Companion House

Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma

Cross. However, if people do not lodge their claims Asylum seekers in within certain time periods or enter into appeals mechanisms they can be without any income or the ACT access to Medicare at all, for significant time periods. Companion House has always worked with asylum seekers in our region as a key part of our mission Asylum seekers who arrive by boat to support people seeking safety in Australia as “Irregular Maritime arrivals” from torture, persecution and war. We have been In addition to this group there are now quite a privileged to support asylum seekers from many number of asylum seekers in the Canberra community different countries around the world over the years. who have arrived in Australia by boat as an Most of these people have been granted refugee “Irregular Maritime Arrival” (IMA) and are subject to status, remained in our community and built new mandatory immigration detention before entering the lives here. community. People in this group are predominantly Asylum seekers have often escaped highly dangerous from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka. and traumatic circumstances and some arrive in our Currently, about 120 people a year live in the ACT community with the added burden of an experience community in “community detention”. Most of the of detention in an Australian detention centre. Social people in community detention are unaccompanied entitlements in Australia are limited and life is often minors, families with children or people with health marked by financial hardship and anxiety about loved vulnerabilities of some kind. They are still officially in ones left behind. detention but are housed in the suburbs of Canberra, We outline below the situation of asylum seekers in can move throughout the city freely and children our Canberra community, what their general living attend local schools. People in this group do have situation is and some policy changes at the federal small payments to live on and can access medical and local level which impact on their lives. care. People in community detention do not have work rights. Asylum Seekers who arrive in Australia with a visa by plane For many years the proportion of asylum seekers An asylum seeker is a person who is seeking in our client group was quite small, perhaps 10 to protection as a refugee and is still waiting 15 people a year. These were people who flew into to have his or her claim assessed. The Australia with a valid visa of some kind and then Refugee Convention definition is used by subsequently sought protection from the Australian Government. From 2005 onwards the numbers of the Australian Government to determine asylum seekers coming into the ACT on this pathway whether our country has protection grew substantially. There are now probably about 70 obligations towards asylum seekers. If an people at any given time living in the community on asylum seeker who has reached Australia is a bridging visa, awaiting a decision about whether found to be a refugee, Australia is obliged they will or will not be granted refugee status. under international law to offer protection People come from many different places, including and to ensure that the person is not sent , Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. back unwillingly to a country in which they Many of them have Medicare rights and some will have some financial support granted by the risk being persecuted. Australian Government through the Australian Red

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 1 In addition, asylum seekers who arrive by boat after The Refugee Convention defines a refugee as a person who: 13th August 2012 will have no work rights and may • is outside their country of nationality or their usual not do any paid, or even many kinds of voluntary, country of residence work before they are granted a permanent visa. They • is unable or unwilling to return or to seek the will also have more limited options for family reunion protection of that country due to a well-founded fear with partner and dependent children. of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or Also notable is that asylum seekers in this group, political opinion including unaccompanied minors, can be transferred to a “regional processing centre” (either Nauru or Manus) at any time. As a result we now have a group of asylum seekers living in the community who will wait long term (perhaps five years or so) on a bridging visa with no There are also a further 100 people, mainly work rights, a small support payment and very limited unaccompanied men, who arrive in the ACT straight access to any training or English language classes. from a detention centre on a bridging visa. People They will then have significant barriers to achieving in this group receive some transitional support for reunion with immediate family members. when they arrive in Canberra. They will also be eligible for Medicare. ACT Government policy The first groups of people coming out of Australian ACT Government has made very positive reforms to detention centres –either into community detention or on to bridging visas, into the Canberra community access to social entitlements for asylum seekers at in 2011-12 tended to have spent significant periods the territory level. These started in 2006 with a policy in Australian detention. This clearly undermined decision to allow asylum seekers to access publicly resilience and mental health. More recently, this trend funded healthcare regardless if they have Medicare has changed somewhat, with people spending less rights or not. In 2011 ACT government introduced time in detention before being released into the the ACT Access Card which are granted to asylum community, an important improvement for the longer seekers on low incomes and entitle people to a range term health and well being of asylum seekers. of social entitlements, (bus concessions, health and dental care). Whilst there remains some uncertainty about which services asylum seekers are actually Recent Commonwealth Government eligible for, this has been a very useful initiative. policy changes ACT Government has also invested in some English In 2012 there were policy changes from the language classes to asylum seekers over the years Commonwealth Government which affect asylum and some small housing initiatives. seekers. Probably the most well-known of these is Kathy Ragless offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive by Director boat in Nauru and Manus Island (as of February 2013 there were 415 people being processed on Nauru and 275 on Manus Island). However, there were also important changes which affect asylum seekers living Main support agencies in the ACT in our community. Red Cross: grants support payments and provides Asylum seekers who arrived by boat after 13 August case management to some asylum seekers (including 2012, and all future boat arrivals, will wait for an transitional support for people coming out of detention). indefinite period before being granted a protection Provides community detention services in Canberra and visa – even after being recognised as refugees. emergency relief program. Decisions about how and when this group of people CatholicCare: provides community detention services for will have their claims for asylum processed are not unaccompanied minors yet made by the Australian Government and we are told only that their claims “may be processed at Companion House: Provides medical, counselling, some time”. emergency relief and some migration services case management, social The no advantage “principle” is aimed at leaving Canberra Refugee Support: support, financial support asylum seekers without resolution of their visa status for periods similar to a person waiting for Migrant and Refugee Settlement Service: some group resettlement offshore in another country. This policy activities and employment skills support. is designed to deter asylum seekers from coming to Canberra Men’s Centre: coordinates housing program for Australia by boat. some asylum seekers

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 2 After 6000 nights

A personal feature on return home to Burma/Myanmar The flight is smooth, but it is over 7000 miles from Sydney to Rangoon, the former capital city of Burma, the busiest city in the country. President U Thein Sein has invited everyone to visit and those in exile to return home. For my parents’ sake I thought I should not waste much time, and should visit them in their old age because after all no human being is permanent on this earth. The flight is not strange for other passengers but it is strange for me because this is the flight that I never Photo: C. Toik and H.Channaibanya January 2013 imagined I would take. It is my return home, a long road to my hometown after 19 years and almost six thousand nights away from my birth place. My wife and two children have been talking about what to see on the first day, but I took my pen and notebook on the plane. In the same way I also took some notes on I quietly salute them for their bravery or hopefulness my first trip coming to Australia in February 1997. I in the new society, as people call ‘democracy’ in am just like other passengers on the plane except I Myanmar. was born in a small rural village with thick jungle and After eight hours on the coach, we arrived at our large paddy fields. I miss the everyday lives and real native village, my birth place while my siblings and livelihood of my parents, siblings and relatives who young relatives were waiting on the main road to remained there from birth until the present day. This my parents’ home. I found a truck, mini car, motor was the best part of my childhood despite our being bikes full of children at the waiting station. I forgot a a poor and uneducated family in the region. moment but then turned my camera and shot pictures I have concealed my anxiety for many years but this of the scene with over twenty photos in one to two time has been emotionally challenging due to the minutes. I greeted everyone around the station even long years away from my birth place. I may not know if I could not recall their names and faces. the faces of my other young relatives who were born A home visit for exiled refugee men and women has after I left the village. I decided to use however the been an uneasy prospect for some time due to fear rule of thumb to smile at everyone and say hello to of the past and the present. A fear of uncertainty them in the first place to overcome communication is the worst. As a good guest, I pretend to ‘see barriers. Indeed, I am not a bad communicator for this reason. nothing and hear nothing’ about local issues such as corruption, drugs (amphetamines), unfair local After almost 11 hours flight and a stopover in village elections and broken unity among villagers Singapore, our flight landed at Rangoon International between the winner and the loser during these local Airport in the morning about 10.45 local time. I elections. The former and the new head of the village glanced through the window and saw that everything are my old colleagues. I visited the elders’ home and looked reasonably calm and the coconut trees were had good conversations with them on the plight of tall and green. The landing was not so bad. There is their journey from the British-Japanese era to the a long queue on the entry / arrival desk but custom post independence time. They are pleased that the officers seemed to indentify our local faces despite village has installed electricity, a local power plant, a our Australian passports, and helped us to move to mobile phone network, new road construction and a the next counter for a faster lane. It was a sign of new High School built by villagers. A small village of improvement in customer services at the airport. over 800 households has been able to have a private A hot winter in Rangoon city welcomed us with a non- clinic, a daily mini bus to town, special car hire to the air conditioned taxi to the city hotel. I could see the local hospital, carriers (three wheels motorbikes) to local men and women setting up stalls and the local shop, and a Cafe Shop (Tea Shop), and the shops on the street. They even smiled to each other centre of the village has been improved over the past despite the hot winter and the hardships of daily life. years. Even still, no man is perfect.

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 3 My mother and father are spiritual people. As traditional Buddhists they contained all emotion during our arrival and on our leaving day. We spent 21 days in the village and friends of my wife and I The Education Forum came knocking on our door each morning to have or dinner at their place every single day. The Building understanding between schools, beauty of communal culture, the dignity of a lay refugee communities and families person in the village could never replaced by any In October 2012 Companion House organised an modern theories of sociology in the western world. I Education Forum in collaboration with the ACT am lucky to be born in this environment, although I Council of Parents and Citizens. The Forum brought never thought deeply about it in the past when I was together community representatives, elders and in the country. leaders from South Sudanese, Karen, Mon and Traditionally, we paid our respects and homage Hazara communities, representatives of Department to our elders’ relatives by giving clothing, food of Education, the Multicultural Youth Service, and supplementary medicine. We also gave small teachers of several public schools, Introductory gifts to siblings and some close families received English Programs and not-for-profit organisations a digital camera that we brought from Canberra. assisting people from refugee backgrounds. We offered food and other gifts to Buddhist monks It was a very successful and well attended event along with over 700 people for lunch at the local facilitated by Hongsar Channaibanya from the Buddhist centre. Community Development team. In an open and The plight of local people is miserable if I think of friendly dialogue community representatives the situation for residents in Canberra, where we were able to raise their concerns and explain their have Centrelink, medical and other social welfare needs regarding the participation of children from services. However, villagers have their own home their communities in the public education system. without a mortgage, lower price electricity, their Companion House also launched its new resource own water from the well, and homemade and for schools Tips for Teachers: Working with students garden food. I am wondering who on this earth is from refugee backgrounds. Copies of the resource the happier person. are available on the Companion House website. Villagers work from early morning til late morning. The Forum has resulted in follow up meetings between They are mostly free after lunch time. They organise Companion House and the ACT Education Directorate and school principals. The aim of these has been to local planning such as road construction, funeral plan concrete steps this year to assist communities and services, naming ceremonies, wedding plans and families from refugee background to collaborate with other social activities without any intervention the education system for the benefit of children, in from authorities. I am also informed that villagers particular the Recognition of Excellence Awards. purchased a fire-brigade truck subsidised by local government. They also opened a community library and built a shop / stall at their own cost. As a community development worker in Canberra, Singing I have another thought that local development our 1. Elephant Song - Dinka requires unity and common values for common THIS PROGRAM WAS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE FOR WOMEN 2. Elephant Song - Arabic Cul 3. Rain. Wind. Sun - Arabic ture 5. Elephant Song - English 4. Rain. Wind. Sun - Dinka needs. However, Canberra has a different socio- 6. Counting Song - Arabic he West Belconnen Child and Family Centre, in conjunction with Companion 7. Childhood Song THose currently facilitate a group for women and children in the South political environment for doing community our Sudanese community. This weekly program was8. Drummingfounded upon a community development framework and brings together local South Sudanese families to socialise and discuss issues of concern in a friendly familiar setting. Music development. Most of my old friends remind me Singing plays a central role for the families attending the group as both a cultural expression and a social cohesion. A grant was sought from the Office for Women to run and music program in conjunction with the weekly group. Over from time to time saying, “You could go as far as you the past few months the families attending to group have worked with Merrilyn CultureSimmons, a music teacher to convert songs into their native languages Dinka Companion House Assisting SurvivorsTraumaand Arabic. The women have also been encouraged to share songs that they Torture and wish but the happiest place is your birth place”. I of themselves sang when growing up. The recording of the CD was an opportunity for the South Sudanese community to come together to sing, connect and have fun. We hope that you enjoy listening to the songs as much as we did learning and cannot ignore this mantra but I also believe security recording them. of livelihood, job and family is counted beyond birth Jordan Bowles CHILD & FAMILY CENTRE

Sandra Lloyd place. Above all this, I conclude “let it be.” I am COMPANION HOUSE looking for another flight but that will be for another time and another story.

If you would like a copy of Singing our Culture please By Hong Sar Channaibanya email Sandra: [email protected] 22 January 2012 A CD costs $11 to pick up from our office and $13 if Note: Views have expressed here are solely the opinion of the writer, not as you would like it posted to you. staff member of Companion House. Payment should be made by cash or cheque

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 4 Following your dreams

I am Francis Young AKA “Lover boy”. I come from Sierra Leone in West . I’m 22 Years old, and have finished Year 12. As well as planning to study at CIT and I’m also planning for a career in music. I love rapping which is my style and I am a fan of Hip Hop music in Australia. I will be recording a Hip Hop mixture of English and from my native language Pidgin, Krio I had a belief that I had a talent when I used to just do free style with my school friends. Since coming to Australia I have found new opportunities to follow my dreams. After I talked to family members and I met Vieli from Companion House, and told him of my interest in music, we had a ten week workshop with Companion House and Multicultural Youth Service. Now I am happy to promote and record the music I wrote based on my life back at home in Sierra Leone and my present life here in lovely Australia.

Bringing the exciting colours and exotic flavours of Sudanese to Canberra

The White is one of the main tributaries to the Nile in Africa and the lifeblood of many African nations. Now, White Nile is a new social enterprise that will bring the exotic and delicious tastes of to Canberra, with catering for private and corporate events as well as market stalls. The women of White Nile – who have arrived in Australia as refugees from Sudan – are working together to share their skills and build their business, as part of their journey to creating a new life in Australia. For a feast that is different, memorable, and helps support refugee women and their families, contact White Nile today.

White Nile – Authentic Sudanese cuisine and catering P 0432 639 361 (Susan) E [email protected] www.whitenile.com.au

© Papercut 2012

White-Nile-146x96mm-PostCards.ai 1 White-Nile-146x96mm-PostCards.ai16/01/12 4:22 PM 2 16/01/12 4:22 PM Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 5 Connecting through sport, music, and friendship Vieli Choka from the Community Development Team has been working on projects which build on the skills and interests of young people and strengthens their connections to each other and to their communities. Vieli updates us on what has been happening: Companion House and Capital Football have been collaborating in a program to give newly arrived refugee background young people opportunities to participate in soccer. 10 scholarships have been awarded to six to twelve year olds to participate in soccer clinics to the value of $1,400 We have also been working on music workshops with Multicultural Youth Service with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds who have an interest in music. The aim has been to put From Garden on a concert to raise funds for charities in their communities. In this way young people meaningfully to Table contribute to the development of their own communities. This whole project was created with ideas by communities. A new garden project is growing South Sudanese Eagles Club hosted the National beautifully South Sudanese Basketball Tournament. There were Companion House and Relationships Australia (ACT) 30 teams from all over Australia (including juniors have been working together on a community garden and girls’ teams for the first time). Matches on the project at Piallago. We have been supporting small 21st and 22nd of December were held at Basketball lots of land which are planted by 11 families from ACT in Belconnen with the final on December Karen, Chin and Mon communities in the ACT. The 23rd at the Australian Institute of Sport. One of the project called ‘From Garden to Table’ builds on the Melbourne teams won against Newcastle in the aspirations of families to grow their own finals. Companion House is proud of young people and bring fresh food to their household. People are who organised this event. We were happy to provide bringing their own farming skills to an Australian mentoring and support in the process. community garden, sharing these skills with other Finally the Soccer United Community Sun Cup is gardeners in Pialligo and learning new skills needed underway. Capital Football, Companion House, Red for gardening in Australia. Cross and Football United have collaborated on an We are pleased to see that families are building eight week tournament starting from February 3rd friendships with each other and are linked to other and finishing March 24th from 6 – 8pm on Sundays. gardeners. We are very pleased to see how the land Teams include Karen, South Sudanese, Sierra Leone, owner Roy Priest embraced this group. We also All Stars from MARSS, Football United, Capital have received in kind support from Rodney’s Plants Football and Solomon Islands / Red Cross. It is also in Pialligo and advice from local horticulturalists and great to see young asylum seekers participating support from Relationships Australia. who have been living in Community Detention in By Hongsar and Sandra the ACT. We welcomed the financial contribution Project Workers of UNHCR that enabled community teams to Community Development Team participate in the event.

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 6 Recognition of Contact us Excellence in ACT Office address: 41 Templeton Street, COOK ACT 2614 schools Awards 2013 Mailing address: PO BOX 112, Jamison Centre ACT 2614 for Telephone: Best practice with students from asylum (02) 6251 4550 Fax: seeker and refugee backgrounds (02) 6251 8550 Nominations are invited from parents, community Email: and schools for people who have shown high level [email protected] skill and commitment to educational outcomes for students from refugee and asylum seeker Website: backgrounds in the following categories: www.companionhouse.org.au • Individual teacher award • School award • Principal / executive teacher award • Student award (for support of others) Patrons: Board Members: Justice Elizabeth Evatt AO Michael Brown‚ President Have you seen teachers, schools and students focus on: Professor William Maley AM Cade Brown‚ Treasurer • Empathy, safety, relationship building with students Rebecca Bromhead‚ Secretary • Identifying educational gaps and creating tailored Toni Matulick, Public Officer Ibolya Losoncz‚ member teaching strategies Liz Callaghan‚ member • a whole of school approach Heather McAulay‚ member • Building links with communities, community Eleanor Browne, member leaders and support agencies Kathy Ragless, ex officio • Using strategies which facilitate communication with parents and carers • Providing professional development for school staff STAFF Elizabeth Price Sam Storey Nominations open March 1st 2013 and close October Director: 30th 2013 Kathy Ragless Jeroen Splinter Deputy Director: Complex case manager: To receive a nomination form or to get more Megan Layton Jill Caley information please email: Medical Team: Complementary Therapy: [email protected] Lisa Clements Rosemary Taylor Silvia Salas Meyer Training, Advocacy, and Saw Andrew Sein Community Awareness Team: Dr Christine Phillips Glenn Flanagan Dr Katrina Anderson Migration Advice: Dr James Eldridge Jennifer Tode Dr Joo-Inn Chew Carly Saeedi Companion House Dr Tony Edwards Dr Janine Rowse Community Development Dr Sue Baglow Team: Special General Dr Mona Lisa Bernal Vesna Golic Hong Sar Channaibanya Administration Team: Meeting Loan Freeman Sandra Lloyd Pam Mitchell Vieli Choka Saw Andrew Sein Bookkeeper/ Accountant: Gen Jones Counselling Team: Wed April 10th 5.45 - 7.00pm Ina Toumoua IT Support: Robin Alderson-Smith Eric Warner To make changes to Companion House Fiona McDonald Robert Spencer consitution and update members and friends on asylum seeker issues. Venue: Companion House

Companion House Newsletter – February 2013 7