One Thursday night, Afsaneh was attacked at work. When Afsaneh’s husband tried to defend her, he too was attacked. At the police station, instead of helping the injured man, officers locked him in a cell and he spent months in jail.
It was not safe for them in their own country – and never would be again.
"It was so, so scary,” Afsaneh says. “It wasn't safe… That's why we escaped to Australia."
With a toddler in tow, they left their life and their parents and siblings behind to seek safety abroad. This was 2012. Afsaneh did not know then that her ordeal had just begun, that it would be many years before she knew freedom.
Tragically, when Afsaneh’s family got on a boat to Australia, they didn't find freedom. They found more fear. Detained at the immigration detention centre on Christmas Island, Afsaneh fell into depression. How long would they be trapped? Would they ever get to the mainland?
And she was pregnant. While in detention, Afsaneh gave birth to her second son.
RACS first met Afsaneh at one of our outreach events in Western Sydney, back in early 2017. It had already been several years since she had arrived in Australia and she was still in limbo.
Afsaneh’s Story
There were mountains of forms to fill out and documentation to collect and certify. In tense department interviews, Afsaneh and her husband were interrogated about their faith, their circumstances in Iran, their extended families. Missing appointments or minor mistakes in paperwork could mean they would be sent back into danger.
These were confusing and stressful situations where RACS lawyers provided both expertise and assurance, helping the family submit the right documents, in the right way, at the right time.
“The RACS team are so friendly, once we sat with them we felt so comfortable,” Afsaneh tells us. “Even when we didn't have great English … they've been so patient.”
Afsaneh had three children – two born in Australia – by the time she was granted a temporary visa. This meant her family was eligible for the new Resolution of Status visa announced in early 2023. They were among over 2,000 people RACS lawyers have helped through the application process.
In mid-2023, Afsaneh got the really good news: her family now had permanent protection in Australia. They wouldn’t be sent back into danger. They could build a future for their children. They could commit fully to their community.
A decade after escaping violence in their country and arriving in Australia, Afsaneh and her family are finally free.
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Afsaneh
RACS first met Afsaneh at one of our outreach events in Western Sydney, back in early 2017. It had already been several years since she had arrived in Australia and she was still in limbo.
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Aisha
Aisha*, living as a persecuted minority in her country, was granted a humanitarian visa and fled to Australia on her own. But after years of building a life here under the protection she was granted, Aisha’s status was abruptly deemed unlawful. Distressed about her situation, Aisha contacted RACS for help.
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Ali
At just 16 years old, Ali Haidari arrived in Australia alone, having fled his home country of Afghanistan. Ali was determined to build a future in Australia, but he understood that would be impossible without first being granted a protection visa.
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Emil
Emil arrived in Australia alone in 2002, after fleeing religious persecution in his home country. When he reached out to RACS for support in applying for protection, he didn’t know that same support that would extend to another family member, many years later.
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Jeanine
When Jeanine fled her home country in East Africa, she became separated from her two sons. After reaching out to RACS, she was granted a permanent visa and from there, was able to apply to be reunited with her children in Australia.
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Maggie
Maggie was born and grew up in Sierra Leone. As a soccer-loving student with big dreams, Maggie decided to forge a path in sports journalism.
As she was maturing into a professional and empowered individual, she became involved in advocating for the health of women and girls.
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Maryam
Maryam and her family arrived in Australia in 2012. With no protection, no support and no finances, the family’s situation seemed bleak. Read more to hear how RACS was able to assist Maryam to gain permanent safety in Australia.
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Mohsen
When Mohsen fled Iran in his early twenties, he didn’t expect to spend the next two years of his life detained on Christmas Island.
“There were lots of ups and down in that period,” he said. “But we were safe.”
