Free Migration Agents
Free Services for Eligible Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Humanitarian Entrants to New South Wales, Australia
You can donate directly to AFFMA through PayPal by accessing the following link:
Any small donation that you can afford will be greatly appreciated.
It helps AFFMA continue to process genuine refugee applications for free. This is a lengthy and time-consuming process.
Your donation helps to keep AFFMA’s door open.
Refugee and Asylum seeker identities and personalities are, like all humans, complex and formed by internal and external feelings and environments.
The internal feelings stem from beliefs, cultural traditions and religious affiliations. However, external factors result from resettlement practices, mandatory policies, social, political and economic conditions.
Often when refugees and asylum seekers reach a country they are housed in camps or detained, awaiting processing.
In this time, they are subjected to feelings of being outsiders and in a sense they are in limbo. Their lives are on hold. They often cannot work in their new country, and the schooling of their children becomes more difficult.
The impact of further labelling these individuals inflicts greater instability regarding a person’s identity and affiliations as to “who are they” and “do they even matter.” Feelings of being an outsider and not knowing one’s fate would no doubt be extremely daunting, particularly when required to flee a country as a last option in order to achieve safety and freedom.
Reaching the shoreline, arriving at the airport or crossing a border is one thing BUT being detained for long periods of time awaiting the outcome of asylum applications would be extremely unforgiving on a person’s autonomy and would contribute to feelings of self worth.
To read further on these issues please click on this link. http://www.unhcr.org/
This link provides an overview of people that have come to Australia as a refugee or asylum seeker and have secured a better future: http://www.abc.net.au/news/
This woman was 12 years old when her family smuggled out of Afghanistan and flown into Indonesia on fake passports. Further, Najeeba and her brother set sail to Australia and were intercepted by the Australian Navy in 2000.
She now lives in Western Sydney, is a part of a Women’s Association and is an ambassador for Amnesty International. Additionally, she was a finalist of the Young Human Rights Medial Award.
She has also completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and is now furthering her education via a second degree.
By opening our borders (and our arms and minds) in the face of diversity more positive stories can influence our actions to understand why people flee and demonstrate what a little faith in humanity can achieve.
Please, read the above links for further information and especially the ABC link as it shows why people flee and what they can achieve when they are welcomed into their new country of residence.
Jonathan Swan reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that Tony Abbott stated that he will not be “deterred or succumb to moral black mail when it comes to running a firm detention centre on Manus Island” as J.
Further, the Abbott government and the Labor government have reached an understanding regarding border protection and that came in the form of the Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth).
Further, the Australian Border Force Commissioner stated that “operational matters” will not be discussed publicly.
The Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth) enabled the Border Protection Commission to be responsible for immigration security at Australia’s air and sea ports and waterways.
Roman Quaedvlieg was sworn in as the Border Force Commissioner and in turn noted that he would not stray from the Operation Sovereign Borders.
There have been growing concerns regarding the Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth) as some government contracted workers at onshore and offshore detention facilities risk up to 2 years in jail if they report on what they see, pursuant to Part 6 – Secrecy and Disclosure provisions of the Australian Border Force Act.
Commissioner Quaedvlieg noted that the laws were aimed at protecting classified information in order not to hinder operational security or Australia’s sovereignty.
However, in the midst of the Act an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Immigration and Border Protection Minister – Peter Dutton and the Opposition Leader – Bill Shorten that stated continued avocation for the health for whom they have a duty of care.
Further, these professionals noted in the letter that standing by and watching harmful care, child abuse and gross violations of human rights is not ethically justifiable.
Therefore, the continued support and avocation for refugee and asylum seekers should not be forgotten in the midst of change.
Please, click on the links below for further information.
https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015C00319/Html/Text#_Toc424289055
Ariza Arif
