Register at www.study.sydney/student-welfare/my-legal-mate RLC offers a free nationwide legal aid service covering all areas of law, including family law, motor vehicle accidents and property damage. Any student enrolled in studies can access the services. The consultation can be done either by phone or via Zoom and is completely free. If necessary, interpreters may be requested. During the COVID-19 pandemic, legal assistance is being provided by phone and online. “We have worked with students to ensure that there are no unfair dismissals. fees have been paid to students, for example to ensure that students have not been underpaid; and that retirement pension was paid,” says Sean. Jai quickly discovered that other international students in the building were also being charged for services they hadn`t requested or received. Emails to the landlord went unanswered.

Upon leaving the property, the landlord did not return the students` rent deposit. The Redfern Legal Centre works to eliminate inequalities in the legal system that negatively and disproportionately affect vulnerable people. The Centre pursues social changes and legislative reforms to reduce these inequalities. Rent concerns became a major concern in mid-March 2020 as landlords tried to remove students from their homes. Employment and lack of opportunities have also become big problems for students. The pandemic hit as many began to lose their jobs and job opportunities became less available. The International Student Legal Service NSW provides access to justice to international students across New South Wales by providing legal advice and training on a range of legal issues including employment, leases, disputes with education providers, credit and debts, fines, family law and minor criminal matters. Currently, a limited amount of migration advice is provided by volunteer migration officers.

RLC`s credit and debt practice advised Sarah and began working with the airline to retrieve the plane ticket. Meanwhile, ISLS` pro bono partner offered visa advice. As a result, Sarah was able to reclaim her international student visa and re-enroll to study. This allowed ISLS to put Sarah on the early access list for the New South Wales Government`s COVID-19 crisis accommodation programme for international students. This free service is available for international students who wish to study anywhere in New South Wales. Learn more about accessing our services. The service is funded by Study NSW, a unit of the New South Wales Government created to support international students across the state. Benefits in kind are provided by the City of Sydney. If you are concerned about your living conditions, tuition, employment and visa requirements due to COVID-19 and need legal advice, contact the free legal services at the Redfern Legal Centre. International students in New South Wales can also seek advice on housing issues, fines, debts, car accidents, employment, discrimination, family law, domestic violence and complaints about colleges or universities.

They can also give advice on how these issues affect student visas. International students can have problems when they are not studying at home. Redfern Legal Centre NSW`s International Student Legal Service provides free and confidential legal advice to international students studying in New South Wales. The International Student Law Service is independent of government. You can speak to one of our experienced lawyers to get free and confidential legal advice on topics such as: The Redfern Legal Centre`s Tip of the Week video series, created by students from our International Student Clinic. This position will be based in the Redfern Legal Centre office (working remotely, as required as part of health assignments) and will work closely with the International Student Law Service lawyer and the Redfern Legal Centre`s extended team to provide holistic service to international students. When you move to a new country, it can be incredibly difficult to understand what the law says and how you are protected. The same goes for international students in Australia. For international students in New South Wales, Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) provides free legal advice and quality legal services to their community. We sat down with Sean Stimson, an attorney at RLC, to explore common legal issues and get advice that international students can turn to. Redfern Legal Centre offers nationwide legal advice for international students.

As part of this service, Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to international students in Armidale via video link. Areas of advice include housing issues, fines, debts, car accidents, employment, discrimination, family law and domestic violence. Sean suggests that you equip yourself with as much information as possible before you arrive. A fantastic resource from RLC is an interactive app called My Legal Mate that gives international students in New South Wales instant access to confidential and free legal information. It also answers frequently asked questions about the law in Australia. The app is like an advocate in your pocket, with information provided via video-based, face-to-face Q&A sessions that are user-friendly and easy to navigate. Each year, RLC helps between 500 and 800 international students with a variety of legal issues. As a reminder, you should always seek advice from a legal service provider if you have a big or small problem. You are not alone and help is always available. Best of all, the app is available for international students in English and six other languages, including Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Thai, and Vietnamese. It helps international students resolve pressing legal issues such as underpayment at work, housing issues, and sexual assault.

Website: rlc.org.au/our-services/international-students and its article for international students during COVID-19. The top four issues facing international students are tenancy, employment, disputes with education providers and, more recently, more students struggling with their visas. Visa issues are on the rise due to travel restrictions due to the global pandemic; Some students cannot enter the country, others cannot return home. Leases, visa changes, domestic violence and non-payment of a fine – there are many difficult and conflicting situations you may encounter as an international student.