Claire Bruhns
Tue, 29 Jul 2003 01:05:40 -0700
Pro-Bono Legal Group (RASSA) THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY SERVICE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Cordially invites you to attend A DINNER IN SUPPORT OF RASSA AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN AUSTRALIA RASSA is delighted to have the company of Speakers Gordon Barrett QC - Chairperson of RASSA And Father Frank Brennan SJ Also as a most special event - Eva Sallis will read from her work Venue: National Convention Centre, Constitution Avenue, Canberra Date: 19th August 2003 Time: 7.00pm for 7.30pm Cost: $100 per ticket - Concession and Tables of 10 $90 Please contact RASSA on either (08) 82119097 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Or Canberra contact Claire Bruhns on 0401 325 943 or 62880535 for tickets We will also have the pleasure of being entertained by Nitya and the World Music Group “Jam’nn”, with Egyptian dance by Iimala Dear Sir/Madam, My daughter is one of the young lawyers who has been volunteering at RASSA since before they even opened their first office in late 2001. I did some voluntary work for them in January and February this year and they have asked me to assist in organising a fundraising dinner for them in the ACT next month. RASSA offers free face to face legal advice for the many hundreds of asylum seekers in Baxter and also some asylum seekers living in the South Australian community. Unfortunately, they are having trouble keeping their office open, as they receive no funding at all other than private donations, mostly from the legal community. Cheers Claire Bruhns, 62880535, 7 Yate Gardens, Rivett, ACT, 0401 325 943 Here is some further background information about RASSA: Refugee Advocacy Service of SA Inc (RASSA) The Refugee Advocacy Service of SA Inc (RASSA) is a community legal service set up by lawyers and law students, which assists asylum seekers with judicial review and other court appeals. Our office provides the central point of contact for people detained at Baxter Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (and in the past Woomera) who are seeking legal representation in their appeal process. While there are a large number of organizations and individuals across Australia who also contribute to this process, RASSA is the only community legal centre that is focused solely on the legal representation of asylum seekers in immigration detention. As part of our work we conduct regular visits to Baxter to interview clients. Initially we staffed our office with law student volunteers, under the supervision of volunteer legal practitioners. In the month of May 2002, with no paid staff, we managed to brief counsel and provide representation for an average of a hearing per day. As our workload has increased we have hired part time staff, including two solicitors. We continue to rely heavily on the volunteer work of law students to keep our office open. The barristers who argue our client's cases in the courts also do so for free - unless they are successful and the courts order the Minister for Immigration to pay their costs. When this occurs much of this money is donated back to RASSA by the barristers. The High Court decision of Plaintiff S 157 v MIMIA brought down in February of this year, has significantly increased the potential for asylum seekers to be successful in gaining another chance before the Refugee Review Tribunal. However, the work involved in ensuring that applicants before the Federal Court have the benefit of this new interpretation of the privative clause is substantial. In addition, RASSA has been involved in bringing court proceedings for those Iranians who the Department of Immigration has indicated it intends to return to Iran. Because of our focus, we are limited in our ability to attract funding. We have never received any Commonwealth or State Government grants, and, with the exception of a small grant from the South Australian Law Foundation, have financed ourselves primarily through fundraising events and small donations. At the end of our second financial year we find ourselves at a crisis point - with various fundraising events and grant applications in process, we do not have the resources to continue to operate our office past the end of July. We urgently need to find the money to continue our operations for the next few months, to enable us to pursue more substantial funding for our next year. If you are able to assist us in any way please contact us immediately on 0882119097 or email us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thank you, RASSA Liaison Officer, Taruna McLean 0409402645 -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]