Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS

Refugee Advice & Casework Service

About

The mission of the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS) is to achieve justice and dignity for refugees through the provision of effective legal services and influential advocacy. RACS provides critical, free legal advice, assistance and representation for financially disadvantaged and vulnerable people seeking asylum in Australia, including:

- Women who have experienced or fear domestic, family or gender-based violence - Members of the LGBTIQA+ community - Stateless people - Children who are seeking protection without their parents - People seeking family reunion in Australia

RACS advocates for systemic law reform and policy that treats refugees with justice, dignity and respect, and makes complaints about serious human rights violations, to Australian and United Nations complaints bodies.

What kind of work?

RACS specialises in human rights laws relevant to refugees and asylum seekers.

Type of work done by employees: - Legal advice - Legal referrals - Legal representation for people who have had refugee claims refused - Making violations complaints to the United Nations, AHRC, Red Cross or Commonwealth Ombudsman - Outreach services - Community legal education - Law reform and policy work

Location

Sydney

Student Opportunities

RACS offers volunteer positions to law students who are in their second year or above. Students must commit one day per week for three months.

Student volunteers are involved in research, form-filling, assisting with client enquiries, scheduling client appointments and various other administrative and legal tasks.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to human rights and social justice, an understanding of the issues that affect people seeking asylum, and a capacity to problem-solve.

You can find more information here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ca341d4aadd343de55b7b50/t/5ddf0bdd02bf4d324ff423 df/1574898653983/2019-11-27++Legal+Student+Volunteer+Position+Description.pdf

Graduate Opportunities

RACS offer unpaid PLT placements to graduate students. PLT students must commit three days per week for 60 days.

PLT students are involved in research, drafting statements, observing and assisting with client appointments, accompanying lawyers to client meetings and DOHA interviews and various other legal and administrative tasks.

Applicants must have previous volunteer and administrative experience and be able to demonstrate a commitment to human rights and social justice, an understanding of the issues that affect people seeking asylum, and a capacity to problem-solve.

You can find more information here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ca341d4aadd343de55b7b50/t/5ddf0c1d0c91bc6c3b927 2b0/1574898718631/2019-11-27+PLT+Position+Description.pdf

Fun Fact / Recent Project

Judicial Review Service RACS provide legal representation to people who have had their refugee claims refused by the 'fast track assessment and removal' process.

This process was introduced by the Australian Government to assess the protection claims of people who arrived in Australia by boat. It is lacking a number of fundamental procedural fairness rules, and denies people the opportunity to have a full review of decisions made on their case.

People who have had their refugee claims refused by this process face great risk of being deported. Their only option is to appeal at the Federal Circuit Court (FCC), where the court reviews whether the decision was made following correct legal processes. The FCC does not give people seeking protection the opportunity to explain their experience of being a refugee or answer questions about their case. It is vital they have a lawyer present to represent them.