We've had a lot of requests about the best ways to support people seeking asylum and refugees during this difficult and unprecedented time. We'll regularly post anything you can do to get involved, so make sure to keep an eye out. There's also information that may assist people you're working with.
URGENT REQUEST: Housing for people living in community detention
Across Australia, people seeking asylum in Community Detention have been given just three weeks to find work (after being denied the right to work for years) and a new place to live in the middle of a global pandemic!
How can you help?
provide a financial donation to Welcoming Australia to help keep these families from destitution (link here);
offer a room or home for someone to stay in;
donate non-perishable food items to help Welcoming Australia stock the pantry;
Please email welcome@welcoming.org.au or info@justiceforrefugeessa.org if you can help! The kindness and generosity of our community is overwhelming - you respond with care, love and welcome over and over again. We'd love your support once more. Please act, partnering with us and Welcoming Australia to give hope in a seemingly hopeless situation!
Refugee Council of Australia - No Child Left Behind
Sign RCOA's petition as an educator or member of the public to protect the rights of 16,000 children in Australia: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/no-child-left-behind/
Thank Senators Patrick and Lambie for confirming they will vote against the phone ban bill
Please take a moment to email Senators Patrick and Lambie to thank them for their commitment to vote against any refugee phone ban legislation: senator.patrick@aph.gov.au, senator.lambie@aph.gov.au
Be sure to identify where you’re from, and feel free to include a message about the importance of standing up for refugee rights.
SA Community Welfare Services
SAcommunity has put together a list of Multicultural Welfare Services: https://sacommunity.org/thesaurus/13240-Multicultural_Welfare_Services?ofs=1
AMRC
The Australian Migrant Resource Centre has made their Coronavirus notice and telephone and emergency services contacts available in ten different languages:
Burmese, Dari/Hazaragi, Farsi/Persian, Arabic, Nepali, Swahili, Vietnamese, Pashto, Chinese and Karen.
Circle of Friends
Circle of Friends provide invaluable practical support to people seeking asylum and refugees in Adelaide, and are struggling during this time. Please consider making a donation if possible: https://cofa.org.au/
Information About Eligibility for Social Security During COVID-19
The Refugee Council of Australia has made an easy-to-read factsheet on social security payments available on their website. Access it here.
Human Rights Law Centre needs donations
From HRLC: We’ve launched High Court legal action to protect a refugee at risk from COVID-19 in immigration detention.
Every person deserves to be safe during COVID-19. But right now, Australia has almost 1,400 women and men locked away in immigration detention in cramped conditions that are ripe for disaster. For weeks medical experts have been urging the Government to do the right thing and protect them from the threat of COVID-19.
We have now escalated this call by bringing a High Court legal challenge on behalf of a refugee in immigration detention to get Minister Peter Dutton and his Department to listen to reason.
Please donate here: https://www.hrlc.org.au/donate-now
Kaldor Centre webinar: All in this together? The pandemic, people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia
Watch the recorded Kaldor Centre webinar delivered by a panel of female experts in the refugee sector to provide an update about the impact of COVID-19 on people seeking asylum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8k2lJqVrZQ&feature=youtu.be
Red Cross: The power of a simple phone call
In response to COVID-19, Red Cross is offering a free phone service to provide support and social connection to people in South Australia.
Experienced Red Cross staff and volunteers will keep in touch by phone to check-in on you, support your emotional and mental wellbeing, and help connect you with information or assistance.
You can register yourself or a loved one by phoning 1800 188 071, or clicking the link: https://register.redcross.org.au/
ARA Online Homework Club
ARA is pleased to announce its Online Homework Club. Please note clients must be registered prior to receiving support from an ARA tutor.
For further information please contact Amber Poudel, ARA Youth Case Work and Project Officer on 0447 400 808, or email info@justiceforrefugeessa.org for the registration form and flyer.
Refugee Advice and Casework Service
Sign the RACS petition now to call for Treasurer Frydenberg and Senator Ruston to ensure all people in Australia have access to critical financial support at this time of crisis: https://www.racs.org.au/petition
Support for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum
Check out this online resource compiling centres, resources, networks and associations that help refugees and people seeking asylum: https://cofa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Refugee-Support-2016-.pdf
Fact Sheets in Multiple Languages
The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has released Coronavirus (COVID-19) fact sheets in a range of languages including:
These fact sheets include information on:
- close contact with confirmed cases
- community return
- FAQ’s
- identifying symptoms
- isolation guidance
- residential care services
- early childhood centres
- social distancing
View all resources on the Settlement Council of Australia’s (SCoA) website by clicking here.
Amnesty International Petition
Demand COVID-19 safe accommodation for refugees by signing the Amnesty International petition here.
Red Cross COVID-19 Report
Read the Red Cross Report: 'COVID19 impacts us all - ensuring the safety and well being of people on temporary visas' here.
Emergency Relief from the Red Cross
The Red Cross is offering a one-off financial payment to people on temporary visas. Read more here.
Petition for Biloela family
Since the Biloela Family had a recent court case win now is the time to take action to try and get the government to allow Priya, Nades and their girls to go home to Biloela.
We want to get to 300,000 signatures so, if you have not already done so, please click here and sign the Petition.
If you have already signed it then share it with your friends. You can do this easily by sharing one of the Biloela Facebook posts.
New Translations for Multicultural Parent Easy Guides
Parenting SA has now released Dari and Uyghur translations of the new multicultural Parent Easy Guides. The Guides help orientate newly arrived families to parenting in Australia and provide information about support services in the community. They will also benefit families who have been here longer.
You can now order as many copies as you need of the Dari, Uyghur and English versions. All Guides are FREE in South Australia.
The translated Guides can be viewed here:
Dari
Uyghur
Translations into other languages are currently in progress. Check out Parenting SA for more information.