Refugee Week – Yasmin’s Journey

Refugee Week (15 to 21 June) is Australia’s peak annual activity to promote greater awareness of refugee experiences, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees make to the Australian community. For Refugee Week 2025, the theme of Finding Freedom continues, with a focus on diversity in community to emphasise the vital role community plays in all our lives. 

“The journey towards freedom represents the challenging path that many refugees take, escaping oppression and uncertainty for safety in a new place.  

In these new spaces, community is more than just a physical place or a group of people; community is a lifeline. It offers refugees safety, belonging, and the strength to rebuild. Diverse communities bring people together, showing that our differences make us stronger, more united, and capable of facing challenges.” – Refugee Council of Australia. 

Yasmin’s Journey highlights the importance of accessible legal support and compassionate community in the lives of refugees seeking protection. Her experience reflects the challenges many face, from navigating complex systems to overcoming personal trauma, and the critical role that advocacy, inclusion, and community play in helping people rebuild their lives.

Her journey reminds us that the path to freedom is rarely walked alone, it is shaped by communities that offer support and stand in solidarity with those seeking safety.

Yasmin’s Journey

Yasmin* is a young woman who came to Australia in June 2018 after experiencing significant economic difficulties in her home country. She lodged a Protection visa without legal assistance which was refused in March 2019. She had an ongoing appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

In April 2023, Yasmin suffered a brain injury following a workplace incident. As a result of the incident, she suffers from PTSD and post-concussion syndrome which affects her memory, causes frequent headaches and dizziness, mood swings, and has left her unable to work.

Yasmin sought assistance from Circle Green Community Legal in September 2024 after receiving an invitation to attend a hearing at the ART. The ART provided Yasmin Circle Green’s contact details as a service that may assist people going through the appeals process.

She had an initial urgent advice appointment with a senior lawyer to advise her on the hearing invitation, and the deadline to respond to the pre-hearing invitation and request an adjournment of the hearing for her to receive comprehensive legal advice. She was then allocated to another lawyer for immediate comprehensive advice and to have a merit assessment completed.

We initially provided advice on the protection visa criteria and the appeals process. The hearing adjournment request was granted and a new hearing date issued allowing further time to take instructions and gather evidence relating to Yasmin’s brain injury. After conducting a merits assessment, we offered Yasmin full representation for her appeal, on the basis that she would be at risk of persecution due to her cognitive disability in her home country.

Given Yasmin’s inherent vulnerability and difficulty advocating for herself due to her condition, Circle Green liaised with multiple third parties to collect extensive medical records relating to her injury and treatment to support her claim.

We assisted Yasmin to draft a new statement and provided pre-hearing submissions within the ART’s deadline. Following receipt of the supporting evidence, the ART adjourned Yasmin’s hearing to allow the Member further time to review the information submitted. Yasmin’s hearing was scheduled for late January 2025. Circle Green attended the hearing which lasted only 15 minutes and the Member thanked us for our work. The matter has been remitted, a positive outcome that gives Yasmin a renewed opportunity to seek safety and rebuild her life in Australia.

Yasmin’s story is just one of many that reflect the courage it takes to seek freedom and protection. During Refugee Week 2025, we acknowledge the strength of people like Yasmin and reaffirm the importance of accessible legal support for those navigating uncertain and often overwhelming systems. At Circle Green, we are proud to stand beside individuals on their journey toward freedom, safety, and belonging.