Forum for Refugee Week

REFUGEE week is coming up and the seven days are seeking to put a spotlight on the realities displaced people face, as well as celebrate the contribution to local communities.

As part of the event, Rural Australians for Refugees Bendigo is holding an information forum about displaced people re-settlement.

Convenor of RAR Bendigo Christine Cummins said the group has helped three Hazara Afghani families settle in the region during the past year through the Government’s Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot program.

“Bendigo is the only group to have settled three families under this pilot program, showing the community as a whole is both welcoming and generous, we rely on the generosity of community individuals and group donations such as Country Women’s Association and Rotary,” said Ms Cummins.

“A lot of the members of the Rural Australians for Refugees and our supporters have been donating to bring Afghan families to safety and to offer them a future without fear.

“It is largely private donations, so that’s why we also want to give them a bit of an update at this forum because a lot of members are putting their hands in their pockets, and we want to be able to say this is where your money has gone to.

“So, we really want to be able to give people an update about the three families that we’ve settled so far and our future plans for more settlements in that space.”

Ms Cummins said it costs about $18,000 to provide a family with things like a home, schooling and job assistance, household goods, driving lessons, and money.

The third family arrived just last week, a widowed mother and her two teenage sons, said Ms Cummins.

“We’re just going to be supporting her to try and just settle in and be mum at home,” she said.

The group is also running a food drive in June for non-perishable items to send to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne, and Ms Cummins said assistance requests by local refugees are generally provided quickly.

“Anything will be greatly appreciated,” said Ms Cummins.

The forum is free and will be held at La Trobe Art Institute on Sunday 25 June at 1pm. Refugee Week runs from 18 to 25 June.