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Thank you for your kind donations!
We would like to thank all of you who generously donated goods during our donation drive for Refugee Week.The Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project are the happy recipients of lots of useful groceries, toiletries, met cards and cash donations.
Those items and money will be directly used to assist Asylum Seekers living in our community who have no income, no Medicare rights, often no housing, and sometimes, not even the right to work. To find out more information about the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project please see the following information or click on the link below.
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Refugee Week - 17 - 23 June 2007
The theme for Refugee Week 2007 was "The Voices of Young Refugees". In recent years Refugee Week was held in October but this year returned to June to bring it in line with World Refugee Day (June 20).
The City of Port Phillip celebrated Refugee Week this year with a number of initiatives.
- The United Nations Flag was raised for the duration of Refugee Week at the St Kilda Town Hall portico lawn. The United Nations has had a long association with Refugees all over the world, and is instantly recognised as a symbol of peace. Although the UN flag flies at all the town halls on United Nations Day (24 October), flying it during Refugee Week reflects Port Phillip's commitment to it's refugee communities.
- Donation drive and morning teas. Each Town Hall was a donation point for residents to donate food (non perishable), toiletries, and cleaning products which went to the Brigidine Asylum Seeker project, a locally based charity which is not government funded, and which provides support and assistance to Asylum Seekers. City of Port Phillip staff was involved in the donation drive, and marked the occasion with morning/afternoon tea at each worksite in a coordinated and united effort. Last year's donation drive yielded fantastic results and assisted a great many people.
- School based project. City of Port Phillip partnered with Elwood Secondary College, to raise awareness of isses around refugees and asylum seekers among students. This event involved a refugee stroytelling workshop and Hip Hop Dance session which was enjoyed by Year 7's (and teachers) at the school.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer phone ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTY (03) 9209 6713 and ask for the Multicultural Liaison Officer.
World Refugee Day
This internationally recognised day occurs every year on June 20th. For information on coming events, or just to find out more about it, click on the UNHCR website
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What is an Asylum Seeker?
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Asylum seeker policy statement
Port Phillip Council considered the issue of asylum seekers at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 December 2006. To download a copy of the report, visit the Minutes from Council meeting.
As a result, the Council unanimously endorsed the following public statement supporting asylum seekers and refugees with past and present connections to the City of Port Phillip:
"For many former refugees, both local and since spread further afield, Station Pier, Port Melbourne and now the City of Port Phillip is particularly special as the point of arrival. Our City is where many experienced their first sights, sounds and smells of their new country, their new home.
The City of Port Phillip acknowledges and celebrates the long term presence and great contributions of many who arrived as refugees, to our city's social and cultural vitality, its economic strength, and its physical character and beauty.
The City of Port Phillip believes that all people should be able to live their lives free from oppression and abuse. We assert that the current treatment of asylum seekers and particularly their mandatory detention is unjust and inhumane, compounding the trauma that most individuals in this situation have experienced. All people have the right to seek asylum and should have the opportunity to have their claims heard fairly."
We are committed to engaging with local citizens and groups, including multicultural, interfaith, community health and support agencies, to determine how this community can support asylum seekers. Our goal is to work in partnership with asylum-seekers to empower them and foster their independence as well as celebrating the contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees to our community.
The City of Port Phillip encourages residents to assist this community where possible and is committed to promoting an environment in which refugees and asylum seekers are supported and valued."
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How you can help
The City of Port Phillip encourages your support of newly arrived migrants and refugee families by supporting the work of three Melbourne-based organisations (see below).
You can do this by:
- Making a donation to a campaign or organisation: Port Phillip Gives
- Writing a letter to your federal MP
- Volunteer your time to an asylum seeker support agency
- Writing letters to asylum seekers in detention (for assistance visit Australians for Just Refugee Programs website)
- Forming your own discussion group
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Asylum seekers are our neighbours
We are working to increase the capacity of our community and service delivery to accept and accommodate difference among people. We will continue to advocate and address issues of racism and discrimination.
In seeking to enhance community understanding about multicultural issues, the council has published an article on the facts about asylum seekers. The article discusses the veracity of some popular myths about the circumstances of asylum seekers. Please download a copy of the  Asylum Seekers: The Facts document.
Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project
52 Beaconsfield Pde, Albert Park 3206
Phone: (03) 9696 2107
Email: bssc@cyberspace.net.au (newsletters can be requested via this address)
This locally-based project aims to:
- Provide hospitality and practical support for asylum seekers
- Actively network with like-minded individuals and groups who are working for justice for asylum seekers
- Promote advocacy for the rights of asylum seekers
The project currently supports people who have been detained in Immigration Detention Centres. They regularly visit asylum seekers at Maribyrnong Detention Centre and take phone cards, tobacco, toiletries, food, clothing etc to those being detained. The project raises money for bonds that people on bridging visas are required to pay to be released from detention. The project also assists some asylum seekers who have decided to leave Australia because they have lost hope in being given refugee status.
The project also provides assistance and support to Asylum Seekers living in the community with access to toiletries, food parcels, met tickets, etc, as well as assisting with seeking housing and employment.
If you would like to make a financial donation, cheques can be made to Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project. Money received will be used to give practical support to those on bridging visas or those still in detention.
New Hope Foundation
The New Hope Foundation is a public benevolent organisation that works in partnership with the New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre (formerly Migrant Resource Centre) and ethnic communities to meet the material and support needs of newly arrived migrants and refugee families. The foundation provides furniture, white goods and other household items to families living in the south central, south-eastern, western and northern regions of Melbourne.
You can help by donating any unwanted household goods or by making a financial contribution.
For more information about the New Hope Foundation or to arrange for the truck service to pick up your unwanted household goods, please telephone (03) 9687 4500.
The Asylum Seeker Project
2/579 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9326 8343
Website: http://www.hothammission.org.au/
This program provides free housing, casework and volunteer support, as well as paying for emergencies and providing monthly cash relief. Without this assistance, many asylum seekers would be at risk of becoming homeless, having no means by which to survive or support themselves in the community. The project relies on the support of the community to be able to continue helping asylum seekers.
Please phone ahead and ask what items are currently needed (this changes according to the number of asylum seekers on bridging visas living in the community, and what has already been donated).
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Links to other organisations
Refugees Australian National Directory - www.refugeesaustralia.org
Human rights
Australians for Just Refugee Programs - This national umbrella group was launched on February 20, 2002. The City of Port Phillip is proud to announce its membership of this group - the first local government in Australia to do so. If you would like to donate to Australians for a Just Refugee Program, join as a member, or just find out more about their work, visit their website: Australians for Just Refugee programs
We Are All Boat People - www.boat-people.org
Refugee Council of Australia - www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Amnesty International Australia (refugees) - www.amnesty.org.au/refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (available in 10 languages) - UNHCR
Government
Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs - www.immi.gov.au
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission - www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/asylum_seekers/index.html
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More information
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer phone ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTY (03) 9209 6713.
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Facts and myths on Asylum Seekers
