A coalition of Catholic organisations has launched a campaign to change Federal Government policy and increase support for refugees and asylum seekers, reports The Southern Cross.

Led in Adelaide by Vinnies Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service (VRASS), the 150 Days of Action for Refugees is a response to Pope Francis’ declaration of 2021 as the Year of St Joseph. The Pope has described St Joseph, who was a refugee in Egypt, “the special patron of all those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution and poverty”.

Dominican Sisters Angela Moloney and Bernadette Kiley (second from right and far right) attended a gathering in Victoria Square recently as part of a campaign appealing for the Federal Government to allow the Murugappan family from Sri Lanka to return to Biloela in Queensland. PHOTO: The Southern Cross.

The national campaign calls on people to write to their local politicians urging them to:

Provide income support and a financial safety net for all people seeking asylum in Australia
End temporary protection visas and create a clear pathway to permanent residency
Ensure access to family reunion for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.

The campaign also involves educating the public about inhumane government policies and their impact on people who have experienced trauma before coming to Australia.

At a national level, the campaign is being coordinated by the Sisters of St Joseph and the Justice and Peace Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

VRASS Special Works Committee chair, Henrietta Wighton, said the Adelaide group was planning to approach parishes and schools to conduct brief talks in order to promote the 150 Days of Action Campaign.

It also intends to work with the Vinnies Youth and Community Engagement Officer, Umes Acharya, to include young refugees and asylum seekers in planning activities and learning the skills of advocacy.

Ms Wighton said ways for people to respond included employing a refugee or asylum seeker, donating much-needed items such as blankets and nappies, holding fundraising events and having conversation amongst friends and family about the realities behind Australia’s treatment of people seeking asylum and refugees.

“The campaign acknowledges that many refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia have, for many years, experienced inhumane and cruel treatment,” Ms Wighton said.

“People who have come to our shores seeking protection deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“We want to encourage everyone to work towards our country becoming a generous, smart and compassionate nation. Everyone should try to do something to contribute to us becoming a humane and fair Australia.”

VRASS recently held an art and story-writing competition in which refugees and asylum seekers, both adults and children, reflected their experiences through pictures and stories. St Gabriel’s School, St Brigid’s School and the Art Bus project were the main contributors. It is intended to hold this exhibition every year from now on.

Ms Wighton said Vinnies House of Welcome in Kilburn had been providing assistance to increasing numbers of asylum seekers no longer eligible for any form of social security.

“VRASS has instituted a special program to assist with rent payments to prevent homelessness amongst this cohort,” she said.

“If it wasn’t for this assistance and that of other agencies and charities, with whom we work closely, these asylum seekers and their families would literally be sleeping on the streets and begging for food and clothing.”

This is an abridged version of an article by Jenny Brinkworth, published in The Southern Cross. See the full article here.