What Australia Offers to refugees

• Did you know that Australia has some fantastic programs for refugees in other countries,
• That Australia has some of the best services in the world for refugees we invite to come here,
• That Australia puts some people who seek asylum here into isolated closed Detention Centres while decision are made about whether they are refugees?

What Australia does for refugees

Australia’s resettlement services are very good. Refugees who are invited to come here can be provided with short term accommodation on arrival, with income from Centrelink, assistance with employment and resettlement, English classes, and support and information about life in Australia from Migrant Resource Centres. There are also Torture and Trauma services in each state.

Riza’s Story

Riza was a doctor in Iraq who worked for many years to improve the health of Iraqi children. He attended medical conferences overseas where he met medical colleagues from other countries. He was not a man who was very interested in politics. He left that to others.

One day Riza was called by the government to a meeting with several other doctors. The government official introduced them to a police chief who wanted them to take part in interrogating prisoners. Riza realised that he was being asked to help torture other human beings. He was so angry he couldn’t stop speaking out in the meeting. He said that when he became a doctor he had taken an oath to help the sick and that there was no way he would do what the government wanted. He was taken to prison and tortured.

When he was released he was very sick but his wife Yasmin arranged for them to escape across the border into Turkey and then to Greece where Australia accepted them for resettlement as refugees. John from the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS) met Riza and Yasmin at the airport and drove them to a furnished flat they stayed for several weeks and then helped to find them a place to live. Riza received torture and trauma counselling and had immediate access to Medicare. Riza also received a Centrelink pension because he was unable to work for many months.

The Iraqi community was so pleased to have Riza in Australia. He was surprised that they thought him such a hero. When he felt better he decided to have his medical qualifications recognised in Australia. He had to study again but he passed his exams and now he works as a doctor mainly with the Iraqi community. He and Yasmin do whatever they can to help new refugees from Iraq settle into Australia.

Detention

Many asylum seekers, including families with children are placed in detention centres on arrival, often for long periods of time. While in detention, people fear that they will be sent back to their home country where they face danger and persecution. The parents can feel guilty and angry about what is happening to their children. Many who have left families back home in danger worry about what is happening to them. They are not allowed to bring them to Australia. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has asked all countries to reduce the time that asylum seekers spend in detention, to allow family reunion when people are found to be refugees, and to ensure that children are not detained. Often when they are allowed into the community they find it very difficult to settle because they only receive visa’s for three years. They do not know What will happen to them next and it is difficult to plan for the future.

What refugees contribute to Australia

As well as their contribution to our multicultural society, asylum seekers and refugees also help the Australian economy grow. This is because Australia has a very low natural population growth. The birth rate is falling and the population is getting old. Australia needs lots of skilled and unskilled people to keep the economy healthy. More people create jobs through increased demand for goods and services. This increases business in Australia and increases the jobs available. In fact, many business people support increasing the number of refugees that Australia accepts each year.

Some Australians are concerned that asylum seekers will rely on welfare, when Australia already has lots of needy people right here. Asylum seekers receive a small amount of support while their claim is being processed. If their claim is accepted they do receive benefits while they are adapting to life in their new country. Australia has thousands of successful refugees living and working in our community. They are employees, small business owners, homeowners, students, academics and community leaders. They are people who want to work, want to be educated and want to become part of the Australian community. Refugees settle in quickly and despite some media reports, have no more social problems than any other group in society.

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