Important Information for People Seeking Asylum

ASRC services operating to support you

FOODBANK

If you are a person seeking asylum and need access to food, please call 03 9326 6066 and we can help you.

If you are a current ASRC member, eligible to access the Foodbank, please call 0402610740 to arrange a day to collect food packs from the Footscray centre. Foodbank is open from 11:00am–12:30pm; 1:15pm-3:30pm Monday to Friday.

FOODBANK HOME DELIVERY – NOT AVAILABLE

ASRC Foodbank no longer runs a home delivery service. Members must now book an appointment to collect food packs from the Footscray centre.

To change your appointment day/time please call 0402610740 or email foodbankbookings@asrc.org.au.

MEALS
Takeaway meals are currently available Monday to Friday.

HEALTHCARE

The Health Clinic is open Monday to Friday for in person appointments between 10:30am and 4:00pm.

To make an appointment you can contact the Health Clinic between 10:30am and 4pm by calling 03 9274 9898 or emailing health@asrc.org.au.

If you are feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, please get tested at one of the official testing sites. Click here for more information or visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/getting-tested. The test is free for everyone (see DHHS guidance here). Please take proof of identity with you.

If there is a medical emergency go straight to the Emergency Department of your nearest public hospital or call an ambulance on 000. In Victoria, hospital emergency services and ambulances are free of charge for people seeking asylum.

HOUSING

If you are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, please call 03 9326 6066 between 11am – 3pm Monday – Friday and an ASRC caseworker will provide a call back.

If your need is urgent and the ASRC is closed, you can call the Victorian statewide crisis accommodation support directory on 1800 825 955.

BASIC NEEDS

If you need to use public transport, we may be able to support you with myki. Please drop into the Material Aid desk between 11am – 3.30pm Monday – Friday. 

If you have a baby, we may be able to support you with nappies. Please drop into the Material Aid desk between 11am – 3.30pm Monday – Friday. 

If you are having trouble paying for other needs, we may be able to help. Please call 03 9326 6066 between 11am – 3pm Monday – Friday and an ASRC caseworker will provide a callback.

LEGAL AID – GENERAL

The ASRC Human Rights Law Program can offer free legal advice and assistance to people seeking asylum who cannot afford a private lawyer and have no access to government-funded legal advice.

The ASRC legal team is currently not at our Footscray centre. Please do not arrive at the centre to see a lawyer at this time.

If you are a new client, you can call our legal advice line on 0478 700 605 on Monday and Thursday between 10:30am to 12:30pm.

If you are an existing legal client, you can call our duty line on 03 9274 9889 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 4:30pm.

If you are in detention, you can email us at legal@asrc.org.au. Please note that we will not respond to email requests from persons who are not in detention.

See below section for detailed legal info sheets which may help guide you through different parts of the legal process.

LEGAL AID – FAST TRACK APPLICATION INTERVIEWS (URGENT)

Protection visa interview deadline: 30 June, 2021

If you applied for a TPV or SHEV visa between 2015 and 2017 and have not already attended a Protection visa interview with the Department, please contact the ASRC urgently for legal assistance. 
 
CALL: 0478 700 605 (Monday, Thursday 10:30am – 12pm) or email legal@asrc.org.au 

The application interview is your only chance to explain your case to the Department. Update your contact details with the Department to receive your Interview Invitation (the ASRC can also help you do this). 

Click here to learn more (Info sheet Fast Track interviews)

Translations of the Fast Track interviews Info sheet:

• Arabic
• Bengali
• Burmese
• Dari
• Farsi
• Tamil
• Urdu

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT

The ASRC Employment Program has resumed appointments on-site, in addition to phone-based and online support to help you to find work. 

If you are an existing member of the Employment Program, you can contact us by email, phone or Slack. 

If you are not yet a member of the ASRC Employment Program, please contact us on  03 9326 6066 or click here for more information. Due to high demand, it may take us a week to respond to your query.

CASEWORK: Information, support and referrals

If you are new to the ASRC or are a current member you may be able to access a caseworker at the ASRC who can provide you with information, support, advocacy or refer you to other ASRC services and external services in the community.

Please call 03 9326 6066 between 11am – 3pm on Monday / Tuesday / Thursday / Friday and an ASRC caseworker will provide a call back. Please do not come to the centre unless you have phoned first and made an appointment.

EDUCATION

ASVET appointments for advice, information and referrals are currently face to face, phone-based or online. On-site appointments are available at the Footscray Centre. Phone-based or online appointments will still be available after the on-site appointments.

Dandenong  members who need an appointment for advice or a referral to an ASVET course will need to contact the ASRC Footscray Centre to arrange a phone-based or online appointment. You can book an on-site appointment at the ASRC Footscray Centre. Phone-based and online appointments will also be available. Please call the Footscray ASVET team on 03 9274 9834 or  9274 9807 (Monday to Friday) to book an appointment.

DETENTION RIGHTS ADVOCACY PROGRAM (DRAP)

The DRAP team is available to support our offshore and onshore detention clients. Please whatsapp us on the DRAP phone – (+61) 04 2667 9247 for one of our caseworkers to contact you during business hours.