Immigration & Refugees

Visa cancellation - what it means for people in prison

This episode was originally recorded for our Law Matters podcast for people in prison. 
If you work with people in prison or other people who are on a visa, this episode may be relevant to you. We've included tips for community and support workers. 
Legal Aid NSW has an Immigration Service which is a specialist service of Legal Aid NSW. They can provide free legal advice, assistance and representation about refugee law and other immigration matters. If you have an immigration or citizenship question, start with our team at LawAccess NSW. They can give you legal information and connect you with services that can help you, including the Legal Aid NSW Immigration Service. Click on the ‘Chat with us’ button at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 888 529.

Spotlight On Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)

RACS Mission: To achieve Justice and Dignity for and with Refugees through dedicated legal services and advocacy.
RACS is a strong, independent public voice for the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. We assist people of all nationalities, religions, and sexual and gender identities.
In 1987, RACS quietly opened its doors with very few staff but with very big ambitions to provide access to crucial legal support for people seeking asylum in Australia.
For 35 years, thousands of courageous people from all corners of the world have walked through our doors. They have been welcomed and supported by hundreds of committed staff, passionate legal students and thousands of volunteers. Many of these refugees now live happy, safe and secure lives alongside us, as part of our communities.
 
Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/NYhRiXXnQva4Npo5E3wda5qelKE
Email: admin@racs.org.au
Telephone: (02) 8355 7227.
Website: RACS | Refugee Advice & Casework Service
Subscribe to the newsletter: Subscribe — RACS | Refugee Advice & Casework Service
Upcoming events: Events — RACS | Refugee Advice & Casework Service
 
Disclaimer: All information provided is correct at the time of release and is information only.
 
Acknowledgments
The music in our Law for Community Workers podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.
 

The Refugee Service answers community worker’s COVID-19 legal questions

In this episode, we speak to Christina Alkhamisi, Civil Solicitor, who answers some frequently asked questions from Community Worker who work with Refugee communities on the COVID-19 changes. She provides us with a clear summary of Public Health Order fines, Centrelink and Immigration changes, and information about where to get more information and help for your clients.
Referrals and more information
LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529 or visit
Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service 87136725 or visit https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/civil-law/refugee-service
Visit the Legal Aid NSWwebsite to find a local advice service.
For more information on Work and Development orders, please visit the Legal Aid website at https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications/factsheets-and-resources/covid-19/covid-19-public-health-orders-what-do-i-need-to-know
For more information on COVID changes, please visit the LawAccess website at https://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/Pages/news-articles/covid19.aspx
For more information on Centrelink changes please see Legal Aid’s ‘Centrelink in the Time of COVID-19 Podcast’ or visit the Centrelink website.
Centrelink’s dedicated COVID-19 page — this website is being regularly updated.
If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

shortcut - minor offences and migrant communities

There are several behaviours that are considered 'small offences' that you may not know about, CALD communities and newly arrived refugees can be at risk of committing these offences.
Find out what these offences are and how and where to get help if your client has committed a minor offence?
Florence Montalvo Cruz and Nohara Odicho from Refugee Service Legal Aid NSW have been interviewed by Audrey Bourget as part of SBS settlement Guide series to talk about legal issues that effect people when settling in Australia.
Referrals and more information
To find more information about where your clients can get help contact:
 Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service (02) 8713 6725. refugeeservice@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
How can Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service help me? — Watch the videos on YouTube and show these to your clients (available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Darsi/Farsi and Kurdish Kurmanji.)
Book a Law Check-Up training session for your team or organisation.

Inside the Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service

Call to action!
 
Tell us what you really think of 'Law for Community Workers on the go' - help this resource grow and improve.
 
Natalie Neumann from the Community Legal Education branch speaks to Jeremie Quiohilag and Nohara Odicho from the Refugee Service.
Find out about the work they do, the people they help, and how you can refer your newly arrived or refugee clients to this service.
 
Referrals and more information
To find more information about where your clients can get help contact:
 Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service (02) 8713 6725. refugeeservice@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
How can the Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service help me? — Watch the videos on YouTube and show these to your clients (available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Dari/Farsi and Kurdish Kurmanji.)
Law Check-Up  
Book a Law Check-Up training session for your team.
 

‘Your partner can’t cancel your visa’ — find out how the immigration team at Legal Aid NSW can help your client who is experiencing family violence from their sponsoring partner.

Call to action!
 
Tell us what you really think of 'Law for Community Workers on the go' - help this resource grow and improve.
 
 
Kerry Wright from the Community Legal education branch speaks to Katie Wrigley from the government law team about immigration law and what to do if you have clients who have come to Australia on a temporary visa and their relationship has broken down due to family violence.
Find out what options are available to people in this situation, whether your client is eligible for a family violence exemption and how you can refer your clients to this service in a safe way.
Referrals and more information
To find more information about where your clients can get help contact:
Legal Aid NSW — Immigration team (The Immigration Team offers free legal help about refugee and family visas.)
Legal Aid NSW — Domestic Violence Unit (The DVU offers family and AVO help.)
Legal Aid NSW — Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS offers family and other help at Family and Federal Circuit Courts.)
Legal Aid NSW — Early Intervention Unit (The EIU offers family and care help.)
Women’s Legal Service NSW — A Practitioners Guide to Domestic Violence Law in NSW — Chapter 7: Domestic violence and Immigration law.
Women’s Legal Service NSW — (WLS provides legal advice and casework services to women who are disadvantaged by their cultural, social and economic circumstances and are seeking equitable access to legal services.)