Support for Rural and Regional Consumers

If you live in a rural or regional area and you have a consumer law problem, there are several options for you to seek help.

Consumers living in rural and regional Victoria can call the consumer legal practice on 1300 881 020 for the cost of a local call. You can also seek on-line legal advice.

Outreach project

Consumer Action operates an Outreach Project designed to facilitate access to our free consumer legal practice for rural and regional and Indigenous consumers and to improve our knowledge of systemic issues affecting rural and regional and Indigenous consumers.

A Steering Committee comprised of representatives of various organisations, including Consumer Affairs Victoria’s Indigenous Consumers Unit, the Federation of Community Legal Centres’ Rural, Regional and Remote Network, the Financial and Consumer Rights Council, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Victoria Legal Aid, provides advice to Consumer Action regarding the implementation of the Outreach Project.

Working together with a range of organisations, including local community and Indigenous organisations, Consumer Action lawyers are undertaking outreach and education visits to specific regions in Victoria to provide greater access to our Consumer Legal Practice for rural and regional and Indigenous consumers. We are particularly keen to ensure that small rural communities and Indigenous consumers are able to access to our legal practice.

During the course of the Outreach Project, Consumer Action lawyers make regular visits to regional centres in Gippsland, South-western Victoria, and Central Victoria/Wimmera.

Consumer Action lawyers welcome the opportunity to meet with community workers during their outreach visits to discuss client problems or systemic issues affecting low-income and vulnerable consumers that workers have observed. Community workers can also make appointments for a Consumer Action lawyer to see their client(s) during an outreach visit. Contact us to make an appointment.

In addition to Consumer Action, consider contacting the following organisations for a referral to a regionally-based agency which can provide assistance in connection with consumer issues: