The Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Incorporated is a community legal service set up with the specific objective of advocating on behalf of asylum seekers detained or residing in Australia.

Prior to the incorporation of RASSA many legal practitioners and para legals were contributing their time on a pro bono basis to represent asylum seekers in their claims for refugee status in the Federal Court and advocating on their behalf to improve inhumane conditions of detention at centres such as Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre. Membership of the RASSA comprises a broad cross-section of legal practitioners including private and public solicitors, barristers and academics as well as persons from other professional disciplines, and students.

The activities of the group include :

• Representing asylum seekers in appeals to the Federal Court against adverse Refugee Review Tribunal decisions

• Advocating for improvement of conditions of detention, and assisting asylum seekers to obtain services and support that they are entitled to at International Law

• Regular visits to Woomera to interview asylum seekers and observe the general conditions of detention

• Advocating on behalf of asylum seekers both at the Australian and International level

• Providing a comprehensive resource base for lawyers engaged in Federal Court appeals and other legal action

• Providing education and training and encouraging public discussion on issues involving asylum seekers including both legal issues and the general conditions of detention

To find out about opportunities to volunteer with RASSA, contact rassa@rassa.org.au.