Our Values

Inner Melbourne Community Legal’s organisational values guide how we work, make decisions, and engage with each other, our clients, and the community. They apply to all IMCL people, including Board members, staff, contractors, secondees and volunteers, and should be read alongside relevant legal and policy obligations.

Integrity

We act with integrity in all that we do. We work honestly, respectfully and consistently with our values. We do this even when it is difficult, inconvenient or carries risk. Our decisions are ethical, transparent and guided by principle, not just rules, reputation or expedience.

This means we:

•  are honest and transparent in our work and communications
•  take responsibility for our decisions, actions and mistakes
•  use our power, discretion and information ethically and lawfully
•  care about the impact of our conduct on individuals and communities
•  challenge ourselves to provide the highest quality work

Courage

We are courageous in the pursuit of justice. We speak out against injustice, challenge harmful systems and are bold and brave in our advocacy for clients and their communities. We are prepared to lead and take considered risks in complex or contested environments where necessary to advance social justice. 

This means we:

•  respectfully and constructively challenge decisions or practices that undermine human rights, safety or values
•  we are prepared to take principled, well-judged risks in alignment with shared purpose
•  engage constructively in difficult conversations
•  raise issues or concerns, even if uncomfortable or a minority-view
•  acknowledge that innovation may require risk and making difficult decisions

Radicalism

We seek systemic change, alongside individual remedies. We recognise that the legal problems affecting our clients are often the product of entrenched inequality and structural harm. We seek fundamental changes and work to challenge, disrupt and dismantle oppressive systems.

This means we:

•  look beyond individual cases to identify patterns
•  work beyond managing harm by questioning and identifying root causes and structural drivers
•  use law, advocacy and evidence to challenge laws, policies and institutions that perpetuate harm

Community

Communities shape our work and hold us to account. IMCL listens to and elevates the experiences of those most systemically harmed through casework and systemic advocacy. We recognise power imbalances, build trust, and work together to design services, set priorities and drive change.

This means we:

•  include people with different ideas, experiences and backgrounds where possible
•  are intersectional in our approach to understanding community voices
•  remain accountable for how our work affects people’s lives
•  use power responsibly, are open to scrutiny and follow through

Care

We centre compassion, dignity, and humanity in our client-focused practice. Through a trauma-informed lens we work to ensure our clients and their communities are heard by the systems affecting them.  We extend this care, support and compassion to each other, acknowledging that our shared and sustainable wellbeing underpins our impact.

This means that we:

•  acknowledge and value the opinions and contributions of others
•  include people with different ideas, experiences and backgrounds
•  value the diversity of unique talents, skills and abilities that enable us to achieve high-quality results