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Free legal help — three ways to get started.
Choose the path that suits you. Everything is confidential and led by a real person from our team.
Get legal support
Not sure where to start?
Answer three short questions and we'll point you to the right support.
Do you live in Queensland?
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Are you seeking legal assistance with a visa matter?
- Select yes if you need legal help with a visa or your right to stay in Australia.
- Select no if your problem is about something else – housing or tenancy, employment or unpaid wages, Centrelink, debts or fines, family law, child protection, police or court matters, discrimination, or financial assistance, food or accommodation.
What type of assistance are you looking for?
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Interstate Referrals
We’re a Queensland-based service. Please contact one of the organisations in your state.
| State | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Refugee Legal | 04 7898 0987 |
| Western Australia | Community Legal | 04 8789 0989 |
| New South Wales | Community Legal | 02 9123 4567 |
| South Australia | Legal Services | 08 8123 4567 |
| Tasmania | Community Legal | 03 6123 4567 |
Other Service Referrals
We specialise in migration and visa matters. For other legal or support services, please contact an organisation below.
| Service | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Housing or tenancy | Homeless Hotline | 1800 474 753 |
| Domestic or family violence | 1800 RESPECT | 1800 737 732 |
| General legal help | CLCQ Website | |
| Other non-visa matter | AskyIzzy (use your location and issue to find the nearest available service) |
Is your matter related to a humanitarian, protection, refugee visa or family violence issue?
Select yes if your matter is about:
- Asking to stay in Australia because it is not safe to go home, including if your visa has been refused or cancelled.
- You hold a refugee visa and you want to bring your family here.
- You are experiencing family violence from your partner or a family member, and you are on a visa or applying for one.
Select no if your matter is about a different visa – student, work, partner, visitor, skilled or business – or citizenship, or a different legal problem.
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Alternative Migration Assistance
RAILS assists with humanitarian, protection, refugee visas and family violence issues. For other types of legal advice or assistance, please reach out to Queensland Law Society (or) Community Legal Centre Queensland.
Self-Referral Form
Please complete the self-referral form below. It should take about 10–15 minutes.
If you need RAILS assistance
Complete the form to submit your referral.
Start Referral FormOr if you wish to proceed offline, please download and fill out the form, then email it to us with the supporting documents requested inside.
Download Referral FormUseful instructions
What happens next
- Confirmation & Initial Review
Once submitted, you (or your referring agency) will receive an acknowledgement message confirming we have received your request. Our triage team will review the details to confirm eligibility. - Assessment & Capacity Check
Our legal team assesses every request based on legal merit, upcoming deadlines (such as visa expiry or appeal timeframes), and current service capacity. - Contacting You
If we can assist, a staff member or legal officer will contact you to arrange an intake appointment or request further information/documents.
If we are at capacity or cannot assist, we will notify you via email and provide alternative legal services or referral pathways, so you know your options.
If you have an urgent legal deadline, please indicate this clearly in the referral form. It is also important to tell us when your current visa expires. Any upcoming deadline remains your responsibility until you speak directly with one of our lawyers.
Get legal support
Not sure where to start?
Answer four short questions and we'll point you to the right support.
Does your client live in Queensland?
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Is your client seeking legal assistance with a visa matter?
- Select yes if your client needs legal help with a visa or your right to stay in Australia.
- Select no if your clients problem is about something else – housing or tenancy, employment or unpaid wages, Centrelink, debts or fines, family law, child protection, police or court matters, discrimination, or financial assistance, food or accommodation.
What type of assistance is your client looking for?
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Interstate Referrals
We’re a Queensland-based service. Please contact one of the organisations in your state.
| State | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Refugee Legal | 04 7898 0987 |
| Western Australia | Community Legal | 04 8789 0989 |
| New South Wales | Community Legal | 02 9123 4567 |
| South Australia | Legal Services | 08 8123 4567 |
| Tasmania | Community Legal | 03 6123 4567 |
Other Service Referrals
We specialise in migration and visa matters. For other legal or support services, please contact an organisation below.
| Service | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Housing or tenancy | Homeless Hotline | 1800 474 753 |
| Domestic or family violence | 1800 RESPECT | 1800 737 732 |
| General legal help | CLCQ Website | |
| Other non-visa matter | AskyIzzy (use your location and issue to find the nearest available service) |
Is your client’s matter related to a humanitarian, protection, refugee visa or family violence issue?
Select yes if the matter is about:
- Asking to stay in Australia because it is not safe to go home, including if your visa has been refused or cancelled.
- You hold a refugee visa and you want to bring your family here.
- You are experiencing family violence from your partner or a family member, and you are on a visa or applying for one.
Select no if the matter is about a different visa – student, work, partner, visitor, skilled or business – or citizenship, or a different legal problem.
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Alternative Migration Assistance
RAILS assists with humanitarian, protection, refugee visas and family violence issues. For other types of legal advice or assistance, please reach out to Queensland Law Society (or) Community Legal Centre Queensland.
Do you have written client permission for RAILS to discuss this matter with you?
- Select yes only if the client has signed the authority form.
- If not, please provide the client’s contact details in the referral form. We will contact them directly and will not be able to share information about their matter with you.
Useful instructions
How this works
Please answer the questions so we can better understand the support you are looking for.
- If your needs are better met by another service, we’ll provide their contact details so you can contact them directly.
- If RAILS can assist you, we’ll ask you to complete our referral form.
We hope this simple question-based triage helps you find the right assistance more quickly.
Agency Referral Form
Please complete the agency referral form below. It should take about 10–15 minutes.
If you want to refer someone to RAILS
Complete the form to submit your agency referral.
Start Agency Referral FormOr if you wish to proceed offline, please download and fill out the form, then email it to us with the supporting documents requested inside.
Download Referral FormUseful instructions
What happens next
- Confirmation & Initial Review
Once submitted, you (or your referring agency) will receive an acknowledgement message confirming we have received your request. Our triage team will review the details to confirm eligibility. - Assessment & Capacity Check
Our legal team assesses every request based on legal merit, upcoming deadlines (such as visa expiry or appeal timeframes), and current service capacity. - Contacting You
If we can assist, a staff member or legal officer will contact you to arrange an intake appointment or request further information/documents.
If we are at capacity or cannot assist, we will notify you via email and provide alternative legal services or referral pathways, so you know your options.
If you have an urgent legal deadline, please indicate this clearly in the referral form. It is also important to tell us when your current visa expires. Any upcoming deadline remains your responsibility until you speak directly with one of our lawyers.
Humanitarian Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Partner Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Family Stream Visas for Children
Updated Sept 2026
Family Violence and Temporary Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Family Violence and Permanent Visa
Updated Sept 2026
Getting Immigration Legal Advice
Updated Sept 2026
Finding Your Visa VEVO ImmiCard
Updated Sept 2026
Creating an ImmiAccount
Updated Sept 2026
PALM Scheme
Updated Sept 2026
Pacific Engagement Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Protection Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Understanding your Protection Visa
Updated Sept 2026
Humanitarian Travelling
Updated Sept 2026
Judicial Review
Updated Sept 2026
The ART
Updated Sept 2026
Judicial Review
Updated Sept 2026
Bridging Visas and Right to Work
Updated Sept 2026
Temporary Visas
Updated Sept 2026
Medical Treatment Visas
Updated Sept 2026
FV and Visas – Info for Support Workers
Updated Sept 2026
Peace-Building Action and Training
Toolkit and Pledge of Ethics to lead your community peace-building and family violence prevention. Contact education@rails.org.au for Peace-Building training courses and information.
- Peace-Building Toolkit
- Peace-Building Pledge
- Keeping Safe – Info Sheet
Men Managing Change – family peace-building messages made in Men’s Sheds
Micro-movies promoting peaceful ways to combat conflict and build family relationships. The videos emerged out of a two-year conversation with newly settled communities about preventing family violence, and workshops exploring men’s understanding of their rights, cultural attitudes and change.
They are available in English and nine other languages.
- Adapt – strong men learning about equality
Versions in Amharic, Dinka, French, Kirundi, Oromo, Somali, Sudanese Arabic, Tigrinya and Swahili.
- Make it right – strength and control can be violence and break up your family
Versions in Amharic, Dinka, French, Kirundi, Oromo, Somali, Sudanese Arabic, Tigrinya and Swahili.
- Keep control – wise men avoid family violence
Versions in Amharic, Oromo and Tigrinya.
- Move on – men staying strong and respectful after separation
Versions in Amharic, Dinka, French, Kirundi, Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya and Swahili.
Family Violence community dialogue – Help me!
‘Help me!’ is an educational kit that uses theatre to create safe ways to dialogue about family violence. Through exploring the characters and family dynamics in the drama, participants get to understand family violence more deeply, and create and test practical ways to respond. ‘Help Me!’ can be held as a workshop using the video and Facilitator’s Guide, or as a live ‘forum theatre’ performance.
Songs about preventing family violence
- ‘Storms’ – Domestic violence (audio)
- ‘Storms’ – Domestic violence (music video)
Family Violence Help lines raps
Raps in different languages about domestic violence help lines for men and women.
RAILS, in partnership with community leaders, Multicultural Australia and South Community Hub, provides ‘Family Peace-Building’ training to support people to become leaders in peace-building and family violence prevention. The project was developed over years of deep consultation with multicultural community and faith leaders.
Peace-Building Action and Training
Toolkit and Pledge of Ethics to lead your community peace-building and family violence prevention.
Keeping Safe – Info Sheet
Contact education@rails.org.au for Peace-Building training courses and information:
Family Peace
Kit with resources for improving English language skills while learning about family law.
- Family Peace overview
- Bee’s story 1
- Bee’s story 2
- Language teaching activities
- Tools for parents
- Facilitator manual
- Key word worksheets
Community Law Kit
Kit with resources to learn English language and the law. It includes a reader CD, a Law Book and a Learning Resource that explore practical approaches to everyday legal problems through drama, music and story.
‘Community Law Kit’ is available through TAFE Queensland. You can read more about ‘Community Law Kit’ in this document.
“Law Rap” invites us to dialogue, dance, sing, rap and reflect about Australian law and civics, and empowers us to take responsibility and make right choices.
The resources explore identity, democracy, citizenship, law, human rights. consumer and work rights, safety at home, conflict resolution, resilience, violence, crime, police and courts.
Explore Law Rap →Our factsheets provide general legal information to help you understand your rights and options. Information is updated regularly. Please check the update date on each factsheet.