End of financial year appeal

Monday, May 22 2017

Dear Friend

As I write, the emergency situation for people seeking asylum in our country has escalated even further.

21^ST of May’s  “Lodge or Leave” announcement means that there are around 4,000 people in Victoria alone who urgently need our legal help to apply for refugee protection by the deadline of 1 October 2017. People who miss the deadline could be deported without the Government even hearing their cases for protection.

Their greatest need is to be granted protection – the legal permission to stay. Based on over 28 years’ experience, we know that our expert legal assistance for people seeking asylum can save them from forced return to danger, even death. And that’s at the heart of what we do at Refugee Legal.

In this context, we’re profoundly grateful to be able to launch our End of Financial Year Appeal, with a new and special partnership.

Gandel Philanthropy, one of Australia’s largest independent family philanthropic funds, will match your generous tax deductible donation to Refugee Legal, dollar for dollar up to $70,000, until 30 June – doubling the impact of your gift.

Your donation will enable us to urgently scale up our specialised legal Clinics, which means helping many more people to lodge their cases for protection within time.

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Support us by making a donation today

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Thousands of people left in legal limbo for years without being allowed to apply, must now complete onerous and complex legal paperwork containing over 100 questions plus a detailed statement of fears, all in English by 1 October 2017. Legal help absolutely is essential for people to effectively present their case for protection.

Without legal help, this is a recipe for failure which violates rights and endangers lives.

What we need now is the funding to scale up to full capacity to help those in need.

As Australia’s largest provider of free legal assistance to people seeking asylum and vulnerable migrants, we remain at the forefront of direct client work (helping over 12,500 people in the last year) combined with a strategic and innovative approach.

In all of our work, we continue to harness the support of over 500 volunteers, including partnering with over a dozen major law firms to ensure your donations are making the biggest possible impact.

While we’re working to increase our impact, Gandel Philanthropy will double yours – dollar for dollar up to $70,000 – when you make a tax deductible donation before 30 June.

Help us to help refugees who deserve a fair go before the law and the chance to build a better life in safety.

Best wishes,

David

Executive Director & Principal Solicitor

 

P.S. We acknowledge and thank The Saturday Paper and Studio Round as enduring partners of Refugee Legal and welcome Gandel Philanthropy and Readings as our new 2017 EOFY Appeal partners.

 

Over the coming weeks, we will be announcing further partnerships to match your donations and help us reach our target of $300,000.