Welcome to the website of
Canberra Refugee Support - supporting the settlement of refugees
in our National Capital.
On this page you'll find News, Information and Where to Get Help
Canberra Refugee Support is delighted to acknowledge the support provided over many years by Netspeed in bringing this website to you.
News
Donation Cards. Canberra Refugee Support has introduced a new initiative to help raise funds for CRS.
Three attractive donation cards are now available, priced at $10, $20 and $40. Each card represents contributions towards essential goods such as food and education support for newly arrived asylum seekers & refugees, as they move towards independence.
We think they would make a great birthday, anniversary or special occasion gift for your families or friends -- and they are tax deductible.
The cards can be purchased by emailing: donations4refugees@gmail.com and making a payment (in person or electronically) into the CRS account. As soon as the payment has been verified, we will post the cards to you free of charge anywhere in Australia. An electronic versions of the cards at this link gives you an idea of how the printed cards look.
Media Project with the University of Canberra. In August 2011 CRS formed a partnership with the University of Canberra to produce a series of refugee related stories for radio. The stories, recorded and compiled by UC School of Journalism students, were broadcast in a two-hour program on the 2nd of December on ABC 666.
Click on linkto read and hear these stories. Additional material which has not been broadcast will be placed on the ABC website.
2011 Annual General Meeting. CRS held its Annual General Meeting on Melbourne Cup Day. A new Committee was elected and the President's and Treasurer's Reports were passed by the meeting. The President's Report for the past year is at this link.
Orientation. We hold regular orientation sessions, usually less than two hours, to explain the work of CRS and to introduce new members to the organisation. Our next session is on Monday 6 February 2012, starting at 6.00 PM.
Please email actrefugee@gmail.com if you would like further information.
Information
What is the difference between a Refugee and an Asylum seeker?
An asylum seeker is a person who is seeking protection as a refugee and is still waiting to have his/her claim assessed. For more information visit the RCOA site at http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/docs/news&events/RW_Background_Information.pdf
Canberra Refugee Support (CRS) Position on Asylum Seekers
CRS is an apolitical organization. It provides settlement services to Asylum Seekers and Refugees, and policy advice to politicians and government departments independent of political positions. Our primary consideration is the welfare of disenfranchised people from a humanitarian perspective. The CRS position on Asylum Seekers is set out below.
Preamble:
CRS supports the UN Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
CRS Position:
- One specific group of Asylum Seekers (eg ‘Boat People’) should not be demonised because of the mode of transport used to reach Australia.
- Any policy directed at deterring or processing Asylum Seekers, whatever the mode of transport, should be humane.
- Once protection is requested, Australia should process any request in accordance with its obligations as a signatory of the Convention.
- Australia should not “trade” one group of Asylum Seekers for another group of Refugees. This is unconscionable and appears to be using one group of people as a deterrent to others who might use boats to come to Australia.
- Australia should not pass Asylum Seekers to countries who are not signatories to the Convention.
- If Australia has the capacity to accept a further 4,000 Refugees then they should be processed independent of other factors.
- CRS does not support mandatory detention of Asylum Seekers nor do we support the detention of children.
ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs eNews.
The ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs provides strategic advice to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs on issues affecting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. OMA produces a regular Community eNews - click the following link for the current edition.
Amnesty International Campaign – Rethink Refugees
Amnesty International have launched Rethink Refugees (click to go to the site) a major new campaign that is attempting to shift public attitudes so that, ultimately, refugees and so-called 'boat people' are treated equally and without discrimination. Amnesty claim that the campaign is backed by a wealth of social research that shows Australians respond compassionately if they know that people arriving here by boat are not illegal, and have a right under international and domestic law to seek protection from us.
Over the last few years asylum seekers arriving here by boat have been the subject of an amount of fear-mongering and demonising, usually by the use of wrong ‘facts’ or myths. These asylum seekers are, on the whole, genuine and the treatment of vulnerable people is not one that reflects true Australian values of compassion, fairness and integrity. Amnesty International has conducted research that they claim shows community views and fears around so-called ‘boat people’ are founded on myth, not fact. Accordingly, they have created a campaign to help inform community views as a whole.
The Amnesty site welcomes comment – and already contributions have been diverse. CRS welcomes all contributions to the discussion on the way Australians treat asylum seekers – read what Amnesty and contributors have to say and make up your own mind.
Calvary Health Care ACT Refugee Mentoring Program
Canberra Refugee Support is proud to be associated with Calvary Health Care ACT's Refugee Mentoring Program. The program aims to provide people with a refugee background and/or their children with the opportunity to gain some experience of an Australian workplace. The intention is to assist them gain a clearer idea of the career direction they might wish to pursue and what study might be necessary to achieve this.
It is also seen as a way of enhancing the participant’s self esteem, assisting participation in the community and fostering networks towards enabling effective and satisfying engagement within the Australian social and cultural context.
More information is available at http://www.calvary-act.com.au/refugee.html
Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)
CRS is proud to belong to RCOA. As the national umbrella body for more than 130 organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is actively involved in new research, policy development, information and representation on refugee issues. RCOA is now managing the A Just Australia campaign, bringing together two of the most significant voices for refugees and asylum seekers.
RCOA's website is at RCOA
The latest news from RCOA can be found at this link.
Where to Get Help
Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme
Are you seeking a protection visa and need some help with your application? The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) may be able to help you. The IAAAS offers advice about, or assistance with, applications for eligible people at no charge.
Would you like to find out more about the IAAAS? Follow this link to a brochure with more information.
You can read more at: www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/63advice.htm
If you would like to enquire about the IAAAS service in the ACT region please call Companion House on 6251 4550 during office hours.
Torture and Trauma
Companion House, a non profit community based organisation, works with people who have sought refuge in Australia from persecution, torture and war related trauma. Most of the people Companion House works with are asylum seekers or from a refugee background. Their website is at: http://www.companionhouse.org.au/
