What you do, no matter how big or small, will always have an impact. From raising awareness in you school or community, to becoming a pen-pal and helping detainees feel welcome in our country, to helping fund organisations to do more good work, you can help.
Submitted
10/11/2005
By
Bridie
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41037
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0
Updated
11/05/2009
What’s involved?
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to have a positive affect on people in detention. There are so many opportunities that allow you to express your values, whether you want to help move people out of detention or simply make their experience a little bit brighter.
One of the best ways to volunteer is through an organisation, as they will already have a relationship with the detention centre and programs running. Organisations offer a large range of opportunities, from offering legal assistance, to teaching English, to taking children on excursions, just to name a few. You can call, drop in, or email the organisation. There is a list of organisations, their web sites and their volunteer opportunities below.
Donate
There are so many great organisations working with refugees in the Australian community, from large to small, government to non-government, with different levels of involvement and varying points of political and religious views. Take the time to find one that suits you and your beliefs. Most have facilities that allow you to donate. You can give personally, encourage friends and family to give, or even organise your own fundraiser.
You can also donate on an individual level by giving gifts to detainees such as phone cards, but be careful! You can't give anything that is classified as a weapon, or glass or metal. Check out the list of orgs and groups below to see who you can donate through.
Your friendship can be a valuable donation, too! Writing to a detainee, as well as providing your friendship, helps them to feel welcome. It can help with their English language skills, too. Write to bellingen@ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org if you’re interested.
Raise awareness
Even today, with all the publicity refugees in detention centres in Australia get, there are still a lot of people who don’t know about this issue. Australia's complex legal system, information about living conditions and why people are in detention are all areas where people's knowledge is limited. You can help your friends, family and community understand this issue by talking to them, writing letters to your local paper or organising an awareness campaign at your school, uni, or job.
Change the rules
Write to your local MP expressing your concerns, sign a petition, or organise a petition. Do anything to get the government to hear your voice! The Refugee Council of Australia has a petition, or you can visit http://www.petitiononline.com/dtention/petition-si... for more information.
Write your own letter to those in power around you, or use one already drafted.
Check out Oxfam’s draft letter at http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/refugees/index.html
You could also contact your local council and encourage them to become a signatory to the Refugee Welcome Zone Declaration by writing a letter or organising a petition. Contact your local council through http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_LocalGov...
Organisations
There are a large number of organisations in Australia that let you participate in taking action towards improving the lives of refugees in detention centres in Australia. They are arranged by organisations and groups that operate on a national level, and then by state for the more local groups. As well as these groups, take a look around your local uni or school for groups.
National/International
- Save-Australia Inc. Volunteering requires knowledge in accounting, judiciary or legal procedures. They need long term volunteers. Email them at SAVE-Australia@erc.org.au.
- Tear TEAR is a Christian movement dedicated to the poor. They offer a range of involvement opportunities, from two-years stints overseas, to donating money. Check them out at http://www.tear.org.au.
- The Justice Project The Justice Project campaigns for refugee policy change. They offer volunteer opportunities, especially if you have writing skills or want to help out at a workshop. Check out http://www.thejusticeproject.com.au.
- The National Program on Refugees and Displaced People This is an operation of CWS: the Christian World Service. The NCCA works to raise awareness, educate, work on refugee settlement policy related issues, community development and advocacy. You can donate online, too. Check out http://www.ncca.org.au/cws/refugees.
- The Better Way An operation of JAS: Justice for Asylum Seekers, its aim is to change mandatory detention. As this is more of an alliance of organisations, it is more of a gateway for action. Check out http://www.thebetterway.info.
New South Wales
- ChilOut You can become a ChilOut ambassador and speak at your school or uni or an event. The drive is behind getting children out of detention. You can be put on their mailing list, which will keep you up to date with current issues, help you get involved in their visitors program, or offer help with legal issues. Keep educating yourself, stay aware of the current issues. They are centred around Baxter, Maribyrnong and Villawood detention centres. To find out more, you can also attend a meeting. Check it out at http://www.chilout.org.
- ALIV (Australian League of Immigration Volunteers) Centred in the Villawood and Baxter detention centres, it has various volunteer opportunities and helps by offering recreational and educational programs for both kids and adults. Volunteer opportunities range from homework assistance, to taking kids on excursions, to teaching English to adults. Opportunities are on every day of the week, but a commitment of at least once per 4 weeks is required. You can also donate to the organisation. Check them out at http://www.aliv.org.au.
- Refugee Advice and Casework Service This organisation has a legal focus and allows you to volunteer as a student, as a lawyer or as a migration agent. Each opportunity requires a significant time commitment. They also have facilities for donation. Check them out at http://www.racs.org.au.
- Refugee Action Coalition This organisation is dedicated to changing Australia’s refugee policy. You can get involved by attending a meeting, helping to organise a protest, spreading the word in your community. You’re even able to invite a RAC speaker to your school, community group or workplace. As with most organisations and groups, you can also donate money, either personally, or by organising you own fundraiser. Check it out at http://www.racnsw.org.
- NSW Ecumenical Council The Council offers emergency accommodation through their ‘House of Welcome’ program. They also offers pastoral support and coordinate visits to those in detention. You can be involved by donating materials. Check it out at http://www.nswec.org.au/.
Victoria
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre These guys offer you the opportunity to both volunteer or experience a placement or internship with them. They offer volunteer info evenings and have their vacancies listed on their web site. If you want to get involved, they usually require a minimum of 6 months, with weekly or fortnightly time commitments with an average of 5 hours per week, or 10 hours per fortnight. Check them out at http://www.asrc.org.au.
- UNOH – Urban Neighbours of Help - Asylum Seekers Assistance Project This project offers friendship, accommodation, prayer, advocacy and welfare support, with a special focus on East Timorese asylum seekers. Volunteering as a worker requires serious commitment, however you can also volunteer as a supporter, or simply donate money. Check them out at http://www.unoh.org.
- Ecumenical Migration Centre This is part of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. You can volunteer or donate. Check them out at http://www.bsl.org.au.
- Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project This project provides free housing, casework, monthly payments, pays for emergency services and provides volunteer support. You can get involved by donating money, or by volunteering. They have three volunteer streams depending on your level of training, and you can do anything from providing friendship to tutoring in English. Check it out at http://www.hothammission.org.au.
Why should people do this?
I want to do this!
