The Centre is independent of government and grew out of the Catholic Centre for Multicultural Pastoral Care. Later, it came under the auspices of Lifeline. It is now a programme of Mercy Family Services.

The Romero Centre aims to:

• Provide a place of respect and acceptance, hospitality and friendship to all
• Redress the injustice done to refugees who were on temporary protection visas and support their recovery
• Offer practical and immediate assistance and be available and accessible to refugees who need help
• Be a base for human rights advocacy and community education
• Support the community identity and life of people who came as refugees

Oscar Romero

The Romero Centre is named after Archbishop Oscar Romero from El Salvador. He strived to establish truth in a country governed by lies, and documented the abuse of human rights where men and women simply disappeared without account. When he spoke the truth clearly, denounced atrocities, visited and accompanied the poor, he risked his own life in favour of a radical compassion. His love for the poor, his defence of their rights and their lives, and his solidarity with their suffering and insecurity, led to his assassination. On 24 March 1980, Oscar Romero was shot dead while celebrating mass in the chapel of the hospital where he lived. The memory of his ministry has left a legacy of light, hope, courage and consolation, not just for the people of El Salvador but for all people committed to justice.

Funding

Up to recently, the Centre was not eligible for funding from the Department of Immigration because of its work with TPV holders. Now this situation is changing and new funding possibilities are opening up.

The Centre has received occasional grants from the Queensland Government (Multicultural Affairs Queensland). The majority of its support, however, continues to come from the community - religious orders, especially the Sisters of Mercy and the Franciscans, but also Good Shepherd Sisters and the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Quakers, individual Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Church parishes, charitable foundations, service clubs and individual donors. Without their generosity, we could not exist.

Staffing and management

The Sisters of Mercy were the centre’s auspice body for five years with administration support from Mercy Family Services. As at the 1st January 2009, the Romero Centre became a programme of Mercy Family Services.

There are two part time community workers, an Afghan and an Iraqi and a part time SGP project supervisor all funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

In addition, there are some 40 volunteer staff members, whose tasks range from English tutoring and social support, to cleaning, social case-work, hospitality, publicity, advocacy and fundraising.