Today, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (the Court) will officially launch three videos, each of which is available in 12 languages (including English). The videos form part of the Court's overarching commitment to improving access to justice for culturally and linguistically diverse people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
The videos aim to provide simplified information for people who are involved in migration related cases. The titles of the videos are as follows:
Video 1: What can the Court do in migration cases?
Video 2: How will my migration case be managed through the Court?
Video 3: What do I need to know when I attend court for my migration case?
Chief Justice the Hon Will Alstergren AO said: "High migration filings continue to have a substantial impact on the Court. The Court received over 12,500 migration filings in total over the last three financial years. This has had a significant impact on the pending migration caseload which is now over 18,000…. Noting that approximately 79% of applicants are unrepresented and 79% of unrepresented applicants require an interpreter, it is clear that we must do all we can to ensure that the Court is able to communicate effectively with Court users in this jurisdiction."
The development of the videos was informed by representatives from various legal and support services working with migrant and refugee communities and we are grateful for their invaluable knowledge, time and input. Based on those development activities, the Court has welcomed significant government funding to assist with efficiently resolving migration cases and to provide additional support to parties.
As part of the 2024-25 Federal Government Budget the Court was allocated $64.4 million over the next four years which builds upon funding received in the 2023-24 MYEFO Budget to assist with the migration caseload. The total funding package includes funding for fourteen Judges, together with funding for Judicial Registrars, Cultural Liaison Officers and registry and support staff.
"Access to justice in migration cases is crucial because litigants often face significant barriers that hinder their ability to fully participate in legal processes. Initiatives such as these are essential in giving voice to litigants and are part of a concerted effort to address the barriers migrants face, reinforcing the principle of equality before the law, which is the cornerstone of our legal system. Without these supports, true access to justice could be challenging to attain for many", said human rights advocate Maria Dimopoulos, who spoke at the launch event.
Migration Videos
- The Court has launched a series of three animated videos, providing accessible information to a diverse range of the public who may be involved in, or are considering engaging in, migration-related cases in the Court.
- They are available from the Court's website and on Youtube.
- The videos add to the existing suite of digital educational films that have been developed by the Court in recent years to increase access to justice and community engagement.
- The videos cover topics including:
- 'What can the Court do in migration cases?'
- 'How will my migration case be managed through the Court?' and
- 'What do I need to know when I attend court for my migration case?'.
- The Court is proud to have had each video translated into 11 languages to ensure accessibility. The videos are available in Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, Farsi, Bahasa Melayu, Punjabi, Pashto, Arabic, Urdu, Vietnamese, Thai and Bengali.
Cultural Liaison Officers
- As part of the 2024-25 Federal Government budget the Court received funding to establish the position of Cultural Liaison Officer within the Court to assist parties in migration matters to navigate the court process, a number of whom are expected to be recruited before the end of 2024.
- Noting the significant barriers faced by many culturally and linguistically diverse parties from migrant and refugee backgrounds in engaging with the justice system, the Court's Cultural Liaison Officers (CLOs) will provide vital support to culturally and linguistically diverse litigants by explaining court processes, attending hearings, and assisting with document filing. They will connect litigants to appropriate legal and social services through referrals and coordination with agencies, ensure interpreters are available and prepared for court proceedings, and provide logistical support for videoconferencing, particularly for detained litigants. More broadly, the CLOs will engage with community organisations to build relationships, raise awareness of court services, and assist in the development of internal training on the needs of culturally diverse communities.
