produced by this study are relevant to stakeholders in the field of equality law including in government and the community legal sector.
Researchers
Background and aims
In 2023, Westjustice examined the demographic data of people who had sought help from the ELS in its first year of providing legal services. It identified that people who self-identified as belonging to the Four Communities had rarely, if ever, sought help from the ELS.
However, people who self-identified as belonging to these Four Communities had sought help from other legal services provided by Westjustice and comprised significant communities by population within the western suburbs of Melbourne based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
With the support of a VLF Knowledge Grant 2024, Westjustice engaged Dr Orifici to lead a research study to better understand the legal needs and cultural needs of people who self-identified as belonging to the Four Communities when accessing free legal help about workplace discrimination or sexual harassment.
Methodology
This project built on a broad body of research that has been conducted into the legal needs of people in Victoria, Australia and elsewhere and was informed by an analysis of case law about claims involving workplace discrimination and sexual harassment by Victorian claimants.
Undertaken in accordance with approval from the Monash Human Research Ethics Committee, the study also used empirical legal research methods to understand the impact of the law in action.
Specifically, a survey was conducted of people who self-identified as belonging to each of the Four Communities and who lived, worked or studied in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Eight focus group interviews with participants who self-identified as belonging to one of the Four Communities were also undertaken to gain deeper insights and understanding of their perspectives and legal needs.
Outputs
Read more about this study in Monash Impact.