Prior to my LiA trip, I felt quite apprehensive and nervous about arriving to Sydney. I chose Australia as my location to push myself out of my comfort zone by being so far away, but arriving alone was nonetheless very daunting! However, I knew that this was all part of becoming more resilient to change and the unknown, something I particularly wanted to develop. Looking back, having conquered being alone on the other side of the world makes me feel as if I can take on any challenge.
RACS (Refugee Advice and Casework Service) is a community legal center providing essential legal support to people fleeing persecution, to find security and safety in Australia. I found the organisation through a mutual friend who recommended I email the organisation to volunteer with them. As an individual aspiring to a career in law, with a keen interest in human rights, I felt RACS aligned directly with my interests, and so I was thrilled when I was accepted for my 6 weeks with such an incredible organisation.
As an intern for the SOGIESC clinic, I worked under solicitor Gretel in assisting those fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation. This was deeply eye-opening. In a climate where refugees continue to be politicised and dehumanised, it was an incredible experience interacting first-hand with the real individuals behind such a stigmatised group. Equally, the intersection of being a refugee and identifying as LGBTQIA+, an identity which remains extremely persecuted across the world, revealed to me the battles so many are forced to undertake, leaving their families and home behind, just to achieve safety and the freedom of self-expression.
Refugees are not just numbers to be scapegoated and targeted by the media and governments. Being able to directly speak and assist individuals who have faced such unimaginable adversity truly humanised the entire process for me and deeply impacted my worldview.
Through my experience, I gained a detailed insight into Australian immigration law. I directly assisted in Protection Visa Applications, drafting statements and engaging in country research. I drafted administrative forms for the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and dealt directly with client queries. This gave me a unique understanding of the legal process required to successfully lodge an application, or contest a previous decision. I also utilised CLASS, directSMS, GetAccept, and conducted Vevo checks and Immi Account checks. Learning how to navigate the IT systems was quite daunting, as I didn't want to make a mistake on any of the legal documents I was preparing. However, by the end, I had mastered the systems, and was very proud of how efficiently I could complete tasks that had originally taken me double the time! The lengths of the process for refugees was also revealed to me, with waiting times for the processing of applications often exceeding 2 years +, leaving so many in a seemingly endless state of uncertainty and stress. The strength and bravery of the clients I interacted with was truly inspiring.
While interning specifically for SOGIESC, I also worked on front-end, answering client lines and working with the Troubleshooter Lawyer to assist. This exposed me to various cases and queries, and allowed me to work with different lawyers across the RACS team. Equally, I had the opportunity to attend the in-person outreach clinic at Auburn, attending to client drop-ins and assisting them myself. This was especially eye-opening, as I was able to talk to clients in person, and while this was admittedly nerve wracking at times (!), it was incredibly insightful. My first time at Auburn I shadowed the RACS lawyers, observing how they handled client drop-ins, and my second time I took queries myself. Having to assist 70 individuals in six hours and with only four RACS members (myself included), this was definitely a busy day, but I felt extremely proud of having completed it myself.
Going from my first call with a client (on day 2!), where I felt very nervous to aid them in their query having only just completed my training, to successfully teaching other volunteers how to answer calls, I really felt my progress was tangible. Learning how to sensitively communicate with people who have undergone traumatic circumstances, and being able to assist them efficiently and on my own, was a big milestone for me and I was so proud of how far I'd come. A particularly meaningful interaction was a 2-hour call I ended up taking while on Front-End, where alongside an interpreter, I completed the client intake for a very vulnerable individual, and read scripted information, asking questions sensitively about their situation. Despite Microsoft Teams cutting out on me two times during the call, I was able to assist the individual and allocate them a lawyer to begin their Protection Visa Application process, obtaining as much information from them as possible to assess their claims. The call made a deep impression on me and thee bravery of the client was so touching. Another highlight was being given rough statement notes, and rewriting the statement in chronological order and the right wording and formatting for the Department to process. While I felt internal pressure to do this correctly, I was very happy to have been given this responsibility and very proud of the outcome.
Another highlight of my time at RACS was attending the annual Walk 4 Justice, marching through the Sydney CBD along with other city law firms and justice organisations, to celebrate the pro bono work of lawyers.
As a team, I could not have asked for more from RACS. I felt included and respected from the moment I arrived, and the warm, friendly and open culture was a testament to the kind of organisation RACS is. Specifically, Gretel’s guidance was invaluable to me, with the genuine care they showed towards their SOGIESC clients demonstrating to me the delicate and necessary balance between emotional sensitivity and efficiency. I learnt so much from Gretel and the RACS team, with the tireless work they put in and deep relationships they formed with their clients truly showing how to lead by example.
These 6 weeks left me in awe of both the inspiring clients I interacted with, and the selfless team at RACS working so tirelessly to support them. I was so proud of my own personal progress: leading calls between clients, interpreters and myself; being able to complete tasks alone without guidance and utilising the IT systems; gaining an in depth knowledge of Australian immigration law and applying it in practice; integrating into the team; and truly helping people seeking asylum - the experience was one of the most rewarding of my life.
I was given a lot of opportunities to be a leader - whether it was leading calls with clients, teaching volunteers how to answer calls effectively or taking in person queries at Auburn, I really developed my leadership skills. I hope I have shown from recounting my 6 weeks above just how far I came in that short period, and just how much I learnt about true leadership.
It is difficult to put into words the impact working at RACS has had on me, and I am so grateful to all the RACS team and the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme for giving me this opportunity. This experience has also deeply informed my future career prospects, and this is a field I definitely see myself ending up in in the future. Finishing off my last day with a surprise goodbye party planned for me by Gretel and the team, I was really sad to say goodbye to somewhere that I felt so integrated into. Sydney was an amazing city to be a part of for 6 weeks, and I managed to meet so many people in and out of work, and explore the sights the city had to offer. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone with the job, but also with my social life, meeting up with new groups and finding friends alone. By the end, I felt like I truly belonged! I will definitely be back to visit, and hopefully volunteer again for some time with RACS, and I will miss them incredibly.