The Social Justice Group is planning what to do for Refugee Week.

The discussion on the topic of refugees got quite deep and is being continued with Clare collecting the Group’s thoughts on it.

Refugee Week 19-26 June

The aims of Refugee Week are:
[ul]To educate the Australian public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia
To help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia
To celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community
To focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees
For community groups and individual to do something positive for refugees asylum seekers and displaced people within Australia but also around the world
For service providers to reflect on whether they are providing the best possible services to refugees.
[/ul]

Last week’s Catholic Leader had a headline about the Ramero Centre looking for volunteers. Named after Bishop Ramero who said that “If you see something wrong do something about it.”

Romero Centre
An inner-faith organisation committed to social justice

The Romero Centre started as a drop-in centre in March 2000 in a house kindly made available by the Brisbane Sisters of Mercy. It was set up to be a place of welcome and support for refugees the so called “boat people” who were released from Department of Immigration detention centres in remote northern Australia and taken by bus to Brisbane.

Five relocations and nine years later the Centre has a permanent home in a house owned by the Sisters of Mercy in Dutton Park. The Centre now provides support and services to former detainees and TPV holders and their families – often still suffering the legacy of the harmful policies of detention and temporary protection. The Centre also acts as an advocacy centre for refugees organises activities for refugee families and aims to educate the community about the refugee experience.

The Sisters of Mercy were the Centre’s original auspice body with administration support from Mercy Family Services. In January 2009 the Romero Centre became a program of Mercy Family Services.

To learn more about the Romero Centre follow this link:
www.romerocentre.org.au

Somewhere between 100 and 200 people at the Centre.

Ramero Centre has arranged an evening on 5th May for those who have already volunteered.