Our Team
Kristen Lazarus - Schools and Community Engagement Officer
My name is Kristen Lazarus, and I am the Schools and Community Engagement Officer at JRS Australia. In this role, I work with schools and community groups across Sydney and beyond to raise awareness about the refugee climate in Australia and globally, and the harsh realities of Australia’s immigration and legal systems. Together with powerful speakers who share their lived experience, I facilitate conversations that aim to inform, inspire, and empower action – whether through advocacy, fundraising, or deeper community engagement.I have a background in law and international security and have worked in the Asia-Pacific region managing social enterprises focused on sustainable development in Fiji and Timor-Leste. These roles taught me the importance of community-led change, and deepened my commitment to social justice, inclusion, and equity.
I am passionate about challenging systems that dehumanise, exclude and silence some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and working towards a world where every person is treated with compassion and respect, regardless of where they are from.
Here in Australia, I’m especially driven by the need to challenge harmful narratives around people seeking asylum – to replace fear with understanding, and apathy with action. I believe in the power of education to open hearts and minds, and I’m committed to helping others see beyond the statistics and policy debates to the real people, families, and futures at the centre of this issue.
At JRS, I am constantly inspired by the resilience, courage, and leadership of the people we accompany. It’s a privilege to walk alongside this amazing community and be part of an organisation that places accompaniment, hope, and humanity at the centre of its mission.
