The UNHCR and in particular Anna Greene played a formative (and ongoing) role in supporting the establishment of United Stateless (discussed above and below). Our meeting provided me with an invaluable opportunity to understand how this process occurred, with a view to understanding how interest in the establishment of a similar organisation in Australia might be ascertained by the Australian stateless community. It also provided an opportunity to discuss the issue of statelessness in Australia and raise awareness of the work of the Stateless Legal Clinic, establishing an ongoing relationship with UNHCR USA. (b) Meeting: Joanne Kelsey, Director of Legal Services, Lutheran Social Services Joanna Kelsey is the Director of Legal Services at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA). LSSNCA has assisted refugees fleeing their countries to escape persecution, war and violence since 1941. The organisation provides legal, financial, employment, education, housing and case management support to refugees and migrants. The organisation operates the Citizenship and Immigration Services through which they help community members seeking legal assistance complete forms and pay application fees. Prior to that, Joanne worked as an Associate Protection Officer at UNHCR USA where she was involved in supporting the establishment and development of United Stateless. She is a board member of United Stateless and worked in collaboration with the organisation to produce the film “Citizens of Nowhere” (the link to this film is below under key publications and resources of note’). Our meeting provided me with an invaluable opportunity to understand the background to the establishment of United Stateless and the organisation’s current operation, with a view to understanding how interest in the establishment of a similar organisation in Australia might be ascertained by the Australian stateless community. It also provided an opportunity to discuss the issue of statelessness in Australia and raise awareness of the work of the Stateless Legal Clinic, establishing an ongoing relationship with a respected expert on this issue in the United States. 74

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