By Professor Brett Freudenberg
Professor Tax Law
Griffith University was successful in securing a $100,000 grant from the Federal Government to establish one of ten student run tax clinics in Australia. The Griffith Tax Clinic opened its doors in July 2019 and is ready to assist taxpayers in navigating Australia’s tax system. Currently, there are 14 student advisers undertaking internships at Griffith Tax Clinic under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners.
Griffith University has a strong and proud history of striving for social justice, and the Griffith Tax Clinic aims to provide free tax assistance to unrepresented taxpayers so they know their rights and obligations in complying with Australia’s complex tax system. The Griffith Tax Clinic is a friendly, student-run clinic where the public (including small businesses) can receive free tax advice from Griffith University taxation students under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners.
In its first weeks of operation the Griffith Tax Clinic has started providing advice, including the student advisers assisting with a one-on-one tax workshop for the Sisters Project. The Sisters Project aims to empower women by building their confidence and skills to start a small business. The student tax advisers sat with the women to assist and explain to them a case study that explored some of the tax issues that they will need to consider for their businesses. In addition, the student tax advisers started booking in client meetings to assist otherwise unrepresented individuals with their tax, including people who are new to Australia or have just commenced their first job and are uncertain about what deductions they may be entitled to.
Additionally, the student tax advisers developed and delivered a workshop on ‘tax and your small business’ for the Queensland Government as part of a free Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business capability workshop. This workshop discussed some of the common misconceptions that can occur with tax and running your business.
The Griffith Tax Clinic is located at Griffith University’s Logan campus (Building L08 Room 1. 11) and operates Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
More information is available at our website.
Contact us via email or Phone: +61 7 338 21177