Bi-Lingual FREE Legal Advice for International Students through MyLegal Mate

Home » Bi-Lingual FREE Legal Advice for International Students through MyLegal Mate

MyLegal Mate was the first mobile service of its kind in Australia. Developed with grant funding from the City of Sydney, the app will provide free legal guidance tailored for international students across NSW.

“Moving to a new city can be a bewildering experience, especially if there are language barriers and you do not know where to go for advice,”  said Lord Mayor Clover Moore  “It will help ensure they’re given every opportunity to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding time, living and studying in Sydney and across NSW.  International students enhance our city by contributing to Sydney’s diversity and strengthening our global connections.  Being able to attract and nurture the best candidates from around the world is an investment in our city’s future. That’s why we’ve supported this innovative information resource, and look forward to it helping students from all backgrounds.”

MyLegal Mate was created by the Redfern Legal Centre with funding from the City of Sydney, StudyNSW and the Fair Work Ombudsman and built using the technology of Sydney company, Practera.   It is the brainchild of Solicitor Sean Stimson, the head of Redfern Legal Services International Student Legal Service NSW. Mr Stimson was this year awarded the NSW Human Rights Medal his work with the state’s 260,000 international students.

“Redfern Legal Centre provides a free statewide legal advice service for international students funded by Study NSW, but this app will offer new and immediate support,” Mr Stimson said.  “This is an innovative way for our service to ensure that international students can gain immediate access to tailored legal information and be empowered to take greater control when problems occur.

The app addresses four legal areas identified by students and service providers as having the most need:
– employment
– housing
– disputes with education providers; and
– sexual assault. The information is provided in multiple languages and delivered in a face-to-face format that is friendly and accessible in English and 6 community languages.  Redfern Legal Centre was among 25 community groups sharing information and services with Sydney’s latest international students from more than 60 nationals at the Town Hall reception.

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Senior Partner, Reece Ramsden has two migration agents at his firm and says,   ” I think that anybody taking the initiative to modernise their service through a mobile phone application is a progressive idea, especially as this ‘MyLegal Mate’ is targeted at international students who need a platform that is in another language. ”

He stresses care as the  app claims to provide ‘tailored legal advice’ which in some cases may still need further consultation depending on the case.   “In my opinion, there must be some degree of caution, and strong disclaimers provided that the app is simply only to help guide international students navigate some areas that may be unfamiliar, but when they have complex legal issues, they should be referred to a panel of lawyers / migration agents who can actually provide the tailored legal advice.”  he says

“In this industry, migration agents (or perhaps this application, if that’s possible?) must ensure they strictly comply with their relevant code of conduct found at Migration Agents Registration Authority.”

In saying that, it helps alleviate the strain of a community legal centre that may at times be pushed for resources as it relies on public and private funding.    “Overall, however, the initiative taken to provide something easily accessible and free is a fantastic move forward in our legal society as long as careful measures are taken in conjunction.”  notes Ramsden.

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This week in Sydney:

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Shitbox Rally – Cancer Council’s biggest national fundraiser – is finishing this Friday May 17 in Centennial Parklands, Sydney. Over 550 people and 270+ cars will be crossing the finish line and celebrating finishing a ten-day outback journey from Perth via Uluru. SHITBOX RALLY CAR AUCTION Beloved cars from the rally will be auctioned off at the Manheim Auctions, Moorebank with all funds raised going towards the Cancer Council. There is NO RESERVE on any cars – all will be sold. Many have had recent mechanical work done including new tyres. It’s a great opportunity to buy your very first car, a bargain second car for the family or a fun ride for backpacking around Australia. Saturday May 18, 2019- 10AM – 12PM Manheim Auctions – 144 Moorebank Ave, Moorebank NSW 2170 • Since 2010, Box Rallies has raised over $18.6 million to Cancer Council EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH FUNDED • Testing new drug combinations for pancreatic cancer • Preventing people with immune deficiencies from developing lymphoma • Finding new compounds to target the deadliest type of malignant brain tumour • Developing a way to calculate the safest and most effective dose of radiation for prostate cancer patients • Analysing the largest data set of melanoma genome sequences in the world, and identifying a treatment to block the development & spread of neuroblastoma cells #cancerresearch #community #fundraiser #cars #perth #sydney #uluru #charity #cancer #memorial #friends #commadery #sydneylife #centennialparklands #dindinsvideo #sydney #sydneylocal #sydneyevents #auction #carauction #domain #payitforward #ruok #gift #life #tribute #family #travel #fcba #fbas #sydneyrestaurant

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