4 • 30 years of JRS L I N K If undeliverable return to: Jesuit Refugee Service Australia PO Box 522 Kings Cross NSW 1340 PRINT POST PP236873/00020 PP236873/00021 POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA General Donations 17% Bank Interest 2% Grants - Projects 1% Province Subsidy 25% Talks, Publications, Training, Consultancy 10% Fundraising for Australia 7% Sundry Income 0% Minors Program Funding 25% Specific Project Donations 13% Total Income: $808,560 Administration 28% Communication 2% Detention Issues 8% Shelter Project 37% Minors 23% Research and Advocacy 1% Fund Raising 1% Total Expenditure: $820,588 2011 JRS Income 2011 JRS Expenditure Jesuit Refugee Service Australia PO Box 522, Kings Cross NSW 1340 Ph: 02 9356 3888 Fax: 02 9356 3021 Email: [email protected]Web: www.jrs.org.au Director: Aloysious Mowe SJ Associate Director: Maryanne Loughry RSM Project Coordinators: Louise Stack Suma Pillai Housing Officer: Craig Walters Volunteers Coordinator: Anne Porter Caseworkers: Alison Hood Bish Zahinda Cecilia Silva Kathy Moran Kim Smith Shelley Goldsmith Simone Walton (Intern) Thomas Tran SVD Project Assistants: Patricia Lay Ali Rahim Ghaznawee Office Manager: Kim Mandelik Our Vulnerable Adult Men Residence Determination Project (VAM RDP) proposal was finalised in December in collaboration with MYC, who agreed to partner JRS. We committed to establishing a new office and a dedicated team, and to source a hostel and five houses to accommodate 40 adult male clients with multiple and complex needs.The VAM RDP was scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2012. continued from previous page L I N K A newsletter for friends of the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia • Vol XIII no 2 Winter 2012 A t the start of 2011 we learnt from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that there were 43.7 million refugees and displaced people in the world, the highest number in 15 years. More than half of that total number consisted of children. Within that total were 850,000 asylum seekers, and 15,500 of these asylum applications came from unaccompanied or separated children, most of them from Afghanistan or Somalia. As the year went on, more and more people were displaced due to war and natural disasters: civil war in Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Syria; the worst drought in 60 years in the Horn of Africa; and closer to home, the earthquakes in New Zealand and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In Australia the headlines were dominated by the continued arrival of asylum seekers by boat, and by the Australia-Malaysia Transfer Arrangement. The successful High Court challenge against the latter arrangement, and the conclusion reached by the government that it could no longer proceed with any form of off-shore processing, led to an announcement by the government in October that asylum seekers arriving by boat would no longer be detained until their refugee claims were decided, but would instead be issued with bridging visas and granted work rights. Those deemed too vulnerable to live independently were to go into community detention. 30 years of JRS • 1 JRS Report 2011 Though we were already engaged on many fronts, and often felt our resources stretched near breaking point, JRS responded to this positive development in Australia’s asylum policy by stepping forward at the end of 2011 to provide accommodation and support for the adult asylum seekers moving into community detention. A great deal of our energy and time at the end of 2011 went into this project. António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said during the year, “One refugee without hope is too many.” The various projects and activities JRS is engaged in – community detention, pastoral care in detention centres, the Shelter Project, and so on – are part of the weaving of a fabric of hope for refugees. Our volunteers and supporters form an essential part of the warp and weft of this work of compassion, and this report is dedicated to you. António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said during the year, “One refugee without hope is too many.” W www.jrs.org.au • E [email protected]Photo: Stuart Price 17579 Jesuit R S Link AnnRptWntr12.indd Spread 1 of 2 - Pages(4, 1) 17579 Jesuit R S Link AnnRptWntr12.indd Spread 1 of 2 - Pages(4, 1) 15/06/2012 12:52:41 PM 15/06/2012 12:52:41 PM
Transcript
4 • 3 0 y e a r s o f J R S
L I N K
If undeliverable return to:Jesuit Refugee Service AustraliaPO Box 522Kings Cross NSW 1340
PRINTPOST
PP236873/00020
PP236873/00021
POSTAGE
PAID
AUSTRALIA
General Donations 17%Bank Interest 2%Grants - Projects 1%Province Subsidy 25%Talks, Publications, Training, Consultancy 10%Fundraising for Australia 7%Sundry Income 0%Minors Program Funding 25%Specific Project Donations 13%Total Income: $808,560
Project Assistants: Patricia LayAli Rahim Ghaznawee
Office Manager: Kim Mandelik
Our Vulnerable Adult Men Residence Determination Project(VAM RDP) proposal was finalised in December incollaboration with MYC, who agreed to partner JRS. We
committed to establishing a new office and a dedicated team,and to source a hostel and five houses to accommodate 40adult male clients with multiple and complex needs. The VAMRDP was scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2012.
continued from previous pageL I N K
A newsletter for friends of the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia • Vol XIII no 2 Winter 2012
At the start of 2011 we learntfrom the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) that there were 43.7million refugees and displaced peoplein the world, the highest number in 15 years.
More than half of that total numberconsisted of children. Within that totalwere 850,000 asylum seekers, and15,500 of these asylum applicationscame from unaccompanied orseparated children, most of them fromAfghanistan or Somalia. As the yearwent on, more and more people weredisplaced due to war and naturaldisasters: civil war in Libya, Côted’Ivoire, and Syria; the worst droughtin 60 years in the Horn of Africa; andcloser to home, the earthquakes inNew Zealand and the earthquake andtsunami in Japan.
In Australia the headlines weredominated by the continued arrival ofasylum seekers by boat, and by the
Australia-Malaysia TransferArrangement. The successful HighCourt challenge against the latterarrangement, and the conclusionreached by the government that itcould no longer proceed with anyform of off-shore processing, led to anannouncement by the government inOctober that asylum seekers arrivingby boat would no longer be detaineduntil their refugee claims weredecided, but would instead be issuedwith bridging visas and granted workrights. Those deemed too vulnerableto live independently were to go intocommunity detention.
3 0 y e a r s o f J R S • 1
JRS R e p o r t 2 0 1 1Though we were already engaged onmany fronts, and often felt ourresources stretched near breaking point,JRS responded to this positivedevelopment in Australia’s asylum policyby stepping forward at the end of 2011to provide accommodation andsupport for the adult asylum seekersmoving into community detention.
A great deal of our energy and timeat the end of 2011 went into thisproject. António Guterres, the UNHigh Commissioner for Refugees, saidduring the year, “One refugee withouthope is too many.” The variousprojects and activities JRS is engagedin – community detention, pastoralcare in detention centres, the ShelterProject, and so on – are part of theweaving of a fabric of hope forrefugees. Our volunteers andsupporters form an essential part ofthe warp and weft of this work ofcompassion, and this report isdedicated to you.
António Guterres, the UNHigh Commissioner forRefugees, said during theyear, “One refugeewithout hope is
17579 Jesuit R S Link AnnRptWntr12.indd Spread 1 of 2 - Pages(4, 1)17579 Jesuit R S Link AnnRptWntr12.indd Spread 1 of 2 - Pages(4, 1) 15/06/2012 12:52:41 PM15/06/2012 12:52:41 PM
2 • 3 0 y e a r s o f J R S
L I N K
Support of JRSInternationalYou, our supporters, were remarkably generous in your support forthe work of JRS outside Australia, despite the prevailing economicanxieties of 2011. A joint appeal with Jesuit Mission to aid the victimsof famine in the Horn of Africa resulted in donations in excess of$500,000. The close collaboration between Jesuit Mission and JRSAustralia, exemplified by the fact that the directors sit on each other’sboards, reaped great dividends for the important work done by JRSaround the world. Seventeen per cent of Jesuit Mission’s $4.4 millionincome in 2011 went to JRS projects on the Thai-Burma border andin Africa. Educational programs for young refugees remain a key focusfor the way JRS Australia decides to allocate international funds.
The JRS Pacific Displacement project focuses on displacementdue to climate change, the attendant psychological and socialeffects, and the needs of the people being displaced. Dr
Maryanne Loughry trained eight data collectors in qualitative methodsthat could be used to identify the needs, strengths and resources ofthe first 60 families who will be relocated from the Carteret Islands tothe Papua New Guinea mainland in 2012. This data collection trainingwas conducted in conjunction with UNHCR-PNG who wasinterested in collecting additional quantitative data. Data was collectedon the Carteret Islands in November 2011 and a report on theprofile and needs of the families to be relocated is presently beingfinalised. It is hoped that this report will assist the AutonomousBougainville Government with its planning and design of the identifiedresettlement site, and that the data collection can inform agencies andgovernments who are assisting with the relocation of populationsstruggling to survive in the face of environmental degradation.
Pacific Displacement
Pastoral Carein ImmigrationDetention Centres
At the beginning of the year Sr AnneMcDonnell RSM was in Curtin IDCand Sr Carmel Setford RSM was in
Christmas Island IDC. Sr Joan Kelleher RSMreturned to Christmas Island in January andstayed until June. Sr Valda Dickinson RSM didher first stint as a JRS pastoral worker onChristmas Island from June to August. Joanthen went back to Christmas Island for thelast two months of 2011, and then decidedthat it was time to move on to a new ministryon the mainland. She goes with our gratitudeand best wishes.
Joan’s long tenure as a JRS pastoral worker isclose to being matched now by theindefatigable Sr Jackie Ford RSM. Jackie wentto Curtin IDC in January and February, fromMay to August, and again from October toDecember. For that last period she was joinedby Sr Marea Roberts RSM.
In 2011 the Sisters of Charity became ournew partners in this work of pastoralaccompaniment in the detention centres. SrDorothy Bayliss RSC was in Curtin fromFebruary to April, and Sr Colleen Jacksonworked alongside Jackie Ford in Curtin fromMay to August.
Among the priests sent by JRS to ChristmasIsland in 2011 to provide sacramental andpastoral care were Fr John Turner; Fr PeterCarrucan; Fr Clause Mostowik, MSC; Fr KhalidMarogi; Fr Celso Romanin SJ; and Fr GaetanPereira SJ.
In 2011 JRS extended its pastoral care toasylum seekers in Inverbrackie Alternative Placeof Detention in the Adelaide Hills. Sr MeredithEvans RSM began working there in March.
Fr Aloysious Mowe SJ visited Villawood IDCalmost every week during the year, accompaniedby a dedicated band of volunteers.
JRS Pacific Displacement Project data collectors
3 0 y e a r s o f J R S • 3
In recent years people who have arrived in Australia by boat and sought asylumhave been considered irregular maritime arrivals and subjected to mandatorydetention. The processing of asylum claims has taken months and, in some cases,
years, during which time the mental and physical health of the detainees has beenput at risk. During 2011 there were increasing incidences of self-harm and suicidein Australia’s detention facilities.
On 13 October 2011 the Australian Government announced that all asylumseekers would be subjected to on-shore processing. Asylum seekers would bereleased into the community on bridging visas with the right to work. Asylumseekers who were assessed as too vulnerable or institutionalised to liveindependently would initially be released into the Residence DeterminationProgram (RDP), also known as ‘community detention’.
Families with children, women, and children who arrived in Australia without theirfamilies were already being serviced through the RDP by a range of agencies, includingJRS in partnership with Marist Youth Care (MYC) and the Australian Red Cross.However, single adult men continued to experience protracted stays in detentionfacilities. Because of the mental health crisis in detention facilities, the Department ofImmigration and Citizenship (DIAC) offered contracts to selected agencies with RDPexperience to provide accommodation and support to adult men.
JRS responded to DIAC’s emergency request by drawing on our experience ofpioneering the Unaccompanied Minors RDP to develop a new project that wouldenable vulnerable adult men to be released into ‘community detention’. JRScaseworker Alison Hood played a key role in developing the new program.
Expansion of JRS’s ResidenceDetermination Project
Shelter Project
The Shelter Projectcontinued to respond tothe acute housing need for
community-based asylum seekers.Our four properties in Sydneyoffered security and safety for upto 35 men, women and families atany one time. Our capacity toprovide casework andaccompaniment support wasincreased when Alison Hoodjoined our case management team.
JRS carried on our worksupporting unaccompanied minorsthrough the community detentionprogram, providing accommodationfor up to eight young people. Weforged strong partnerships withrelated agencies, and gave trainingin refugee status determination andthe cross cultural experience.
Our Refugee Week event in Junewas a great success with asylumseekers and refugees offering theirartwork for display, and for sale toraise funds. Volunteers, staff andclients all danced the night away onthe annual St Canice’s ParishHarbour Cruise. We are as alwaysextremely grateful to the parish fortheir support, and to our team ofvolunteers who remain so loyal andcommitted to the JRS ethos ofdirect accompaniment of thepeople we serve.
At state and national level weadvocated for improved conditionsfor asylum seekers living in thecommunity: access to work rights,Medicare and financial assistance.Meanwhile, demand for the placeswe had in our houses faroutstripped supply. If we are goingto be in a position to offer safetyand services to every vulnerableasylum seeker who comes to us,we need more funds.
Advocacy and Policy
JRS continued to advocate for the well-being and rights of asylum seekersthrough a wide variety of forums, in the media, and in talks given inschools, parishes, and other venues. We made submissions to the Joint
Select Committee Inquiry on Australia’s Immigration Detention Networkand to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Inquiry into self-harm andsuicide in immigration detention facilities. We played an active role in theNSW Detention Centre Working Group, the Housing, Health and WelfareGroup, and the NSW Asylum Seeker and Refugee Forum, among others;and at the national level we were involved in the biannual DIAC-NGOforum, and the UNHCR Annual Consultation with NGOs.
JRS Australia participated in a JRS Asia Pacific regional meeting on detentionissues, and in various refugee conferences to mark the 60th anniversary ofthe 1951 Refugee Convention.
Fr Aloysious Mowe SJ was engaged by the government to conduct researchfor a project related to enhanced protection spaces for displaced personsin the Southeast Asia region.
Dr Maryanne Loughry RSM was very involved in influencing governmentpolicy regarding asylum and detention through her seat on the Minister ofImmigration’s Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR).
continued overleaf
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