UP to 1500 Afghan Refugees including new arrivals and their families in Victoria will be offered free legal assistance after a funding boost.
Almost $1 million will go to independent community legal centre Refugee Legal – to work with pro bono lawyers from major firms and local multicultural communities – and resource an Afghanistan Legal Hotline and Legal Clinic.
The investment will deliver extra administration, paralegal and legal resources to help meet increased demand for legal services and advice from new Afghan arrivals and established Afghan communities.
The Hotline and Legal Clinic continues to provide advice for people in Victoria on bringing family members from Afghanistan or third countries to Australia, and for Afghans in Victoria who are on temporary visas or who have been refused refugee protection and are seeking reassessment of their protections claims.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said this funding will deliver more legal help for people dealing with the fallout of the situation in Afghanistan.
“I commend Refugee Legal for their tireless support for some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” Ms Spence said.
Established in 1998, Refugee Legal provides not-for-profit expert legal advice and casework service via telephone and group information sessions for asylum seekers, refugees and disadvantaged migrants in the community and in immigration detention in Victoria and Australia. Refugee Legal has previously delivered community information sessions and recruited, supervised and coordinated over 550 pro-bono legal practitioners to consult with over 14,000 clients.
Refugee Legal Executive director and principal solicitor David Manne said the boost in funds will ensure many people receive the help they critically need.
“Legal assistance is crucial to supporting refugees and migrants, especially during times of crisis,” he said.
People impacted by the Afghanistan crisis and needing legal assistance can call Refugee Legal on (03) 9413 0166, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Further information is available at refugeelegal.org.au.
