*Refugee Awareness Forum Flyer

This event was held by The Newtown Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday the 20^th June to celebrate Refugee Week. Newtown Neighbourhood Centre is committed to providing quality services to the local community, particularly those who are most vulnerable. As part of this we feel it is a priority to raise awareness of the issues continuing to face refugees and we want to be part of a community that welcomes and supports refugees. The Neighbourhood Centre is situated in Marrickville Local Government Area, which had the highest number of permanent arrivals between 1/07/01 and 30/06/06 in the inner Sydney region. During this period there were a total of 3,580 permanent arrivals. 2,086 of these people arrived under the Humanitarian or Family stream of arrivals.

The night was a great success with over 170 people attending, showing that we are a community that is interested in supporting refugees. The evening opened with some songs by the solidarity choir and some very informative and passionate talks by the Refugee Council of Australia and Amnesty International about the situation facing refugees globally as well as locally in Australia. There was a fantastic performance by Actors for Refugees giving us an insight into the individual journeys of different refugees in Australia. We then heard from five different services working with refugees within the community and about the opportunities to get involved and volunteer with them. We have got all of their details listed below, so if you would like to get involved you can contact them and find out more. 

*Refugee Council of Australia

The Refugee Council of Australia is a non-profit peak organisation. It provides information on and advocacy for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia on behalf of its 90 organisational members and many individual members. It is not a part of the Australian Government. RCOA aims to promote the adoption of flexible and constructive policies towards refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons by the Australian Government and communities.

Phone:    9211 9333
Website: www.refugeecouncil.org.au

*Amnesty International

Amnesty International Australia engage with DIAC, UNHCR, the office of the Minister for Immigration and DFAT in an effort to ensure that Australia has a more humane policy towards refugees and asylum seekers. They have a refugee casework service that is able to provide detailed research and background information to assist asylum seekers in receiving protection. They also have international reach, which means they can work for the resettlement of refugees who have been stranded in camps for years, especially those in our region such as in Bangladesh and on the Thai-Burma border. They also work closely with organizations who do the vital work of resettlement.

Phone:    1300 300 920
Website: www.amnesty.org.au

*House of Welcome  

House of Welcome is a project of the NSW Ecumenical Council (the affiliated Christian churches of NSW) designed to help refugees and asylum seekers settle into our community. House of Welcome assists on a case by case basis those refugees with Permanent Protection, asylum seekers with Bridging Visa E, refugees on Temporary Protection Visas and Temporary Humanitarian Visas. After an initial assessment of needs the House of Welcome provides a resource and referral centre, short term accommodation, a newsletter, volunteer visitor's scheme, refugee employment program, respite holidays, use of computers and English courses.

Phone:   9649 9310
Email:    thow@tpg.com.au

*Refugee Mentor Program, Adult Migrant Education Service (AMES)

AMES is Australia's largest provider of specialist, multicultural language, employment and settlement services. The Refugee Mentor Program is a new project based in Auburn that links mentors to mentees (refugees) who then act as cultural translators and provide advice on finding information, accessing resources, as well as creating and recognising opportunities for employment. Mentors are given training and support.

Phone:      9649 9310
Website:   www.ames.net.au

*Newly Arrived Youth Australian Red Cross

The Australian Red Cross works across Australia with refugees and asylum seekers and provide a casework and tracing service to help refugees find family members. They have also started the newly arrived youth program, helping newly arrived young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program runs in schools and comprises of a holiday and weekend program that help young people learn about and contribute to their new community as well as giving them the opportunity to meet other young people and have some fun along the way.

Phone:      9229 4208
Website:   www.redcross.org.au

The NSW Migrant and Refugee Committee of the St Vincent de Paul Society play an active part in helping newly arrived migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at a time when assistance is crucial to them. In addition to short term accommodation for recently arrived migrants and refugees, their service provides ongoing education, counselling, immigration advice and material assistance. The Society aims to increase advocacy for asylum seekers in Immigration Detention Centres or in the community. SPARK, (St Vincent de Paul Society Assisting Refugee Kids) is a new program, which provides curriculum, social and cultural support to newly arrived refugee children and their families.

Phone:      9568 0280
Website:   www.vinnies.org.au

*Asylum Seekers Project, Bridge for Asylum Seekers

Bridge for Asylum Seekers Foundation (BASF) was formed in 2003 by a small group of people concerned for asylum seekers released into the community on Bridging Visa E's without work rights, Medicare or any government benefits whilst their refugee claims are being processed (usually a slow process taking months or years). Most have been detained for long periods. All have fled trauma. This handful of dedicated volunteers has raised a staggering half a million dollars, ALL of which is paid out in weekly living allowances to hundreds of destitute refugees including women and children. BASF work in conjunction with other refugee services.

Phone:      9810 5826
Website:   www.asylumseekersfoundation.com

*STARTTS

The NSW Service for the Treatment And Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) helps refugees recover from their experiences and build a new life in Australia. Their service includes counselling, group therapy, group activities, outings, camps for children and young people, English classes and physiotherapy. They also work with other organisations and individuals to help them work more effectively with refugees.

Phone:      9794 1900
Website:   www.startts.org

*People with Disability

People with Disability Australia Incorporated is an independent disability rights and advocacy organisation. They provide help to refugees with a disability (including people with mental illness), their families and carers. For over 25 years they have worked for the rights of people with disabilities at the local, state, national and international levels. They provide individual and group advocacy and have a national disability abuse and neglect hotline 1800 880 052.

Phone:      9370 3100
Website:   www.pwd.org.au

*Wrap with Love

Wrap with Love is a mission of mercy, not a charity. Volunteers create WRAPS (rugs and quilts) and send them to people in need in Australia and around the world. WRAPS are not bought or sold, they are a gift of loving work from the people of Australia to show we care. Wrap with Love started in 1992. In 1996 it was incorporated with the Department of Fair Trading NSW Australia. Newtown Neighbourhood Centre runs a Wrap with Love knitting group every Thursday at 10:30am at the Neighbourhood Centre, for further details ring the centre on 9516 4755.

Phone:      8399 3000
Email:       wwl@pacific.net.au