Annual Report 2014-15

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Who we are THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE The Constitution and Rules of RACS provide that organisations and individuals may nominate representatives and individuals to the Management Committee. RACS is very grateful for the contribution of the Committee, which meets monthly to assist with governance and organisational matters. The following individuals were office-holders during 2014-15: President Dr Arthur Glass, Senior Visiting Fellow at UNSW Vice President Ariel Spigelman, Account Director at a AMR Treasurer Lien Pham, Finance Manager at Grant Samuel Secretary Lucy Morgan, Policy officer at Refugee Council of Australia Public Officer Lachlan Murdoch, Deputy Director of STARTTS Committee Members Anthea Lowe, Workplace Consultant Liz Biok, Solicitor, Civil Law Division, Legal Aid – retired mid 2015 Tim Gordon Partner, Gilbert + Tobin Heidi Nash-Smith Partner, Wotton + Kearney Chris Yoo Investment Director, Crescent Capital Partners STAFF Tanya Jackson-Vaughan – Executive Director Legal Team Katie Wrigley - Principal Solicitor Outreach Team Jemma Hollonds - Senior Solicitor Sharara Attai, Melisa Cicak, Nadia Khan & Nargis Rajab – Solicitors Policy & Legacy Casework Team Scott Cosgriff - Senior Solicitor Rawan Arraf, Elyse Trotter – Solicitors Sylvia Arzey, Melisa Cicak & Rachael Pliner - ASC lawyers 2014-15 Legal Help for Refugees Clinic Team Ben Lumsdaine - Senior Solicitor Alison Ryan - Clinic Coordinator Thulasi Wingeswaran - Clinic admin Primary Application & Information Service Team Julia Steward - Senior Solicitor Simon Bruck – Solicitor Sarah Dale - Child Specialist Lawyer Laura Hibbert - PAIS Coordinator Stephanie Blaker - Legal Admin Administrative Team Maja Bulut-Hallett - Office Manager Jane Turner - Client Coordinator Emma Somyden Davey - Volunteer Coordinator Financial Team Christina Portman - Business Manager Dana Dumitriu – Acting Business Manager Uma Ramprasad - Accountant RACS would like to express its gratitude to Paul Reid of KPMG, for his assistance for many years auditing our finances. Fundraising Team Andrew Kelly - Fundraising Manager Tina Posunkina - Assistant in Admin, Fundraising and Communications 30 | Annual Report
Secondees Secondees from King & Wood Mallesons, Allens Linklaters and Norton Rose Fulbright joined RACS once again this year. King & Wood Mallesons - Jacob Offen and Michael Forgacs. Allens Linklaters - Jonathan Hall Spence Norton Rose Fulbright - Alex Kennedy and Amritha Thiyagarajan. RACS is immensely grateful to our partner legal firms for their ongoing support and to the individual lawyers who joined us. The hardest thing is saying goodbye at the end of their 6 months as they so quickly become an essential part of our team Amritha Thiyagarajan – secondee from Norton Rose Fulbright Working at RACS was both a humbling and enriching experience. I was given significant autonomy in running client files, and I learnt about the processes involved in developing the best strategy to give your client the highest chance of success. Although it was challenging at times, I feel really fortunate to have had this opportunity through the secondment program at Norton Rose Fulbright. The lawyers at RACS inspired me every day with their tenacity and passion for what they do. I am proud to have worked alongside such exceptional individuals, and to have contributed to such valuable work. I’m sure I will take this experience forward as one of the highlights of my legal career. Aarthi Sridharan 2015 – secondee from Mallesons I have thoroughly enjoyed being the KWM secondee to RACS (Aug 2015 to Feb 2016). I have truly appreciated the opportunity to observe highly intelligent and passionate solicitors and staff at an organisation which does crucial work for its clients in an ever changing and challenging legal environment. Having been given responsibility for approximately 40 casework files, I have learnt invaluable legal and advocacy skills, which I will take with me for the rest of my legal career. Aside from casework, I have also had the chance to give telephone advice on a regular basis and to participate in other RACS staff sessions. The collaborative and encouraging RACS environment has also allowed me to make life long friendships with truly inspirational staff and volunteers. Refugee Advice and Casework Service | 31
Page 1 and 2: Annual Report 2014-15 Refugee Advic
Page 3 and 4: our vision, purpose and values Visi
Page 5 and 6: A message of thanks A rollercoaster
Page 7 and 8: THE RACS TEAM HELPED OVER 2827 Pers
Page 9 and 10: From Homeless to Housed At the begi
Page 11 and 12: anges for asylum Seekers to 30 June
Page 13 and 14: Refugee Advice and Casework Service
Page 15 and 16: Outreach In order to provide effect
Page 17 and 18: more than 60 education sessions wer
Page 19 and 20: we assisted clients from over 90 di
Page 21 and 22: Waiting for permission to apply Rec
Page 23 and 24: “Thank you so much RACS for helpi
Page 25 and 26: And we have been encouraged by the
Page 27 and 28: $2,000,000 2000000 $1,500,000 15000
Page 29: Policy and Law Reform RACS, as one
Page 33 and 34: A total of 366 volunteers assisted
Page 35 and 36: Nathan Kennedy Sherry Khalili Rose
Page 39 and 40: Significant Donors Anne-Marie Allgr
Page 41 and 42: Adélie Land (France) 4 Afghanistan
Page 55 and 56: Glossary AFP - Australian Federal P

Annual Report 2014-15

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