Sister Meredith Evans
2024 SA Senior Australian of the Year
Justice for Refugees would like to congratulate Meredith Evans for becoming the 2024 SA Senior Australian of the Year.
Meredith is a founding member of Justice for Refugees SA has dedicated her life to helping the vulnerable and inspiring others to do the same.
Through her vocation, Meredith has provided kind, non-judgemental care and assistance to many – including refugees, young people, women experiencing homelessness, women exiting violent relationships and women leaving prison.
In 2019, Meredith established the South Australian division of Young Mercy Links – a network of young people passionate about social justice, advocacy and education.
In 2014, Meredith partnered with like-mind people to start a new Circle of Friends in Adelaide, providing on the ground support for refugees.
Meredith’s care has extended abroad, engaging people to contribute to the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The service provides newly built homes for people with a landmine injury and their families.
REFUGEES IN LIMBO - 10 Years Too Long
Day of ACTION Wednesday 19th July 2023
On Wednesday July 19 this year, was the 10th anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announcing that people arriving by boat, seeking asylum, will never be settled in Australia and be processed offshore. To commemorate this anniversary, Australian's joined together, and called on the Albanese Government to bring the remaining 80 people in PNG to Australia
Here in Adelaide, Justice for Refugees SA, in collaboration with The Adelaide Vigil for Manus & Nauru, gathered outside the offices of the Hon Mark Butler MP, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP and the Department of Home Affairs, calling for those remaining in PNG, to come to Australia.
Along with these actions, the J4RSA Management Committee have personally delivered letters to key local Federal MPs and Senators offices.
Let your local Federal representative know
To add your voice - write/email/call/visit you local Federal MP and Senator. For more information about the campaign and to know how you can contact your Federal representative go HERE
PERMANENT VISAS NOW - Day of ACTION
Thursday 2nd Feb 2023
On Thursday 2nd February J4RSA members and supporters lobby for an immediate announcement regarding permanency for refugees on temporary visas at three key Minister offices in Adelaide; Senator the Hon Penny Wong, the Hon Mark Butler MP and the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.
In Port Adelaide, supporters, met with Mark Butler at his electoral office including Bella Nguyen a young refugee now living in his electorate.
While there has been a commitment by Minister Andrew Giles at the end of last year that there would be an announcement “soon”. Refugees are becoming increasingly despondent and questioning the commitment of this Labor government.
This action was held in the lead up to the Parliament opening for the year next week and was in coordination with other local groups and organisations, who are part of the Australian Refugee Action Network (ARAN).
The J4RSA Management Committee also wrote to other SA Federal Government members; Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Louise Miller-Frost MP, Senator Karen Grogan, Senator Marielle Smith, and Steve Georganas MP, on behave of members and supporters
AGM Thursday 17th November 2022
J4RSA Management Committee 22/23
At the J4RSA AGM 2022, a new Chair, Chris Keating was elected. Chris has been involved with J4RSA for many years most recently as Treasurer. Gary Wilson is continuing in the role of Secretary, and Kirsty Magarey is now Treasurer. Meredith Evans and Meredith Edwards have been re-elected as ordinary members. Along with the returning members, two new MC members were elected to the committee; Libby Hogarth, a registered migration agent specialising in asylum seeker and refugee applications, appeals and advocacy and Eva Kannis -Torry Principal of Thebarton Senior College for the past 8 yrs. Both bring immense knowledge, skills and experience to the committee, and will be a great benefit to the J4RSA team.
The Chair's Report was given by our former Chairperson, Kirsty Magarey, who stepped down from the role this year. In the report, Kirsty highlighted the work J4RSA members did in the lead up to the federal election, meeting with many candidates, including Louise Miller-Frost MP, calling for action on J4RSA Four Priorities for Change Kirsty also discussed the work J4RSA is now focusing on with the 3 Group Actions.
- Advocating for the federal government to prioritise pathways to permanency for refugees on Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise visas (SHEV), along with urgent help for those with mental health issues resulting from prior trauma and years living with uncertainty.
- Advocating for an end to indefinite onshore and offshore detention
- Advocating for those who are not on any form of temporary visa and are on pre-Departure Visas. We argue for a “fair go” for these people living in limbo.
Special Guest speakers :
On the night we were very fortunate to have Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP, newly elected House of Representative Member for Boothby and Mr Mobin Achakzai, an Afghan asylum seeker (Shev) who has just finished his Yr 12 this year and was a 2022 Youth Parliament Member.
Louise Miller-Frost was very generous with her time and energy and spoke well beyond her time, answering all the questions and committing to follow up on issues that she was not in the position to answer. Louise clearly is concerned about issues impacting refugees and people seeking asylum and stayed to discuss these further with members one on one, over supper.
Mobin Achakzai very kindly shared his story with us and his experience in travelling to Australia by boat with his mother and three siblings without food and water. His mother, Malika, 42, was widowed when Mobin was only three, and strived to take her four children to a country where they could fulfil their potential. True to her word, all her children are studying very hard and are excelling at school, however to had further pain, despite Mobin excelling at school he will be unable to attend university unless he receives a scholarship (which are very rare), or pays full international student fees, as he does not have permanency in Australia.
We thank both Louise Miller-Frost MP and Mobin Achakzai for their time and appreciate the opportunity to speak with our members.
Membership
Membership fees need to be paid up in order to vote at the AGM.
Fees can be paid online
Direct Deposit to Justice for Refugees SA BSB: 105 029 ACCT: 080102440
Cheque PO Box 6036 Halifax Street Adelaide SA 5000
Cash (at the AGM))
If you are unsure of your membership status email Judith Adams info@justiceforrefugeessa.org or check here (choose 'Already a member? Log in').
Previous AGM 2021
Held on Wednesday 17 November 2021
At the AGM the Justice for Refugees SA Management Committee was elected unanimously including new Chair Magarey. A list of the new Management Committee members and their bios can be found HERE
We also said farewell to the Sandy Boyce who had been the Justice For Refugees SA Chair for four years.
Forum - The Power of Education in Transitioning Lives
Guest speakers - Refugees from Afghanistan living in Australia speaking about the difficulty in accessing education as well as the crises in Afghanistan, reunification with family, and the struggles, and impact of living here without a pathway for permanent protection.