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HOW WE
ARE FUNDED
Up until April 2014, RACS and
similar organisations had been
funded under the Federal
Government’s Immigration Advice
and Application Assistance Scheme
(IAAAS). Established in 1997, the
scheme succeeded in reducing
the possibility that a person with
genuine protection claims might,
contrary to Australia’s international
obligations, be returned to danger
because of lack of access to
independent and professional
advice when applying for asylum.
The IAAAS program had received
bipartisan support prior to the last
election.
The announcement by the Federal
government to slash the IAAAS
scheme, and remove access to
free legal services for the majority
of asylum seekers, has immediate
and significant consequences for
the work performed by RACS, as
well as for the future prospects of
the vulnerable men, women and
children we assist.
RACS still receives a capped
amount of money from the
Department to assist people who
came to Australia on a visa by
plane and have then sought asylum.
This is a very small percentage of
the funds required to support our
service.
We also receive a small grant of
money through the Public Purpose
Fund, which is administered by
Legal Aid NSW.
In order to maintain the service
required to assist the number of
asylum seekers in Australia who
need legal assistance, RACS has
to raise substantial funds. Always
innovative, RACS pre-empted the
announcement of the funding
cuts by establishing a fundraising