Jeanine’s story
Jeanine is a refugee from East Africa, who, fearing for her life, fled her home country.
She became separated from her two sons in her escape, and reached out to RACS for legal support when she arrived in Australia.
Her ordeal through the legal system would last years, until finally, she was granted a permanent visa.
“When I heard I’d been granted a permanent visa, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. I couldn’t go through [this] without the help of RACS.”
As an assistant nurse, Jeanine was considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 crisis, caring for Australians in the community during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
With a permanent visa, Jeanine is able to continue her work helping vulnerable people beyond the pandemic, without worrying about being turned away to danger.
“I’m passionate about caring for and helping vulnerable people of all ages – elders, children and adults,” Jeanine said.
Once Jeanine was granted a permanent visa, RACS was able to help her navigate a complex legal process once again to secure visas for her children to come to Australia.
RACS Senior Supervising Solicitor Ben Lumsdaine worked on Jeanine’s case, helping her receive permanent protection in Australia.
“I was overjoyed when I heard Jeanine’s sons had made it to Australia. Working with Jeanine over many years I knew the great toll it had taken on her to be separated from her children for years and how hard she had worked to be able to live with them again,” Ben said.
“I am also in awe at Jeanine’s resilience and character overcoming so much to get her family back together.”
“In Africa, people struggle for different reasons; some people don’t have enough to eat, others can’t afford to learn [and get an education]. We could afford these things, but we weren’t safe. At least now I know me and my children are safe,” Jeanine said.
RACS was able to reunite Jeanine and her children through the RACS Family Reunion program.
“No person fleeing persecution should have to endure years of separation from their family as it only adds to the pain they’ve been through,” Ben said.
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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.”
