Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Inc.

14/10/2026

CCLS was delighted to attend the 2026 McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award and Thank You Event, celebrating another year of the Centre’s valuable internship program.

It was a pleasure to join The Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC, whose vision and support have helped create opportunities for thousands of students to contribute meaningfully to organisations and communities across Western Australia.

CCLS has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with The McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA, welcoming interns over the years and providing students with the opportunity to gain practical experience while contributing to our work in the community. We greatly value the enthusiasm, skills and fresh perspectives that they bring to our organisation.

This year, we were especially proud to see our intern Kiarash Kholjateh recognised as a nominee for the 2026 Outstanding Intern Award. A big thank you to Kiarash for his contribution to CCLS during his internship, it was a pleasure having him as part of our team.

Congratulations to all this year’s Outstanding Intern Award nominees and recipients on their well-deserved recognition.

Thank you to the McCusker Centre for Citizenship for our continued partnership, for connecting students with organisations like CCLS and creating opportunities to gain valuable experience while making a meaningful contribution to the community.

02/10/2026

People who lose money because of financial misconduct should not be left worse off when the responsible financial firm cannot pay.

The Australian Government is considering changes to the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) that could reduce the compensation available to affected consumers, including compensation for lost investment earnings.

CCLS joined other consumer organisations, led by Super Consumers Australia in making a joint submission opposing these cuts. Reducing compensation is not the answer. The focus should be on preventing misconduct and ensuring those responsible contribute fairly.

Read the full joint submission:https://cclswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/112937-20260604-Joint-consumer-submission-CSLR-v2.pdf

You can also add your name to CHOICE’s petition calling on the Government to protect fair compensation: https://action.choice.com.au/s/9899123/jBSVjL1VN

Add your name to the petition for fair compensation for financial misconduct victims

01/10/2026

Losing money to a scam can be devastating. Trying to recover it shouldn’t add to the distress.

In a media release published by Consumer Action Law Centre, our Senior Solicitor Rowan Kelly calls for a complaints process that puts scam victims first:

“AFCA must equip itself with strong proactive investigation and resolution powers from day one – and deliver a simple, robust process that puts victims first, actively lessens their burden in progressing a claim and does not add to their distress.”

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has a critical role in resolving scam disputes. People affected need a clear, fair process that helps them seek redress.

Read the full media release:
https://cclswa.org.au/joint-consumer-submission-consultation-on-afcas-proposed-rule-changes-for-the-scams-prevention-framework-september-2026/

If you’ve lost money to a scam and need advice about a dispute with your bank, call CCLS for free, confidential, non-judgemental legal advice.

📞 (08) 9221 7066
📅 Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm

Working for your consumer and financial rights.

30/09/2026

Ismail and Ellie had a great morning meeting UWA law and pre-law students at the 2026 Beyond Commercial Law Careers Fair.

They enjoyed sharing more about the work of CCLS and the rewarding career opportunities available in community law.

Thank you to the Blackstone Society for inviting us along!

If you would like to volunteer with CCLS, visit our website to learn more about current opportunities.

https://cclswa.org.au/volunteer-with-us/

29/09/2026

WA consumers got back a record $11.6 million in refunds and repair costs last financial year - up $4 million on the year before according to numbers from Consumer Protection WA!

This represents more than 3,800 people receiving the outcome they were entitled to. Cars and caravans topped the complaints list ($7.1 million), and renters recovered another $800,000+ through tenancy disputes.

Numbers like these don't happen by accident - they're the result of consumers having somewhere to turn and a system that is being pushed to keep working for them. CCLS hosts and coordinates WACAN, the WA Consumer Advocacy Network: bringing consumer advocates together to advocate collectively for stronger protections, fairer laws, and a WA economy that puts consumers first.

If you've been ripped off, sold something dodgy, or you're stuck in a credit or debt dispute – CCLS may be able to help.

Free, confidential advice with no judgement call our Telephone Advice Line on (08) 9221 7066, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm or for more information visit our website at www.cclswa.org.au

27/09/2026

CCLS is closed today for the King's Birthday public holiday.

Please refer to our website: www.cclswa.org.au for general information, letter templates and fact sheets.

📞Our telephone advice line will be back online from 9 am, Tuesday, 29 September.
We wish everyone a happy and safe long weekend.

24/09/2026

The shame is not yours to carry.

Scams are not simply the work of single operatives. Many are run by sophisticated criminal networks using carefully developed scripts and psychological tactics to build trust and manipulate people.

If you have lost money to a scam, you are not foolish and you are not alone. You were deliberately targeted, and you deserve support without judgement.

This article explains what scam victims are really up against, the changing legal landscape in Australia and how CCLS may be able to help.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-21/myanmar-scam-compounds-exponential-growth/106603324?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

If you have been affected by a scam, contact our Telephone Advice Line on (08) 9221 7066, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm.

Our service is free and confidential, and interpreters, including Auslan, are available.

The scam industry in Myanmar is morphing and heading into the jungle rather than disappearing since a crackdown began.

23/09/2026

📣 We’re hiring!

CCLS is looking for a compassionate Social Worker / Case Worker to join our Financial Abuse Legal Service.

You’ll work alongside our legal team to provide trauma-informed support to women experiencing financial abuse, helping them navigate complex challenges and connect with the services they need.

Join a specialist community legal centre working to improve access to justice and create fairer financial systems.

Learn more and apply: https://cclswa.org.au/careers-with-ccls/

Working for your consumer and financial rights.

21/09/2026

Big news - we’ve partnered with The Salvation Army Australia! 🎉

Financial hardship and legal problems often go hand in hand, but navigating separate services can make an already difficult time even harder.

From mid-September, an experienced Financial Counsellor will work alongside the CCLS team, bringing financial counselling and legal assistance closer together for people experiencing financial hardship, debt and financial abuse.

This partnership strengthens our Financial Abuse Legal Service as demand grows across our direct client services. We’re deeply grateful to the Public Purposes Trust for supporting this important work.

A warm welcome and thank you to The Salvation Army. We look forward to working together to support our community.

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18/09/2026

Recently, our CEO Emma Milne had the chance to speak up for the people we work with every day, joining a public hearing for the Australian Parliament's Inquiry into the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence and su***de.

Emma was joined by Dr Monica Cass from the WA Family and Domestic Violence Legal Workers Network (FDVLWN), a network of WA community legal centres that CCLS is proud to belong to.

Emma spoke about what we see every day through our Financial Abuse Legal Service: how financial abuse is used to control people, trapping them with debt and stress that we know, from the research, puts people at greater risk of su***de. That submission was put together by our former colleague, and we're grateful for this work she put into it. Monica spoke about how su***de and threats of su***de can also be used as a form of control, drawing on what community legal centres across WA see in their casework.

We're grateful to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs for the chance to be part of this conversation, and hopeful it leads to real change for the people we support.

Learn more about the Inquiry: https://www.aph.gov.au/dfsvsu***dedata"