DIAC produces a number of leaflets, available free of charge at the addresses given above.

A particularly good and detailed source of advice and information is the Immigration Kit (currently in its 8th edition (2008)), obtainable from:

The Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre (RILC) is a community legal centre specialising in all aspects of refugee and immigration law, policy and practice. RILC has been assisting asylum seekers and disadvantaged migrants in the community and in detention for more than 13 years and has substantial casework experience.

Telephone advice is available on (03) 9483 1140 (ask for the duty solicitor), Wed: 10 am–4 pm; Fri: 2–4 pm. The RILC phone advice service offers confidential advice on refugee and general migration matters. Advice is provided by the RILC duty solicitor.

If necessary, the duty solicitor may make an appointment for the RILC evening advice service. The RILC evening advice service offers confidential face-to-face advice on refugee and general migration matters. Advice is provided by RILC staff and supervised volunteers. To attend this service, an appointment must first be made through the phone advice service (above).

The Australian Government, through DIAC, provides a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) for people who do not speak English and for English speakers needing to communicate with them. TIS is a national service, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to any person or organisation in Australia requiring interpreting assistance. It is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call.