Communities shaping change

REPRESENTATIVES from Geelong’s refugee groups have this month taken part in a national conference that brought together more than 100 activists from across the country.

Held every two years, the Rural Australians for Refugees national conference provides advocates and supporters with an opportunity, particularly those based in regional Australia, to come together, share experiences and learn from each other about their shared values and collective actions.

Eight members from the Queenscliff Rural Australians for Refugees (QRAR) and Combined Refugee Action Group (CRAG) attended this year’s conference, which focused on the importance of advocates continuing their work to inform their local communities about the ongoing plight of refugees and asylum seekers.

The conference began with a keynote address from Kurish-Iranian writer and former Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani, who spoke of the torture of being detained and encouraged Australia’s refugee groups to work together to bring about change.

“We can empower each other to create change,” he said.

Australian academic and assistant secretary to the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees, Gillian Triggs, said there are more than 120 million people displaced as refugees across the globe, and solutions need to come from both a local and national level.

CRAG co-convenor Peter Coghlan said the conference had reinforced the need for local advocates to work harder to help achieve visa resolutions for the more than 8,000 people who have been living in Australia for more than 10 years in limbo.

“It’s certainly confirmed for me the need for us to work doubly hard to make sure those people are going to be okay.”

He said while advocating very strongly to government and politicians was important, this work begins in the community.

“Communities count. They’re the ones that are going to be the welcoming environment for all these people, and they’re the ones that will make them feel secure and safe and give them opportunities to start a new life here.

“I think we have to have a welcoming attitude and to be open to hearing what their stories are, because when you hear their stories, it changes a lot of people’s views [and] makes them understand… these people are just like themselves.

“They haven’t just left home because they feel like going somewhere new. They’re leaving home because they’re persecuted and they’re suffering.

“They’re our brothers and sisters.”

He encouraged those interested in joining the cause to reach out to their local refugee group to learn more.