Index

Click on subject of interest shown on the right under the heading "labels" to see all relevant posts

To look at letters (and some replies) sent to politicians and newspapers, scroll down the index on the right hand side and select the appropriate heading.

Note the blog allows multiple labelling and all letters to politicians are under "letters to pollies".

If you scroll down and cannot go further, look out for icon "Older Posts". Click on that to continue




Useful Links

New links to other organisations and useful information will be added as they arise.

To navigate this blog use right click and open page in new window. Close window to return to the blog


BRAR Facebook


 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellingen-Rural-Australians-for-Refugees/269696303205083


National Rural Australians for Refugees 


Asylum Seekers Resource Centre


Australia’s largest asylum seeker organisation. With 32 paid staff and nearly 750 volunteers delivering services to over 1,200 asylum seekers at any one time through programs such as material aid, health, legal, counselling, casework and foodbank. Also help refugees get work in several ways. Melbourne based.


They have a truck to feed asylum seekers living in the community  - click on  Food Justice Truck


Refugee Council of Australia

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is the national umbrella body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them. It has more than 180 organisational and 700 individual members. RCOA promotes the adoption of flexible, humane and practical policies towards refugees and asylum seekers both within Australia and internationally through conducting research, advocacy, policy analysis and community education.

Refugee Council Web page about myths concerning asylum
seekers and  refugees and arguments we need to know to refute them

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/f/myth-long.php



Chilout
Children Out of Immigration Detention



A not-for-profit community group who seek to increase public awareness by providing accurate information showing what is happening to children inside Australia's immigration detention facilities. Primary concern is the protection of children, that they are afforded their basic rights, freedom, healthcare, education and play.

Australian Refugee Association

Our mission is to help refugees become settled and participating citizens of Australia. ARA’s MISSION
Our Mission is to help refugees become settled and participating citizens of Australia
ARA believes in the capacity and desire of refugees to be productive citizens through contributing to the social, cultural and economic life in Australia.

Based in South Australia, it seems to be mostly a community development organization, offering training, skills, support to help refugees integrate in the community and find ways to sustain themselves. we could help by fundraising


Kaldor Centre
The Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW is the world’s first research centre dedicated to the study of international refugee law.  It was established in October 2013 through the generosity of Andrew Kaldor AM and Renata Kaldor AO, motivated by their deep concern about Australia’s treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.  

www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au

Australian Human Rights Association

lucy.morgan@humanrights.gov.au  W www.humanrights.gov.au


The Sanctuary Australian Foundation


(check out short movie filmed at Bello IGA featuring Kambere family!)

What Sanctuary is doing
For over 25 years our organisation has been providing the following for refugees:
                  Sponsorship and interest-free travel loans (gradually repaid and used again) for recognised refugees accepted under Australia’s 202 Humanitarian Program.
                  Advocacy to Government on behalf of refugees
                  Sanctuary Refugee Support and Advice Program, helping to reunite families separated by war.
                  Resettlement through our national network of community support groups.
                  Direct emergency aid for small but vital needs (ie. medicines, food).
                  An education grant for a child or adult previously sponsored by SAF.
                  SAF can put you directly in touch with a refugee through our email Pen
Friend Scheme, giving hope and friendship.
                  donations of eye glasses for refugee camps gratefully received


It seems like the main way to get involved would be through making donations, but since they are local, it might be worthwhile getting in touch. Someone in the group might eveny have connections?






Members of Parliament to write to  at
http://australia.gov.au/directories/contact-parliament


Julian Burnside  - Sarah Hanson-Young has sent this link..sounds like the
sort of thing we were looking for.. Julian Burnside is co-ordianting a
letter writing program to asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru.

http://www.julianburnside.com.au/letters2.htm