Media Release: Government must change policy on unaccompanied refugee children

Mission Australia has called on the Australian Government to allow unaccompanied refugee children seeking asylum to stay in the country and is encouraging the leaders of the country’s churches and welfare agencies to raise their voices in public support.

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said most fair-minded people would be uncomfortable with the prospect of deporting unaccompanied minors.

“Whatever their political beliefs, I believe the broader Australian population is not supportive of turning unaccompanied children away,” Mr Hall said.

“It’s morally wrong and the government needs to change its policy.

“Malaysia, Nauru or anywhere else, it doesn’t matter. Sending unaccompanied children away from our shores, to an uncertain future, is against our shared values. It’s not what Australia’s about.

“Gradually we’re seeing a range of voices speak up against the policy. Last week Western Australia’s Premier, Colin Barnett, registered his opposition. This morning, Father Frank Brennan did the same.

“We need more leading Australians – particularly from our churches and welfare agencies – to speak out in similar terms.”

Earlier this week, Mission Australia announced its support of Melbourne’s Crossway Baptist church’s offer to accommodate and care for unaccompanied refugee children – at no cost to taxpayers.

“Mission Australia is proud to back Crossway Baptist Church in its efforts. We’d be happy to work in similar ways with other reputable organisations.

“If the government were to agree to Crossway’s offer, Mission Australia would use its expertise as one of the country’s largest providers of homelessness and youth services to support the church with developing policies and procedures to ensure the care of these children is delivered at the highest standards and with cultural sensitivity.

“When the government was first elected in 2007 it promised a humane and even-handed approach to refugees. It promised community-led care of refugee children.

“We’re calling on them to stick to those principles,” said Mr Hall.

Media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080

Supporting Crossway’s offer to care for refugee children

Mission Australia has thrown its support behind a Melbourne church's offer to accommodate and care for unaccompanied refugee children to avoid them being deported to Malaysia.

Melbourne’s Crossway Baptist Church has called on the Australian Government to allow unaccompanied refugee children seeking asylum to stay in the country and has offered care and accommodation to the minors at no cost to taxpayers.

In support of Crossway, Mission Australia has committed itself to assisting the church in supplying best-practice and culturally appropriate care.

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said “The plight of these vulnerable children is on the minds of most fair-minded people. Mission Australia is proud to back Crossway Baptist Church in its efforts.

“If the government were to agree to Crossway’s offer, Mission Australia would use its expertise to support the church with developing policies and procedures to ensure the care of these children is delivered at the highest standards and with cultural sensitivity.”

Former refugee proud to help new arrivals

Refugee Week is a celebration of the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society.

Since the end of World War II, more than 750,000 refugees and others in humanitarian need have been resettled in Australia – among them Minoo Jizan.

A member of the Mandean community, Ms Jizan left Iran 10 years ago and moved to Sydney with her family. Keen to adapt to her adopted homeland and build a new life, she spent her first years in Australia improving her English language skills.

“I remember how hard it was for me and my family to live in Australia because we did not know English and especially Australian life,” she recalls.

“I tried hard to learn English – I would read newspapers, watch TV, have lots of conversations with people and practise by writing shopping lists and letters…. I was never embarrassed to ask questions and I that helped me succeed.”

Ms Jizan is now a volunteer tutor with Mission Australia’s Home Tutor Scheme and Enhancement Program in Sydney. As part of her role, she visits students’ homes once a week and tutors them in English and also provides information about community services that can assist the resettlement process.

"I would really like to thank the Home Tutor Scheme for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to make life easier for migrants and refugees,” Ms Jizan said. “It’s also made me more interested in learning other languages like Arabic, and Afghani, which makes it easier for me to communicate with learners.”

Mission Australia Team Leader Mina Zolfaghari said approximately a third of the Home Tutor Scheme’s students were refugees, mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last year 80 per cent of people who participated in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship program in the west and south-west of Sydney were women, and the dominant first language was Arabic.

“It’s so rewarding to see former refugees like Minoo giving a helping hand to others who are trying to establish a new life in Australia,” Ms Zolfaghari said.

As of 1 July, Mission Australia will recruit and train volunteer Home Tutors to teach English in the following regions of Sydney: Blacktown, the Outer West, Central West, Fairfield/Cabramatta, inner Sydney (including the CBD), eastern and southern Sydney, Inner West, Canterbury/Bankstown and Liverpool.

For more information please call (02) 9635 1543 or email zolfagharim@missionaustralia.com.au

Media Release: Make a difference to someone's life - become a volunteer English tutor

Mission Australia's Home Tutor Service (HTS) in Parramatta is crying out for volunteers to teach newly arrived refugees and migrants English language skills to help them settle more successfully in their new homeland.

Mission Australia's HTS is a volunteer-driven tutoring scheme which matches members of the community with migrants and refugees many of whom are house-bound because they're caring for infant children, family responsibilities or illness.

Volunteer tutors are provided with free training and support by Mission Australia. Lessons are one-on-one and held in the students' homes.

Mission Australia's HTS Team Leader, Mina Zolfaghari, said the service played a crucial role in helping new Australians settle successfully and contribute to their local communities.

"Not knowing our national language can be a huge barrier in settling into Australian life - imagine not being able to do simple things like make a doctors appointment for a sick child or buy a train ticket?

"You don't need to be bi-lingual - although if you are, particularly in Arabic, your skills will be put to good use. Just patience, a willingness to lend a hand and the ability to spare an hour per week is all that's required."

Sarah Cullen has been tutoring Manizha Zaki from Afghanistan for four years now.

"I have learned so much from Manizha and more than anything else, I have gained a wonderful friend," said Sarah.

"Watching her English skills develop has been inspirational. When I first met her, she could barely say 'hello' and 'goodbye,' let alone hold a conversation."

"Now, she can function in everyday life as well as any native Australian, speaking on the phone making appointments, using public transport, even applying for jobs. I feel so privileged to have been a part of that process."

"I work full-time but the commitment to HTS is only one to two hours per week and the time I spend with Manizha is well worth it."

Sarah has also gained from the cross-cultural exchange picking up some very practical knowledge including recipes for Afghani dishes like rice pudding and boulani.

The Home Tutor Scheme is always looking for volunteers in Blacktown, as well as the Parramatta, Merrylands, Auburn, Fairfield and Liverpool areas.

To become a volunteer, or for more information, please call 9635 1543.

Sarah and Manizha are available for interview and photo opportunity. For all enquiries please call Leanne Budd on 0457 505 342

Media Release: Melbourne Zoo opens doors to 3,000 children and their families from across Victoria

More than three thousand Victorians will experience the zoo for the first time today at Melbourne Zoo as part of a pre-Christmas event that enables social inclusion, education and fun.

The Mission Australia Family Day at the Zoo, in partnership with Zoos Victoria and MetLink and V/Line, gives free entry and free public transport to Victorian children from across the state, including migrants and refugees.

Mission Australia Victoria State Director said: “Many of us take the opportunity to visit Melbourne’s world-leading arts and recreation venues for granted, but this is the first chance many of our family guests will have to experience the excitement and wonder of a zoo.

“Our latest National Youth Survey found the number of Victorians taking part in arts and cultural activities has dropped significantly since 2008, highlighting the need to encourage activities which engage children and their families to build their relationships and life skills,” he said.

As part of its programs, Mission Australia has supported many of these families to overcome the challenges that have prevented them from participating in community activities and taking public transport in the past.

“All families have been provided with free travel on metropolitan and regional networks for the day, which will boost their confidence on public transport in the future.

“We thank Metlink and V/Line for their support,” said Mr Bird.

More than 100 volunteers from Mission Australia, Vline and Metlink will help many first-time public transport users find their way to and from the event, as well as navigate their way around the zoo.

Melbourne Zoo Director Kevin Tanner said: “We welcome the opportunity to encourage families to connect with amazing animals from Australia and around the world and find out how they can play a part in saving wildlife.”

Highlights also include face painting, music performances and chalk art, which start from 10am.

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Event details

• What: Mission Australia and Zoos Victoria Family Day at the Zoo
• Where: Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Avenue, Parkville.
• When: 10AM to 3PM on Wednesday, 22 December
  12.15PM – Media opportunities
• Who: More than 3,000 migrants, refugees and Victorian children and their families visiting Melbourne Zoo for the first time.

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Mission Australia’s Victorian State Director, Paul Bird
• Zoos Victoria CEO, Jenny Gray
• Families attending
• Children feeding the giraffes

Media contacts:

• Rachael Nightingale on (03) 9600 0006 / 0449 881 980 or rachael@fenton.com.au
• Emily Lehmann on (03) 9600 0006 / 0421 852 501 or emilyl@fenton.com.au

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Adelaide kids enjoy a day at the zoo

More than 80 children had the opportunity to meet Adelaide Zoo’s superstar giant pandas last week, thanks to Mission Australia and our generous corporate donors.

Among the visitors were children of refugee families, young mothers and children from homeless and crisis-care backgrounds.

Mission Australia arranged the visit to Adelaide Zoo after the children nominated it as a place they’d like to visit – particularly to see the new panda exhibit. With the help of an anonymous corporate sponsor as well as generous bus operators and food providers, Mission Australia staff made it happen.

“The children received the VIP treatment and got to see the giant pandas,Wang Wang and Funi,” said Jillian Paull, Mission Australia’s State Director, South Australia. “They also all received goodie bags that included donated books.

“There were a lot of parents and some grandparents who made a family day of it - a lot of the parents and children had never been to the zoo, so it was a special event.”

The children all sported dazzling butterfly wings – Mission Australia’s symbol of transformation. The 25 Mission Australia Community Services and Employment Solutions staff members who supported them on the day also glammed it up in black T-shirts featuring the word ‘Transform’ in glittery letters.

Mission Australia’s own Simon Lappin also kept the smiles alive with his guitar and supply of fun songs.

Melbourne Zoo to open the doors for disadvantaged Victorians

Meerkats, tigers and gorillas are just some of the wildlife that 3,000 migrant, refugee and disadvantaged Victorians will visit today at the Mission Australia/Zoos Victoria Family Day at Melbourne Zoo.

The Family Day is aims to provide an opportunity to social inclusion for disengaged and disadvantaged children and their families from across Victoria through free public transport courtesy of Metlink and V/Line, an experience most Victorians take for granted.

Mission Australia State Director, Paul Bird, said the event, in its second year, is all about giving disengaged and disadvantaged individuals and families the confidence and skills needed to navigate public transport and experience the fun and education of the Melbourne Zoo.

“Our Family Day provides people – some who have never experienced public transport and the adventure of going to the zoo in their lives – with a wonderful opportunity to get up close and experience a much loved community icon,” Mr Bird said.

“Mission Australia is committed to ensuring all Victorians are able to participate in their communities and it is really inspiring so many are able to experience the joy of interacting with friends, family and the animals at our Family Day.”

As reported in Mission Australia’s 2009 Survey of Young Australians, the number of young Victorians participating in cultural activities or attending significant events or attractions has dropped significantly.

“In 2008, almost 46 per cent of young Victorians were involved in these pursuits. This year, only 20 per cent are. We’ve also seen a drop in attendance of sporting events as a spectator, down from 48.4 per cent to 39.7,” Mr Bird said.

“These figures suggest that the global financial crisis has really hit hard for some Victorian families, so it is of increased importance to have events like this to spread some cheer over the holiday season.”

Melbourne Zoo Director, Kevin Tanner, said the first Family Day last year was a great success.

“We hope that the guests coming to the event this year will enjoy the Zoo experience, especially our new Wild Sea display, and leave at the end of their visit with a greater appreciation of wildlife and a better understanding of the need to conserve it,” Mr Tanner said.

Bakers Delight has provided small pastry treats for families and RACV has donated new colouring books for the children.

More than 100 volunteers from Mission Australia, Metlink and RACV will help families find their way to and from the event and navigate the zoo grounds.

Activities on the day include face painting, music performances, carousel rides, up close encounters with animals and colouring in activities.