The Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS) is a not for profit refugee legal service whose primary purpose is to relieve the necessitous circumstances of people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum who reside in Tasmania through the provision of free and confidential legal services. The TRLS is a member of Community Legal Centres Tasmania, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and is a registered charity.
Our Mission
TRLS aims to provide free legal services to people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum experiencing disadvantage in Tasmania, through harnessing the expertise of lawyers, law students, migration agents and other interested volunteers.
Our Purpose
TRLS’s primary purpose is to relieve the necessitous circumstances of people in Tasmania who are seeking refugee protection to remain in Australia by:
- Operating a free-of-charge advisory service for people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum in Tasmania
- Operating a case work service for people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum in Tasmania
- Carrying out research into relevant legal and procedural issues relating to people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum
- Providing education to legal and welfare workers, law students and the public on current immigration and citizenship and refugee law, policy and procedures
- Promoting and protecting human rights, and
- Raising funds through public donations and other means to further the objects and purposes of this association and to co-operate with other entities having similar objectives.
History
A steering committee of interested persons was formed in June 2013 with the intention of establishing the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS). On 13 November 2013 the Refugee Legal Service (Tas) Inc. was incorporated. The TRLS’s board comprises lawyers, migration agents, law students and other professionals with professional or voluntary experience, all with a philanthropic interest of working and supporting people of refugee background, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum. The eight member board is currently responsible for the management of the service. With ongoing growth, it is intended that management responsibilities will be discharged to service management, with the board assuming typical governance duties.
The TRLS Board
Tom Carr – President & Director
Samuel Karpinskyj – Vice President & Director
Jamie Boys – Treasurer & Director
Kate Vincent – Secretary & Director
Mimi Chan – Director
Millie von Stieglitz – Director
Mark Huber – Director