A Brief Conversation
with
Kathryn Viegas Brindha Srinivas
K
athryn Viegas is the Director of Nomos Legal and is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, an accreditation which only 41 immigration lawyers hold in New South Wales. A migrant herself, Kathryn’s immense passion for advocating for the rights of the most disenfranchised has allowed her to encounter individuals in their most vulnerable states. Boasting a wide portfolio, Kathryn balances her passion for her practice with other noble pursuits including holding positions as the President of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, as well as Secretary of Diverse Women in Law. I spoke to Kathryn about her encounters of resilience and the challenges of working in immigration law post COVID-19. I am truly honoured to have had the chance to speak to Kathryn whose commitment to social justice has never wavered. The Brief would like to thank her for her time and incredible insight into the ever-changing landscape of immigration law.
Ed.1 2021
Throughout your career you have advocated for the rights of the most marginalised within Australia’s immigration program, including asylum seekers and people living with HIV and other medical conditions. How have you personally seen acts of resilience from individuals and/or communities? What does resilience mean to you? In my work as an immigration lawyer anyone I encounter who is going through some form of migration process, whether that be applying for a temporary visa, permanent residency or pursing judicial review, all of them are required to demonstrate some form of resilience. It is a daunting process which is amplified for those who are asylum seekers or people with medical conditions. One of the things I learnt pretty early on in my career when I worked at the HIV/Aids Legal Centre was that these particular cohorts of clients have additional barriers to face when applying for a visa. For them, the process is more stressful and takes longer. There is an element of resilience required for anybody who is looking to migrate but particularly so where there is a complication in their case. I have had clients who have been physically tortured and are survivors of trauma. One client in particular faced a 10year process before he finally got his visa. When compounded with all of his physical and medical conditions there was that continual sense that this could be the day that the Department or Minister would tell him that he would have to pack up and go. Every time I think of clients like him, I have tremendous respect and admiration for their resilience. Towards the end of last year, we saw that France rewarded COVID-19 frontline immigrant workers for their service to the country with fast-track citizenship. Australia has also flagged temporary concessions for those who are not able to travel offshore to be granted visas due to COVID-19 related border closures. In your opinion how has the Australian government supported or not supported visa applicants and the greater immigrant community during the COVID-19 period? The French decision to reward frontline workers was a fabulous one. Here was a country in a desperate situation who acknowledged the role that visa holders and migrants played in working towards resolving the pandemic and what better way to reward them than with the stamp of approval for citizenship. I thought it was a really generous and welcoming gesture. thebrief.muls.org | 25
