Help for newcomers

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
7 December 2003

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A diary that caters for Catholic needs

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Evening group

Editorial: Boost for youth

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Making time for Advent

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Poor Clares’ rich history

Fidelity, respect, chastity

Times were a-changing

Holy Land ‘holiest of all’

Help for newcomers

Vinnies provides essential items to refugees

By Ciara Rocks

Most of us are organising our celebrations and buying gifts for loved ones as Christmas Day draws nearer.

For some new Australians, most of whom celebrate the birth of Christ, parties and presents won’t loom large in their plans. Their Christmas gift has come in the form of permission to stay in Australia.

They will spend the season establishing a new home and household.

The St Vincent de Paul Society signed a contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in 2001 to help eligible refugees with their new beginnings in Australia.

Under the contract, known as Household Formation Support, the Society in NSW and the ACT buys basic new and essential furniture, kitchen items, a refrigerator and washing machine for each refugee family that arrives in the country.

Household Formation Support combines the strength of the Society with its 20,000 volunteers - helping people at the grassroots level.

A family of four had to flee government persecution in their home country. The father was a lawyer and the mother had spoken out against the regime. They fled to Turkey where they applied for refugee status and were accepted into Australia’s refugee resettlement scheme.

Vinnies provided the family with a new fridge, mattresses, bedding and a table and chairs. Local conference members visited them to give them crockery and cutlery.

The family is on a waiting list for other furniture as it becomes available. They came with suitcases so

at this stage their flat is quite bare; they are sleeping on a mattress on the floor, and have a very empty place.

As time moves on the flat will be transformed, with goods provided by the Society becoming the foundations of a new household in Australia.

There are almost 20 million ‘peoples of concern’ waiting for a new life in a different country. In 2001-2002, 8458 humanitarian visas were granted offshore under Australia’s humanitarian program, with total places for 12,000 annually. Many spent years in refugee camps overseas before being granted entry.

This Christmas let generosity and compassion for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers be a part of your journey. By reaching out with a gift this season, you can help give meaning to Christmas for those who face a bleak future today.

To donate to the Christmas Appeal please call 13 18 12. For information on the Household Formation Support Service, call Sky de Jersey on (02) 9560 8666.