You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
26 Refugee Advice & Casework Service <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 15/<strong>16</strong> 27<br />
Events & Forums<br />
Make a Statement Day<br />
Over two days, RACS staff and volunteers, as well as<br />
volunteer solicitors and interpreters, came together to take<br />
90 statements of claim from people seeking safety.<br />
Our most sincere thanks to the staff at Canterbury Girls<br />
High School for opening their doors to facilitate this, and to<br />
the students of Canterbury Girls High School who assisted<br />
on the days. In addition, we would like to thank the Tamil<br />
& Hazara communities for coming together to provide<br />
essential interpreting skills. Special thanks to Krishna &<br />
Brami Jegan for organising the food.<br />
RACS Stall at local festivals<br />
RACS has been able to represent its vital work at a number<br />
of local festivals including the Dulwich Hill Village Fair,<br />
Marrickville Festival, Newtown Festival, Dooleys Christmas<br />
Fair, Africultures Festival and the New Beginnings Festival.<br />
#LetThemStay<br />
Sarah Dale and Tanya Jackson-Vaughan spoke at the Panel<br />
discussion with Dr Sarah Mares held at UNSW.<br />
Crossing Borders – Boundless Plains Exhibition<br />
Curated by Amber Hearn, Crossing Borders was a<br />
funraising exhibition held in collaboration with the National<br />
Art School. Established and emerging artists generously<br />
donated works of art, with proceeds donated to RACS to<br />
support people seeking asylum. Crossing Borders is now an<br />
annual event.<br />
“Everyone should be treated in the same way, no matter<br />
who they are or where they are from. There should be<br />
equality for all.”<br />
Uma Ramaprasad, Finance Officer<br />
Uniting Network Australia’s LGBTIQ Refugee Forum<br />
Tina, our Fundraising & Communications Assistant, was<br />
on the panel at this event, with Professor Gillian Triggs -<br />
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission,<br />
Imam Nur Warsame, Che Bishop - COO of ASC, and<br />
Professor Dennis Altman, speaking about particular<br />
challenges faced by LGBTIQ refugees.<br />
Representing Refugees Today<br />
RACS, the Kaldor Centre, and Gilbert & Tobin came together<br />
for a panel discussion on legal sector responses to changes<br />
in asylum seeker policy and funding.<br />
““People who seek safety can come from richer or poorer<br />
backgrounds. People who seek safety can be more or less motivated<br />
individuals. People who seek safety can be remarkably<br />
resilient individuals, or can be too traumatised to cope with life.<br />
No matter what their economic situation was in their home<br />
country and in transit, we can provide safety and rehabilitation<br />
to the people who arrive here having fled serious violence back<br />
at home. We have the capacity to settle these people here and<br />
welcome them into our community.”<br />
Simon Bruck, Solicitor