Refugee Advice & Casework Service
People seeking asylum are among the most vulnerable in Australia’s legal system. The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) exists to ensure they are afforded fair and equal access to justice. As a community legal centre, RACS offers free legal advice, assistance and representation for financially disadvantaged and vulnerable people seeking asylum in Australia.
Our partnership invests in the ‘Women at Risk’ initiative, aimed at providing specialised legal advice to women and their children seeking asylum, with an emphasis on women experiencing or at risk of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, to secure their safety and rights. The aim is to help them find safety and protection in Australia.
The Judith Neilson Foundation is proud to partner with RACS, and shares in their vision to achieve justice and dignity with and for refugees through the Women at Risk initiative.
Personal stories /
Maggie stood against violence and is rebuilding her life in safety
Maggie’s career as a sports journalist in Sierra Leone ended abruptly when her advocacy against female genital mutilation made her a target. After surviving a violent, targeted attack, she fled her home, eventually seeking refuge in Australia. But safety proved elusive. Her initial application for asylum was denied, leaving her homeless and vulnerable on the streets of Sydney.
With the support of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), Maggie appealed her case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Her solicitor worked tirelessly to gather the evidence needed, and this time her claim for protection was accepted. For the first time, Maggie felt her story was believed. “I cried because Australia has believed my story. For once, I will be accepted in this country,” she said.
Maggie has since rebuilt her life and is using her experience to help others. Now employed by the Jesuit Refugee Service, she advocates for women and girls seeking protection, offering the same support that once saved her.
Her journey highlights the essential role of legal advocacy in providing not just safety, but the opportunity for women to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
I cried because Australia has believed my story. For once,
I will be accepted in this country.
Maggie