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ABOUT RACSHistory | Aims | Networks | Activities | Recent InitiativesHISTORYRACS was originally set up in NSW in 1987 to provide a legal service to meet the specific needs of asylum seekers. RACS (Victoria) was established in May 1988. Organisations involved in this establishment include the Refugee Council of Australia, Amnesty International, the Ecumenical Migration Service, International Social Services and the Jesuit Refugee Service. On 1 July 1997, RACS (Victoria) as it was then known, changed its name to RACS (Australia) in order to set up a national entity with offices in Melbourne and Sydney.RACS, the oldest CLC specialising in providing advice to asylum seekers, is now based and incorporated in New South Wales. This was a consequence of RACS continuing to operate out of its Sydney office, while the Melbourne office merged with the Victorian Immigration Advice and Rights Centre to become the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre (RILC). RACS, a not-for-profit incorporated association relies primarily on funding from the Department of Immigration, donations from the community, an extensive volunteer network and a Management Committee. RACS is a specialist refugee legal service, which provides advice and some casework assistance to individuals seeking asylum in NSW and the ACT both in the community and in immigration detention. Working with RACS | Education and Training | Publications | Links | Donating to RACS |