This missions focus is on the plight of refugees. Last Friday, June 20th was World Refugee Day. Throughout Australia this week, there have been many events that have underlined our need as a community to welcome the strangers in our midst. In fact the theme of Refugee Week this year is "A Place to Call Home" And don't we all want this for ourselves. But how about those many millions who have fled terror and persecution. 700,000 have come to our shores in the last thirty years.
Here at St Matthew's we have tried to respond to this huge need by the formation of the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group, so ably led by Gwenyth Graham. This group is made up of over 20 volunteers, most of whom come from the community and other churches and who work as part of CARAD, that is the Coalition of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees. For the past eight years they have supported dozens of traumatised individuals and families as they have struggled in detention centres and then to get established in a new culture and country. This has involved helping to get flats, get furniture, get jobs, get medical appointments, get Medicare, get schooling, get English classes, get legal aid, and a hundred and one other things.
They like we have rejoiced that the new Government has abolished the iniquitous Temporary Protection Visas which left people in limbo for years,and that the Government has also brought to an end the so-called Pacific Solution. It has meant that all those people who St Matthew's are caring for have now gained permanent residence with the notable exception of three people who are still waiting for the letter that will tell them that they can make Australia home.
It is good for us as a church to realise that CARAD receives no Government funding whatsoever and can only continue its caring role through the goodwill gifts of those who take the plight of refugees to heart. There have been recent times when finances were almost exhausted. CARAD has had to totally support those refugees on Bridging Visas who were denied their right to work or study or claim Medicare. This has been a huge drain on resources. CARAD is currently urgently needing a Treasurer so if you have skills in this area and could help, please see me or Gwenyth afterwards.
It is good to know that many of the refugees that have been helped through the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group are moving on with their lives. Some have even bought houses, others are doing advanced study, and one young girl who came several years ago, spoke at Willetton High School as part of Refugee Week and is presently studying at Murdoch Uni.
Let us thank God for Gwenyth and Peter Graham and their band of volunteers and pray that our Government will continue to govern with compassion and care for those who come to this country for refuge from the traumas of life.
Here at St Matthew's we have tried to respond to this huge need by the formation of the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group, so ably led by Gwenyth Graham. This group is made up of over 20 volunteers, most of whom come from the community and other churches and who work as part of CARAD, that is the Coalition of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees. For the past eight years they have supported dozens of traumatised individuals and families as they have struggled in detention centres and then to get established in a new culture and country. This has involved helping to get flats, get furniture, get jobs, get medical appointments, get Medicare, get schooling, get English classes, get legal aid, and a hundred and one other things.
They like we have rejoiced that the new Government has abolished the iniquitous Temporary Protection Visas which left people in limbo for years,and that the Government has also brought to an end the so-called Pacific Solution. It has meant that all those people who St Matthew's are caring for have now gained permanent residence with the notable exception of three people who are still waiting for the letter that will tell them that they can make Australia home.
It is good for us as a church to realise that CARAD receives no Government funding whatsoever and can only continue its caring role through the goodwill gifts of those who take the plight of refugees to heart. There have been recent times when finances were almost exhausted. CARAD has had to totally support those refugees on Bridging Visas who were denied their right to work or study or claim Medicare. This has been a huge drain on resources. CARAD is currently urgently needing a Treasurer so if you have skills in this area and could help, please see me or Gwenyth afterwards.
It is good to know that many of the refugees that have been helped through the St Matthew's Refugee Support Group are moving on with their lives. Some have even bought houses, others are doing advanced study, and one young girl who came several years ago, spoke at Willetton High School as part of Refugee Week and is presently studying at Murdoch Uni.
Let us thank God for Gwenyth and Peter Graham and their band of volunteers and pray that our Government will continue to govern with compassion and care for those who come to this country for refuge from the traumas of life.
BT
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