Media release – Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS), 4 May 2023

CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP AWARDED TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Chairperson of the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS), Samuel Karpinskyj, commends the work of CEO and Principal Lawyer, Patrick O’Connor, who has been awarded the Gallaugher Bequest Churchill Fellowship. Mr O’Connor will travel to Greece, Jordan, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom to develop an effective family reunification legal framework for refugees separated by conflict.

“With major humanitarian crises around the world, such as in Afghanistan and Ukraine, it is more important than ever that there is a process for reuniting families who have been separated by conflict,” Mr Karpinskyj said. “Which is why the Board of TRLS is delighted that our CEO, Patrick O’Connor, will be travelling to seven European countries to meet with fieldworkers and government departments to understand their frameworks, and with refugees to understand their needs.

“With the knowledge he obtains, Mr O’Connor will return to Australia equipped to advise the nation’s decisionmakers on how to develop and implement effective legal processes for reuniting families after conflict, and how to apply it at a grassroots level in Tasmania.

“Mr O’Connor is a hardworking, determined and passionate individual. He leads TRLS with great experience and grace, and has the full support of the organisation as he embarks on this prestigious and rewarding project.”

“I feel very grateful for this opportunity,” Mr O’Connor said. “I thank the Churchill Trust for granting me this once in a life time chance to make a difference in my field and improve the family reunification process for our clients here at the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service.”

The Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service is a not-for-profit organisation established to provide free migration-related legal services to refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other humanitarian entrants. The service addresses the access-to-justice gap that manifests for refugees and asylum seekers.