Our Advocacy
RACS has a long history of fighting for and with refugees and people seeking asylum. Our work extends out of our Randwick office and into the streets of the communities we serve, all across NSW and into the halls of Parliament in Canberra.
We have a dedicated policy team who work to create systemic change for the legal rights of refugees in Australia.
At the heart of our advocacy are the people we support. We are guided by their stories, their experiences and their desire for a compassionate and equitable justice system.
Our policy and law reform work includes:
Lobbying or making direct representation to Government, regulators, politicians and/or other organisations
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This includes travelling to Canberra for parliamentary inquiries, meeting with politicians to discuss changes to relevant legislation, and representing our clients.
RACS also works closely with other refugee legal organisations to call on all levels of Government to change law and policy, often standing together to make our voices heard.
Preparing submissions and responses to Government, and organisational inquiries and reviews
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Each year, RACS is asked to contribute legal submissions to parliamentary inquiries. Our policy team are dedicated to crafting these submissions, which explain in detail the current justice system in reference to refugees and people seeking asylum, and what changes should be made.
RACS attends several inquiries in person each year. This gives policy-makers the chance to hear from our solicitors about the work RACS does to provide equal access to justice.
Assisting with the creation of draft legislation, policies, procedures and other regulatory instruments
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We often support our clients to make complaints to the United Nations, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and other regulatory bodies in regards to mistreatment or rights violations.
Raising community awareness of refugee policy in Australia and its consequences
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RACS attends many public rallies every year, calling out harmful and unjust refugee policy and promoting potential solutions.
We attend these rallies with members of our community, always listening to their experience and being guided by the changes they are seeking.
Submissions
Inquiry into the operation of Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) laws
RACS Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Inquiry into the operation of Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.
RACS welcomes this review into the practical operation of Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. Our submission focuses on the ways in which RACS utilises the FOI system, and the issues encountered when making FOI requests from the Department of Home Affairs.
