Refugee Advice & Casework Service

RACS stands beside refugees and people seeking asylum to ensure fair and equal access to justice. We provide free legal services to those forced to flee their homes due to persecution. Our dedicated lawyers help people tell their stories, gather evidence, and navigate complex, often traumatising legal processes.

From refugee women escaping violence to stateless children, LGBTIQIA+ people seeking safety, and families torn apart, RACS ensures every person is treated with dignity before the law, because justice and safety should never depend on where you were born.

Applying for protection in Australia is an extremely complex legal process. For people whose first language is not English, navigating this system alone can be overwhelming and deeply traumatic. RACS lawyers apply specialised, trauma-informed legal expertise and understanding of global social and political contexts to help clients present their claims clearly, gather vital evidence, and ensure fair interpretation throughout lengthy interviews.

In FY25, RACS supported 2,442 people from 120 countries. Our specialist programs included:

• Refugee Women at Risk: 356 women escaping violence
• Reuniting Refugee Families: 716 people to reunite with loved ones
• LGBTQIA+ Refugees: 186 people from 35 countries
• Stateless Children: 122 children helped gain Australian citizenship

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