A crop of solutions
The second year of the Access to Justice Innovation Program has produced a crop of potential design and technology solutions to improve service delivery across the legal assistance sector, tackle exploitation in the workplace.
The whole Access to Justice crew
Nov 4 2016
Listed below are the innovative solutions pitched to the judges and audience on Pitch Night:
Handover is a tool for CLCs that streamlines the referral process and helps connect people to the services they need by automating the ‘referral roundabout’. It predicts appropriate referrals based on client details and case notes. Handover tracks the progress of each referral and captures this data at each touchpoint. Aggregation of this data presents stakeholders with a clear picture of unmet legal needs.
Handover members Loy Rao, Jordan Fenton and Leea Johnston pitching their idea
Storyboard is an online platform that houses education modules that CLC lawyers can go through with their clients to best explain different legal issues. The system will have a comprehensive library of searchable visual modules to communicate complex legal concepts to clients in their native language and cultural context. The modules will be developed in collaboration with key members of the migrant communities and will be used as supplementary tools with consultations between CLC lawyers and clients.
Storyboard members Callum Fogarty, Madeleine Buchner and Harjot Minhas pitching their idea
WorkMate is an automated texting service that follows a young person on their journey when they start their first job. It provides: tailored text messages, timed when they are most needed and appropriate, support to rural and metro populations, pre-emptive and preventative support for young workers, and instantaneous referral to services that are applicable and available.
Round-Up Power-Up is a platform for fundraising where bill payers are given the option to round up their utility bills to the nearest dollar, contributing the cents towards a fund to be utilised to assist families facing financial hardship to overcome their utility debt and avoid disconnection.
CourtPrep is a program that provides first time summary offenders with the information, materials (and training) they need to arrive at court prepared to engage with the judicial process.
CourtPrep members Rey Takeshima and Bridget Dunne
Just457 is a web-platform that educates 457 visa holders on essential information about their rights at work and connects them to free, confidential legal advice through the hook of a job board specific to 457 visa holders. The platform also provides essential information to employers about their obligations, as well as an opportunity to advertise positions directly to a willing market.
EDA (or Energy Debt Assistant) is a chatbot (a computer program designed to simulate a conversation with human users) that connects indebted consumers with relevant assistance including not just financial support but also advice and guidance to help mitigate their energy debt
Where Are You (WAY) is a web-based platform that will facilitate access to all services related, but not necessarily limited to, young people’s interactions with the justice system in one location. This will allow young people, the key users of the service, to efficiently and accurately identify the most accurate and relevant services to assist them.
The award winners for 2016 were Handover and Storyboard. The challenge now is to introduce the these solutions into the legal assistance sector. Thanks again to VLA, the FCLC, our mentors and coaches and industry partners (Deloitte, isobar, Seed Digital, the Difference Incubator) and of course, Associate Professor, David Gilbert, Professor Aaron Smith and Sandra Arico.
Handover winners with Pete Williams, Chief Edge Officer, Deloitte; David Gilbert, Associate Professor, RMIT; Serina McDuff, Executive Officer, FCLC ; Bevan Warner, Managing Director, Victoria Legal Aid and Rob Hulls, CIJ Director.