Law students help school leavers understand their legal obligations

May 20, 2004

It's a story played out in the media more and more - reports of young people running up massive debts on such things as credit cards, mobile phones or rent for accommodation.

Now, University of Wollongong law students in conjunction with the Illawarra Youth Justice Network, are addressing the problem by delivering interactive workshops to public high school students at nine Illawarra schools to help them understand their legal obligations.

Project Manager, Sean Farrar from the Illawarra Legal Centre, said it is part of a program known as "Start Out Right 2004".

Sean said the initiative specifically targets young people who are about to leave school either in Year 10 or Year 12.

The students are running the workshops in liaison with Legal Aid (NSW), Wollongong Youth Services and the Illawarra Legal Centre. The workshops involved multimedia presentations with a strong emphasis on practical advice about rights and responsibilities arising out of legal obligations.

The participating schools are Bulli High, Corrimal High, Dapto High, Figtree High, Kanahooka High, Keira Technology High, Smiths Hill High, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and Woonona High.