Volunteer Opportunities Update

As at 20th October 2011

Romero Centre has been very fortunate to have engaged large numbers of volunteers in the last few months, and as such current volunteer opportunities are closed until later in the year or early next year.Romero Centre has been very fortunate to have engaged large numbers of volunteers in the last few months, and as such current volunteer opportunities are closed until later in the year or early next year.
Watch this space though as we move fast and there are new things happening regularly. Please forward an email to Kerrie, Romero's volunteer coordinator at volunteer@romerocentre.org.au and she will keep your details to contact you with any change in opportunities.

Women's Group Program

As at 20th May 2011

Our women's group program has been diversified in activities and offered on two days currently being Tuesday (10am - 2.30pm) and Thursday (9am - 2pm) with a range of activities including Yoga, English Chat, Computer practice, Pottery (4 weeks) Sewing skills and Cooking in the future. We are still in the process of growing the program so lots of assistance from volunteers and sponsors are needed (see New Volunteer Opportunities). All women from refugee backgrounds particularly former asylum seekers are welcome to attend. All activities are cost free. We would prefer women rang and booked a place in activities as we need minimum of 8 participants regularly and maximum of 15 due to space.

Volunteer Training Opportunities

As at 20th May 2011

We are currently offering Volunteer Training Opportunities to help you gain the skills to assist as a Volunteer.

New Volunteer Opportunities

As at 20th May 2011

To express interest in any of these opportunities or to have a chat about your skills/interests in becoming a Romero volunteer, please email Kerrie Manning, volunteer@romerocentre.org.au.
All volunteer positions with the Romero Centre require a Blue Card. The Centre will organise once you register. Blue Cards take approx. 6 weeks to process and may affect engagement with some roles but not centre-based roles.

Newsletter of Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project

(Under the auspices of the Brigidine Justice Community)

Stop Using Asylum Seekers as Political Footballs

What Australia needs is principled and intelligent decision-making on asylum seekers. We believe this is not happening. Instead, the reasons for the latest policy changes and directions seem to have been inspired by the fact that refugees are unpopular in certain parts of the electorate.

Bill Hay's art work-donated to the Project a few years ago - is a graphic reminder of the way people can be used for political ends, in this case Dr Haneef...

Read the full Newsletter

First we were angry then distressed - NOW ITS TIME FOR ACTION

BELOW IS MATERIAL TO START- more will follow in next few weeks leading up to REFUGEE WEEK in JUNE

Please pass on to friends, fellow workers, anyone you know who cares about human rights....

There is less than six months until the next election.

Uniting Church condemns suspension of Afghan, Sri Lankan visas

President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae has condemned the announcement today by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Immigration Minister Chris Evans that Australia has suspended the processing of all protection applications from Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers.

Rev. Macrae said, "the Government has broken its promises to uphold the rights of asylum seekers by returning to what is in essence a form of indefinite, mandatory detention.

Amnesty's Q&A

Questions on the suspension policy

What is the new policy?
On 9 April the government announced a blanket ban on processing new asylum claims from Afghan and Sri Lankan nationals. Asylum seekers from these two countries who arrive in Australian territory from that day will still be able to apply for refugee status, but the government will detain these groups for a set period before assessing their claims. Initially claims by Sri Lankans will be suspended for 3 months and claims by Afghan nationals for 6 months.