Suncoast Community Legal Service (SCLS) recognises that dealing with legal matters can often be a stressful time. Clients who have had an appointment with SCLS within the last 60 days are also eligible to be referred to the Social Work Student Hub (SWSH).  Social work students under supervision provide free support and can take time to listen in a non-judgemental way to your concerns.

Social work students have been supporting SCLS clients as part of a University of the Sunshine Coast program since 2018.  Social work students can offer short-term counselling, problem-solving and decision-making support information and referral to specialist services; stress-management and self-care support and resources.

After a referral from a lawyer or QSTARS Tenancy Worker, the social work supervisor will designate the client to a student. The student will often be the first point of contact and explain how the service works and confirms that the client is interested in proceeding. A student seeks the client’s permission to schedule a time for an assessment to take place, either over the telephone or in person, according to the client’s preferences. The student and the client then work together to develop a plan on how short-term goals and needs will be met.