The ASRC telethon on World Refugee Day, 20 June.

For the first time in Australia, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is holding a telethon on World Refugee Day,  20th June to raise awareness and much needed funds to support and empower refugees and people seeking asylum.

Commencing at 7am until 8:30pm on Monday, 20 June, callers are invited to make a pledge and donate any sum, large or small to the ASRC on the telethon hotline; 1300 692 772 (or 1300 MYASRC).

The event goal is to raise $100,000 which can help our human rights lawyers and volunteers provide over 3,000 hours of critical legal assistance to our members, some of whom have been on long waiting lists. The telethon comes at a time when 24,500 people seeking safety in Australia who arrived by sea between August 2012 and July 2013, will be forced to navigate through the most complex and undignified refugee determination process yet. The money raised will be critical in helping more than our annual capacity to support 3,200 to submit their claim, which is near impossible without legal assistance.

To support more people from being sent back to harm, join us by calling 1300 692 772 (or 1300 MYASRC) on World Refugee Day to make a donation and you could be speaking to one of our volunteers like Australian music artists; John Butler, Mama Kin, and Jamie Hay or Dr Susan Carland, Poet, Abe Nouk or Founding Editor of the Saturday Paper, Erik Jensen.

Donors are encouraged to share their pledge by using the hashtag #ASRCTelethon

What you can do now? RSVP to the ASRC Telethon Facebook Event to get notifications about our latest volunteers on the phones.

Check out the official Telethon web page at www.asrc.org.au/telethon