Purely Dicta

By M.A., Third Year JD Student

“The price of community is inconvenience.”

This is an anonymous statement that I recently stumbled upon while I was engaged in my regular practice of doomscrolling. It resonated deeply with me, as it was a reminder of what it takes to nurture communities that truly care for one another.  

To want change for the better and make steps towards actually achieving it.

Law Students for Refugees (LSFR) hosted their donation drive for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Semester 1 with the hope of reminding our law students that even the smallest acts of service, when done collectively, have tremendous effects on the welfare of our most vulnerable communities.

All we requested from our audience were donations of any quantity consisting of shelf stable foods and toiletries. These were items that could be found in the back of our pantries and cabinets, dusted and forgotten, or easily picked up for less than a few dollars during our regular grocery run.  

Canned fruits and vegetables. Tinned tuna. Rice. Oil.

Toothbrushes. Toothpaste. Sanitary pads. Soap.

We take advantage of how accessible these items are to us, who have the capacity and resources to stockpile them in our homes. These are basic human needs that everyone deserves to have met. However, these needs are often the most difficult to sustain, especially for communities seeking asylum.

The small inconvenience of collecting and donating these items have the effect of restoring livelihood to those in communities who have had their dignity ripped away from them through war, genocide, and displacement. It has the effect of keeping families fed and protecting their health and hygiene as they navigate resettlement in a new environment.

When we willingly inconvenience ourselves for the sake of others, we build a valuable support system where mutual aid becomes available as the norm. We remove the barrier of shame which often discourages us from seeking help from others.

The price of community will always require us to break our regular cycle of insulated comfort. But perhaps by pushing these boundaries, we create space in our lives which invites inconveniences that ultimately strengthen our sense of compassion and comradery.

Ideally, these “inconveniences” will then be reconceptualized as simply a benevolent understanding that to support one another is to value shared responsibility and reciprocity.  

With this perspective at the forefront of our events and initiatives, LSFR hopes to nurture an environment where law students practice unconditional empathy that transcends the classroom.

There is no doubt that we, as law students, are in privileged positions. Therefore, it is important that we recognize how our future legal practice will inevitably affect the lives of marginalized groups. We have an ethos to do what we can to minimize the effects of societal inequality during our legal education and training, both in our personal capacity and later in our professional capacity as graduates.

Activism takes on many forms. This time, it was through a local food drive. Next time, it may be via a protest rally in front of the Parliament House or a letter to the Minister. In the future, it may be by  arguing a case before the High Court.

Regardless, at every step of advocating for the welfare of the refugee and asylum seeker community, we invite our law students to find space in their lives to routinely participate in this activism.

LSFR is currently recruiting new members to join our organization. If you’re interested in assisting with our initiatives and participating in our future events that promote refugee livelihood and human rights, please complete our membership form HERE.

We graciously thank all students, staff, and faculty who participated in our Semester 1 ASRC donation drive. We are so excited to host more opportunities where our law students and members connect with the broader community.

LSFR will be hosting a Make & Bake Sale on 12 August 2025 in the level one lobby at Melbourne Law School. All funds raised at this event will be split equally between the Black Peoples Union and the Dhadjowa Foundation. If you’d like to get involved as a creator/baker in this fundraiser, email us at lawstudents4refugees@gmail.com. Otherwise, we hope to see you then!