NCCA-ACRT Letter to the Prime Minister |
| 17 August 2021
The NCCA-ACRT request commitment for Afghan refugees Like us, you must be feeling desperate about the situation in Afghanistan. We have heard reports from many of our Afghan people who have family in Afghanistan or worrying about the related issues they see as emerging in Pakistan Therefore we are all praying for a generous response from Australia to the situation of the Afghan people, in-country and in Australia, at this time. As part of ACRT, The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) is writing letters as are Taskforce members separately and severally to their supporters with the asks below. The NCCA-ACRT letter to the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison can be downloaded here - pdf 210817 NCCA ACRT PM AFG (193 KB) The NCCA-ACRT have also sent one to Minister Hawke and Trent Zimmerman MP for North Sydney, Dave Sharma MP for Wentworth.
We give what comfort we can to those who are so traumatised by what is happening and we extend our love and support to them.
You can help too Please consider writing to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Immigration, the Labor Leader (addresses below) and your own MP. You may include the three asks below from The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) Dear ..., We ask that Australia:
Email addresses: Prime Minister of Australia: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Minister for Home Affairs: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Leader of the Opposition: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia- CSRA |
| January 2022 New program commencing July 2022 In December, the federal government announced two important new measures that herald a new era for community sponsorship of refugees in Australia.
While these programs won't expand the size of Australia's humanitarian migration quota in the short term, this remains an important goal to achieve in future years, building on these new foundations. Thank you to the church groups and individual Australians across the country who rallied to help trail-blaze this new approach by signing up to be a part of the Group Mentorship Program for newly arrived refugees (most, but not all, being Afghan evacuees). Mentor groups are providing much needed welcome, orientation, friendship and practical support, supplementing the role of government-funded settlement services. Groups have hosted dozens of welcome picnics and other events in communities around Australia and provided families with donated laptops, phones, scooters, toys and household goods to help fill gaps. Mentor groups are helping evacuees inspect and secure suitable housing in a very challenging housing market (with some successfully negotiating significant discounts with landlords), sort out hiccups with the registration of families with Medicare and Centrelink, provide advice on employment and educational opportunities and advise on the steps that people need to take to have overseas qualifications recognised here. For more information about joining with the groups involved in a new era of refugee protection in Australia, contact Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA).
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Australian Government Budget 2021-22 |
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12 May 2021 The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce notes that refugees and people seeking asylum are no better off from the budget with the Australian Government continuing to invest in offshore and onshore detention. “It seems crazy that we are continuing to pay millions more for detention rather than providing meaningful solutions,” said Rob Floyd, Chair of the Churches Refugee Taskforce. “And there is the absence of any new reforms to the community sponsorship program where church groups have put their hands up as partners,” he added. Read the Eternity News article: A BOTTOM UP VIEW OF THE BUDGET See also: Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) budget media release: Govt chooses detention over hope for world's refugees in budget - Read the full budget summary from Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) here: The Federal Budget: What it means for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection
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OUR CORE BELIEFS |
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Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce ValuesDrawing on core Christian values and traditions, the Taskforce is committed to offering a strong Christian moral voice into what has become a heated and hostile public debate fuelled by divisive political rhetoric and constantly changing policies. |
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Why Churches care about Asylum SeekersMany Australians support ‘tough’ positions against asylum seekers who arrive by boat and rank asylum seeker issues as one of the top issues facing our country. Some Christians, like many other Australians, are concerned about unsustainable numbers of asylum seekers arriving by boat and a fear of the ‘floodgates’ opening if we were to have more compassionate policies. Others have voiced concern about fears of Islamicisation and the changing demographic of Australia. Many more share a deep concern that people are drowning in small, overcrowded and un-seaworthy boats making dangerous voyages. As Christians seeking to live faithful lives and respond to others with the grace of God, there is probably no more confusing and complex area of public policy and debate than this. We are confronted not only by deaths at sea but also by our concerns for those refugees in camps throughout Africa and Asia. We see vulnerable people suffering because of harsh and punitive policies administered by our Government here in Australia and in offshore detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island, PNG. Children are locked up in immigration detention centres, asylum seekers are living in poverty in the community with no end in sight to their situation and on Manus Island and Nauru the conditions are harsh and damaging to people’s health and well-being. The problems seem too great and the solutions elusive. With such difficult moral questions around Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers, it is important to step back from the prevailing public debate and draw guidance from our identity as ‘disciples’. We know that we do not always respond to human suffering and need with compassion and love. We are often driven by our fears and our confusion to give assent to ‘solutions’ which punish rather than protect. Through the national debates around asylum seekers, we have seen the best of the Australian national character – generosity, hospitality, practical care and deep compassion, and the worst of our nation – political opportunism, mean-spiritedness and fear of outsiders. This paper describes the faith foundations for the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce. Drawing on core Christian values and traditions, the Taskforce is committed to offering a strong Christian moral voice into what has become a heated and hostile public debate fuelled by divisive political rhetoric and constantly changing policies. |
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Theological StatementAt a time when policies relating to asylum seekers and refugees are increasingly harsh and the public debate lacks compassion, generosity and hospitality, the churches have recognised that a common action and voice are necessary. Read the full statement. |
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What do we believe?1. Why are people coming to Australia?People do not flee their homes, their family, friends and community and undertake perilous, potentially deadly journeys without very good reason. Refugees are people who are forced to flee their homelands to escape persecution, including imprisonment and torture. 2. How should we treat people who arrive in Australia seeking our protection?Asylum seekers who arrive on our shores should be welcomed and offered appropriate care in the community (once initial health, security and identity checks have been done) while their protection claims are assessed 3. How should the Australian system process the claims for asylum? Asylum seekers (consistent with their human rights and Australia’s obligations under international law) should have their claims for protection processed in a fair, transparent and timely manner and that they should have access to review of their case should protection be denied. 4. Isn’t this a really important election issue? The arrival of asylum seekers is of great interest to the general public, but asylum seekers who arrive by boat should not be used for political point scoring. 5. Don’t we need a “deterrent” to stop people smugglers?Government policies should not deliberately expose people to harm. Punishing a vulnerable group of people (asylum seekers) in order to send a message to another group of people (people smugglers and other asylum seekers) is abusive and unconscionable. 6. What should drive our asylum seeker policies?
Asylum seekers in the community should have the right to work: to provide them with a way to support their family, foster self-reliance, to give them a means to contribute to Australian society and for their own human dignity. 8. What is happening with the children?At May 2013 there were 1731 children still being held in Australian immigration detention centres, an extraordinary amount. Under no circumstances should children be locked up. 9. Should “no advantage” be given to those arriving by boat?Asylum seekers and refugees should be able to find hope and restoration from the despair and persecution from which they have fled. Refugees and asylum seekers should be able to be reunited with their families. No-one should be detained indefinitely and without the right to challenge their detention. 10. Can we afford to help all these arrivals?As one of the wealthiest, safest and most secure countries in the world, we should be able to fund a humanitarian response to asylum seekers without taking money away from our overseas aid commitments. |
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MEMBERS OF THE TASKFORCE |
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Rev Deacon Sandy Boyce, Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Churches, Uniting Church in Australia Sandy is a Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia, ordained to the Ministry of Deacon in 2007. She is co-convenor of the network of Deacons in the Uniting Church, and is the President of DIAKONIA World Federation. Sandy commenced in the role of Executive Officer of the Victorian Council of Churches on 19th April, 2022. For over 12 years prior to this, in her role with Pilgrim Uniting Church Adelaide, Sandy was actively engaged in a number of church and community networks including – Convenor: Community Connections, Chair: Justice for Refugees, Chair: Refugee Advocacy Group (SA Uniting Church Synod), Chair: Public Theology and Mission (Synod Committee), and Homelessness SA Board. Sandy is also a member of the Uniting Church Assembly Standing Committee. |
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Major Karen Elkington, Salvation Army Australia Major Karen Elkington has served as a Salvation Army Officer for more than 25 years. Since 2010, Karen has lead The Salvation Army's Asylum Seeker & Refugee Service which supports people seeking asylum who reside in the Northern & Western suburbs of Melbourne. The Service offers a specialised Emergency Relief and Material Aid response as well as supporting people seeking asylum by offering case work and spiritual support with a vibrant Chaplaincy program which has seeded a Salvation Army Farsi speaking congregation. Other support is also offered for women and children seeking asylum through a therapeutic music therapy and support program. Karen has been The Salvation Army's representative on the Network of Asylum Seeker Agencies (NASAVic) since 2010. Since 2017 Karen has enjoyed working with the Jewish community and is a committee member on Temple Beth Israel's Project Dignity which is Tillun Olam (repairing the world) group that focuses on supporting people of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. |
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Carmen Lazar, Centre Manager, Assyrian Resource Centre Carmen Lazar is a well-known Assyrian community representative. Carmen migrated to Australia in 1971 with her parents and two sisters. She is respected and valued among community services networks. Currently Carmen is the Manager and Community Settlement Officer, Assyrian Resource Centre that includes the Assyrian Australian Association which is in receipt of funding from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for Settlement Grants Program (SGP) and for Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP). Carmen is also a Member of the Fairfield Migrant Inter-agency (Fairfield Council) and in the past has been Principal of the Assyrian Diqlat School which is the Saturday Assyrian school that operates in two schools in NSW. Carmen is a member of the Immigrant Women’s Network Group for the prevention of violence against women and a Community Support for Women Volunteer (once a month), Villawood Detention Centre. |
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Reverend Meewon Yang, Multicultural Pastor & Consultant, Baptist Union of Victoria Rev Meewon Yang grew up in Korea where she was raised an active Presbyterian, and came to Australia in 1989. She was ordained as a Baptist Pastor in 1997, and soon after began working with the Baptist Union as a Multicultural Adviser. She is now a Multicultural Pastor, caring for pastors and congregations in Victoria’s 70 migrant ethnic Baptist congregations from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds. Meewon has been a passionate advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. She established the Refugee Airfare and Assistance scheme, pioneered a chaplaincy role at an asylum seeker house set up by Brunswick Baptist Church, and then helped to establish the Sanctuary asylum seeker transitional housing project run by Baptcare. In 2012 Meewon completed her Masters Degree which looked at models of Multicultural ministry. She is a regular adjunct lecturer at Whitley College and within the MCD University. |
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Peter Arndt, Executive Officer, Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of Brisbane As Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane, Peter Arndt is also Convenor of the Brisbane Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network. He participates in a number of reference groups associated with the management of Government-funded refugee support programs and the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation. He also works in advocacy on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, climate change, protection of outworkers, the death penalty and human rights in Sri Lanka and West Papua. |
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Sr Brigid Arthur, Joint Coordinator Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project Brigid Arthur is a Brigidine Sister who trained both as a Primary and Secondary teacher. She taught and was Principal of schools for many years. Brigid has a degree in Arts (Melbourne University) and educational and Mathematics/Science degrees from Australian Catholic University, La Trobe University, Monash University and Melbourne University. Brigid studied at Fordham University in New York where she graduated with a Masters degree in Religious Education. She has studied theology at Yarra Theological College. Brigid is the joint coordinator of the Brigidine Asylum Seekers’ Project. This work has been at both a hands-on level – helping asylum seekers and refugees with accommodation, and other practical support, and in advocacy – trying to change the present policies and procedures used in Australia to deter asylum seekers coming to this country. Brigid is a member of the Board of the Asylum Seekers Project and a member of the Refugee Advocacy Network. |
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Rev Lindsay Cullen, Associate General Secretary, Rev Lindsay Cullen is the Assembly Associate General Secretary. He leads the Assembly Resourcing Unit - a team responsible for the oversight of the national work of the UCA including doctrine, worship, ministry education standards, social justice and advocacy and ecumenical and interfaith relationships. Within the UCA, Lindsay has served in rural, regional and urban contexts and a major focus of his ministry has been Adult Education and Lay Ministry training. |
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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Rev. Dr. John D. Jegasothy, JP - Sydney Tamil Community Rev Ian Phillips, Lismore Church of Christ and Sanctuary Northern Rivers.
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CO-CHAIR
CO-CHAIR
ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST
BAPTIST
CATHOLIC
CATHOLIC
UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA
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CONTACT US Telephone: (02) 9299 2215 Address: Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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ACRT MEETING At the recent Taskforce meeting a presentation was given by Blaise Itabelo, CRSA's Community Engagement Manager, on the Community Refugee Integration and Support Pilot (CRISP) and the Group Mentorship Program.
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IN THE MEDIA - immigration detention NCCA General Secretary, Elizabeth Stone, spoke with Sight Magazine saying that the detention and deportation of Serbian tennis star Djokovic has "reminded and informed Australians about the plight of dozens of men in immigration detention in hotels in Darwin, Brisbane and Melbourne." Read the Sight article ‘End indefinite detention of asylum seekers’ Read also: Bishops, rabbis and imams call on Scott Morrison to free asylum seekers (thenewdaily.com.au- 28 January) |
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| COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP OF REFUGEES January 2022 New program commencing July 2022 Thank you to the church groups and individual Australians across the country who rallied to help trail-blaze this new approach by signing up to be part of the Group Mentorship Program for newly arrived refugees. Read more |
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Christians United for Afghanistan It is our hope that as we unite as the Church, we speak boldly to our national government leaders to provide urgent action for the well being of Afghan refugees. |
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AFGHAN REFUGEES We pray for a generous response from Australia to the Afghan situation at this time. Read more |
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AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP The Community Refugee Sponsorship Initiative has now become an incorporated Australian charity operating under the new name of ‘Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia’ (CRSA). The new CRSA website has a short video of the pilot Group Mentorship Program. View it here. Information on the New Program Intake – Public Information Sessions can be found here. |
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AUSTRALIAN ASYLUM POLICY
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IN THE NEWS What is community detention, and how does it fit into Australia’s larger immigration detention regime? Keeping refugee advocacy alive - new policy briefs on current issues created by JRS Australia and Vinnies NSW Read more |
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MEDIA RELEASE |
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MEDIA STATEMENT |
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WHAT'S IN A NUMBER? |
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MEDIA RELEASE |
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IMMIGRATION DETENTION |
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CORONA VIRUS |
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| BRIEFING NOTES 7 November, 2019 Briefing Notes Address Misinformation Briefing notes by the ACRT aim to address the misinformation and confusion being peddled by sections of the media and politicians about the Australian Government’s official processes for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia and those in offshore detention. The Taskforce also calls for medical transfer legislation to remain as it is saving lives. Download the Briefing Notes |
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RESOURCES |
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COMMUNITY |
Latest News |
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Connect with us FOLLOW THE TASKFORCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK |
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CONTACT US Telephone: (02) 9299 2215 Address: Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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AUSTRALIAN CHURCHES REFUGEE TASKFORCE
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A CHRISTIAN VISION OF COMPASSION AND HOSPITALITYFOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES |
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CONNECT WITH US: Follow the Taskforce on FACEBOOK CONTACT US: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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NEWS |
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Anti-Poverty Week October 2024 Anti-Poverty Week (APW) in Australia is an annual event aimed at raising awareness of poverty and inequality, encouraging action to address these challenges, and fostering a deeper understanding of the causes and impacts of poverty nationwide. The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) has developed a Resource Kit to support your involvement in APW 2024. Read more |
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ACRT update on Asylum Seekers Permanent Residence for Asylum Seekers: What’s Happening Now Demonstrations held in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth demanding permanent residency and family reunification for asylum seekers, after years on temporary visas.... Read more |
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ASRC report Cruelty by Design: The health crisis in offshore detention The health report released this month by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has documented the poor physical and mental health conditions of those who remain in offshore detention.... Read more |
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World Refugee Day Online Ecumenical Service While the NCCA prepared to begin their 11th National Forum in Adelaide, members of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) were delivering an online ecumenical service for Refugee Week. The service was planned by ACRT members ... Read more |
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ACRT report Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) Submission to Australia’s Humanitarian Intake for 2024-25 The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. Read more |
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Support for people escaping the conflict in Israel and Gaza Hundreds of people who have fled Israel or Gaza have travelled to Australia on Visitor Visas and other short-term visas. While it is welcome news that people have been able to travel to safety in Australia, these visas are not designed to support people fleeing conflict. Read more |
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Submission opposing the Migration Amendment (Removals and Other Measures) Bill 2024 The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) has made a submission to the Senate inquiry, which closes Friday 12 April 2024. ACRT have also prepared a briefing resource, providing a guide for churches in Australia that wish to make submissions opposing the Bill. Read more |
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Submission to the AHRC on Women in Immigration Detention The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) made a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on 21 February 2024, looking into the experiences of women in immigration detention facilities, and the subsequent issues women faced when they were in community detention. Read more |
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Hidden homelessness in Australia Homelessness in Australia is often hidden for those in our community, like people seeking asylum with no work rights and no income support, while they wait for resolution of their visa status. Read more |
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Lives in limbo - 10 years of Offshore Processing The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) is one of many groups that are marking the ‘bitter’ 10th anniversary of the Regional Resettlement Arrangement between the Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) governments with an appeal to end the misery and cruelty of offshore processing. Read more |
REFUGEE SUPPORT FUND GRANT
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Assistance for vulnerable groups unable to access Australian Government Support The NCCA has a Christian vision of compassion, generosity and hospitality for people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia that guides the advocacy work of the ACRT and the establishment of the Refugee Support Grant Fund. Please note: The GUIDELINES and APPLICATION FORM are currently under review. |
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PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION Your donation will be used to support the various campaigns of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce. To make a donation by credit card, over the phone. Call our freecall number on 1800 025 101. |
THE TASKFORCE IS SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS
Campaigns |
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DIGNITY NOT DESTITUTION |
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COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP TO AUSTRALIA |
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IMMIGRATION DETENTION VISITOR EXPERIENCES The Refugee Council of Australia is collating information on how the new detention visiting procedures are impacting on being able to visit detainees. Your experiences can help advocate for better visiting experiences |
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Connect with us FOLLOW THE TASKFORCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK |
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CONTACT US Telephone: (02) 9299 2215 Address: Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Contact Us
Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230
Telephone: (02) 9299 2215
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
THE TASKFORCE IS SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS
Campaigns |
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DIGNITY NOT DESTITUTION FIND OUT MORE |
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COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP TO AUSTRALIA FIND OUT MORE |
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IMMIGRATION DETENTION VISITOR EXPERIENCES The Refugee Council of Australia is collating information on how the new detention visiting procedures are impacting on being able to visit detainees. Your experiences can help advocate for better visiting experiences FIND OUT MORE |
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Connect with us FOLLOW THE TASKFORCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK |
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CONTACT US Telephone: (02) 9299 2215 Address: Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
