The Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS) is a not-for-profit organisation established to provide migration-related legal services to refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other humanitarian entrants in the Tasmanian community. Due to their circumstances, these clients may otherwise be unable to access legal assistance that is free, or available in Tasmania.
TRLS is the only dedicated refugee, migrant, asylum seeker and humanitarian entrant legal service in Tasmania. TRLS addresses an access-to-justice gap that manifests from the unique circumstances of this cohort. TRLS’ legal services significantly improves the operation of the justice system for persons residing in Tasmania who would otherwise be without access to legal services.
The Family Violence Migration Service (FVMS) is a free and confidential legal service delivered by the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service.
The FVMS provides migration advice and casework assistance to victim/survivors of family violence who are on temporary visas and whose visa status may be impacted by the family violence or by the breakdown of their relationship.
The FVMS also delivers professional development and training sessions on family violence migration law for service providers, as well as community education sessions for the wider migrant community.
The ability to access free legal migration advice can provide victims/survivors with the opportunity to leave a violent relationship and be able to access the safety and support they need in the Tasmanian community to live a life free from violence and harm.
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 work involves the provision of free key legal assistance and representation to people who could not otherwise obtain it due to financial and other forms of distinct disadvantage, often related to their cultural or linguistically diverse backgrounds or experiences of torture or trauma.
TRLS is the only dedicated refugee, migrant, asylum seeker and humanitarian entrant legal service in Tasmania. TRLS addresses an access-to-justice gap that manifests from the unique circumstances of this cohort. TRLS’ legal services significantly improves the operation of the justice system for persons resident in Tasmania who would otherwise be without access to legal services.
- 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.
The TRLS Board
Samuel Karpinskyj
Tom Carr
Samantha Climie
Kate Buxton
Mark Huber
Millie Von Stieglitz