An urgent appeal by RACS (Refugee Advice and Casework Service)

We have been notified that the Department of Home Affairs is unexpectedly expediting interviews for people seeking asylum in NSW who arrived in Australia by boat, aiming to complete all interviews by the end of June These men, women and children are having their claims assessed by the restrictive fast track process, which lacks procedural fairness, and if refused a visa, they face great risk of being returned to danger. Prior to COVID-19, RACS attended approximately 12-15 interviews per month. Now in April we are attending double that and have been advised by the Department that May and June’s interview numbers will be higher again. This greatly increases the pressure on our service, already pushed to capacity. What’s truly concerning is that more than half of the people coming to RACS are not known to us and may not have received legal support until now. The other huge challenge is the level of vulnerability we are finding in those who need help. We are seeing people with severe mental illness, people facing or experiencing homelessness and others with critical healthcare needs that just aren’t being met. Without RACS’ assistance, they would have faced the Department interview alone. So, I am asking you, our loyal supporters to please help us raise our target of $180,000 to ensure we can support these men, women and children as they face potentially the most important interview of their lives. Go to www.donate.racs.org.au. Thank you