The ASRC team is made up of around 200 staff and more than 600 dedicated volunteers, passionate about supporting and empowering people seeking asylum.
The ASRC is a diverse and thriving workplace, providing support and services across a number of organisational streams.
This not only provides people seeking asylum with wrap around support but also offers you varied career opportunities.
Join a dedicated and passionate team of employees working within a range of disciplines.
Each program works collaboratively to provide critical services to people seeking asylum, within a supportive and engaging workplace.
Whether your skills, experience and passions are aligned with our advocacy work, frontline humanitarian services, human rights and migration law services, fundraising and marketing activities, or our education, health, employment or human resources services – you'll find a rewarding role at the ASRC.
Each of the specialised programs at the ASRC will support you to utilise your knowledge and experience to improve the lives of people seeking asylum in Australia.
Our Commitment to You: ASRC Candidate Care Statement
At the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, our values guide everything we do, from our frontline services to our approach to recruitment.
Applying for a role is a significant step and we are committed to making your experience reflective of the dignity, respect and human rights we champion.
Welcome: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Experience
We strive to create a recruitment journey where every candidate feels safe, respected and valued.
Inclusion
: We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of seeking asylum, First Nations people, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with disability and neurodiversity.
Your unique background and perspective are a strength we welcome.
Accessibility
: We are committed to making our process accessible.
Please let us know if you require any adjustments during the application or interview stage.
Support
: Our recruitment team is here to answer your questions and provide clear guidance at every step.
Authentic: Transparency and Integrity in Our Process
We commit to an open, honest and merit-based recruitment process that reflects our integrity.
Clarity
: We aim to provide clear, accurate information about the role, the selection criteria and the selection stages of the process upfront.
Feedback
: If you are interviewed, we will provide constructive and specific feedback, reflecting the time and effort you invest in your application.
Confidentiality
: All information shared by you during the recruitment process will be handled with respect for your privacy and confidentiality.
Courageous: Standing for What is Right, Even in Recruitment
We are tenacious and principled in our pursuit of justice and this extends to our approach to talent acquisition.
Equity
: We will actively challenge unconscious bias and ensure fair evaluation based on merit and alignment with ASRC's mission and values.
Our decisions are made without fear or favour.
Challenge
: We encourage you to ask questions and seek clarity on any part of the process.
Optimism
: We believe in the potential of every person who applies and we approach our candidate search with an optimistic view of finding the best talent to drive our vision forward.
Collaborative: Working Together for a Shared Purpose
We treat every candidate as a potential partner in achieving our mission, recognising that great things are achieved together.
Partnership
: Even if this role isn't the right fit, we view your engagement as part of building a community of compassionate individuals dedicated to human rights.
Respectful Communication
: We commit to timely and considerate communication, keeping you informed of your application status and expected timelines.
We value your time.
One Team
: Successful candidates will join a diverse and passionate workforce of staff and volunteers, working together to deliver critical services and advocate for lasting change.
Inclusion is in our DNA
At the ASRC, our mission to protect human rights starts within our own walls.
We are proud to be recognized as a Diversity Council Australia (DCA) Inclusive Employer for *********.
This recognition reflects our deep commitment to a workplace where every voice is heard, particularly those with lived experience of seeking asylum, who make up nearly half of our workforce.
For us, inclusion isn't just a policy; it's how we empower our team to deliver the best outcomes for the communities we serve.
Our Commitment to Equitable Hiring
To ensure a fair and evidence-based recruitment process,



the ASRC utilizes psychometric assessments alongside interviews and practical tasks.
These tools provide objective data on cognitive abilities and behavioral preferences, helping us reduce unconscious bias and to help us identify candidates whose natural professional styles align with our values and the specific needs of our community programs.
Please see the FAQs below for more details on what to expect and how your data is used.
Welcome clients, gather initial instructions, and run preliminary legal triage.
Guide and support placement students and volunteers in the legal triage space.
About Us:
Founded in ****, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is Australia's largest human rights organisation providing support to people seeking asylum.
We are an independent not-for-profit organisation whose programs support and empower people seeking asylum to maximise their own physical, mental and social well being.
We champion the rights of people seeking asylum and mobilise a community of compassion to create lasting social and policy change.
We are a values-driven organisation that strives to be part of a change movement that supports people seeking asylum by providing critical services such as assistance with accommodation, food, medical and legal services.
The ASRC movement is proudly supported by a community of committed volunteers and supporters who embrace the organisation's vision that people seeking asylum can live safely, sustainably, independently and equally.
About the Role (2 vacancies at 0.4 FTE):
As a Paralegal in the Human Rights Law Program, you will serve as the crucial first point of contact for refugees and people seeking asylum presenting to the ASRC for legal assistance.
Working closely with supervising solicitors and Associate Lawyers within our Legal Triage space, you will welcome clients, gather initial instructions, perform preliminary legal triaging, lodge Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and support client document management.
You will also play an integral role in supporting and mentoring our dedicated network of legal volunteers.
Key Accountabilities:
First Point of Contact & Intake: Greet clients with empathy and dignity, obtain comprehensive initial instructions, and collect relevant legal and migration documentation.
Legal Triage: Undertake preliminary triaging of incoming legal requests, identifying urgent issues and escalating matters appropriately to supervising lawyers.
Legal Support & Drafting: Prepare and lodge Freedom of Information (FOI) applications, assist with drafting basic migration forms, and explain complex legal processes in clear, plain English.
File & Data Management: Maintain accurate digital client files, manage confidential documentation, and report on emerging trends and systemic issues within the triage pipeline.
Volunteer Support: Mentor, guide, and support legal volunteers and placement students operating within the triage environment.
Collaboration: Foster solid working relationships within the Human Rights Law Program, the broader Rapid Response Team, and external community legal partners.
About You:
To succeed in this role, you bring a high degree of empathy, strong administrative rigor, and the resilience required to support individuals navigating complex legal and social barriers.
Essential Criteria:
Qualifications/Experience: A relevant paralegal qualification OR a minimum of 3 years' experience as a paralegal in an Australian legal practice (community legal sector experience is highly regarded).
Legal & Ethical Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of legal professional duties, client confidentiality, and conflict of interest management.
Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication skills with a proven ability to engage respectfully and compassionately with culturally diverse and vulnerable individuals.
Organization & Adaptability: Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage high-volume workflows and adapt in a dynamic environment.
Communication: Excellent written English skills, with the ability to translate legal concepts into accessible, plain English.
Technical Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and digital legal database systems.
Values Alignment: A strong commitment to human rights, social justice, and the core values of the ASRC (Welcoming, Authentic, Courageous, Collaborative).
Employee Benefits:




Joining the ASRC means being a part of the largest human rights organisation in Australia, supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.
We recognise and appreciate our incredible staff for their contribution, dedication and passion to support and empower people seeking asylum by providing the following conditions above the relevant modern award:
We do have a 60% in-office approach to building our team cohesion.
Annual Leave Loading of 17.5%
Additional discretionary leave provisions including:
Leave for Cultural or Religiously Significant Events
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Leave
Leave for Staff Seeking Asylum
Gender Affiliation Leave
Regular community lunch
Free onsite car and bicycle parking
Salary packaging (up to $15,900 per year tax free)
Entertainment Packaging (up to $2,650 per year tax free)
Discounts via HR systems provider at grocery and retail outlets
Close proximity to public transport (100 metres from Footscray station and buses)
Position Description
Please see the position description here:
Application Process
Only applications that include a CV and cover letter addressing the Selection Criteria, will be considered.If your application does not include a cover letter it will not be considered.Applications close Tuesday 8 September at 11:59pm.Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, and the position may close earlier than stated if we have found suitable candidates.
All offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and provision of a valid Working with Children Check prior to commencement.
Our Commitment to You:ASRC Candidate Care Statement
At the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, we believe in recruiting through the lens of our core values, ensuring every interaction and decision reflects the principles that define our culture.
What you can expect from our process:
Welcome: We champion inclusion and encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of seeking asylum.
Please tell us if you need any accessibility adjustments.
Authentic: We commit to a transparent and fair process, providing clear timelines and constructive feedback if you are interviewed.
Courageous: We make objective hiring decisions based purely on merit and mission alignment, ensuring fairness and equity for every candidate.
Collaborative: We value your time.
We commit to timely, respectful communication and keeping you informed about the status of your application.
Thank you for your interest in joining the ASRC.
We look forward to connecting with you.
The ASRC promotes diversity and inclusion holistically.
We strongly encourage people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with lived experience of seeking asylum, First Nations people, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability or with lived experience of disability to apply for a career at the ASRC.
Child safety
We are proud to be a child-safe organisation.
All forms of employment with the ASRC – paid or voluntary – are subject to continued compliance with our Child Safety Reporting Policy.
Volunteer for the ASRC
A fantastic way to help people seeking asylum is to join the ASRC's community of compassion as a passionate and generous volunteer.
As an independent, not-for-profit, we are powered by the generosity of our community and the support of a wonderful volunteer workforce.
It is thanks to these amazing people who volunteer their time, energy and expertise to the ASRC that together we can affect positive change in our community.
Have a question about a career at the ASRC?
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Need help from the ASRC?
Call ************ or visit us: Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri 10am -4pm.
Closed on Wednesdays.
The ASRC acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work every day.
We pay our respects to them, their customs, their culture, and Elders past and present.
We recognise that First Nations' sovereignty and lands were never ceded.
This land always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
As part of our commitment to First Nations justice, we support Treaty for Victoria.
We pay the rent to Traditional Owners through
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📌 Paralegal (2X, 0.4 Fte) (Victoria)
🏢 Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
📍 Victoria