Hello to all our supporters,
As you would no doubt have heard by now, the Pontville Detention Centre (Pontville IDC) is re-opening.
We know that last time, our regular visits kept hope and humanity alive for many asylum seekers in detention. Because of our large volunteer support base, we were able to create a group that became recognised nationally as a model of community engagement - and I know we can do it again.
Volunteers - old and new
The first thing we need is volunteers.
We have decided to start our database afresh, so ALL volunteers (old and new), need to fill in this super-easy online form: HERE:
If you can’t commit to being a volunteer, please ask your friends and colleagues. Every new volunteer is one more friend for an asylum seeker in a desperate position.
Just like last time, volunteering will take a little while to get started. SERCO will have new staff, who will take time to get workshops up and running; and we will need to start the process of collecting names and ID numbers of detainees who have requested a visitor. If you sign up as a volunteer, you can expect to attend a training in early February, and meet your buddy in the month or so thereafter.
New Positions With TASS
However, unlike last time, this time I have a much better idea of what I’m getting myself in for! And for that reason, TASS is also recruiting a core unit of volunteers who can fulfil the following roles:
1. Events manager: You will need to co-ordinate the training sessions and monthly meetings held by TASS, which are an essential part of our support for volunteers. This will include jobs like booking venues, organising guest speakers, photocopying training packages, and taking minutes at the meetings. (It does not matter if you are not a visitor to the centre yourself).
2. Volunteer co-ordinator: This will involve matching volunteers from the database with detainees inside the centre, and answering email queries from volunteer buddies. This job requires only a small amount of time most days, but you must be consistent and committed, as it is the core of our program.
3. Media support: If you can string a sentence together, keep up with the news, and can make tactful comments on highly political issues without inciting riots, TASS needs someone to do media support, such as updating the facebook page, writing for our website, and occasionally speaking to the media (although not on live-to-air radio or TV) or speaking to school / church groups. We also need help producing and printing some simple promotional posters / leaflets which explain what we do and how to get involved.
4. Counsellor: Last time, we were able to offer free counselling support to our volunteers, thanks to a trained counsellor who offered her time to anyone needing to debrief after a trip to Pontville. Unfortunately, she is no longer available, so we are seeking someone with counselling training to make themselves available if needed. (You may well find that you are required only occasionally, if at all: but it’s good to know we have someone to fulfil this role if necessary).
Please email me (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) if you would be able to fulfil any (or even just a part) of the above roles. Your support in this area would make TASS a much more sustainable and stable organisation. Thank you.
Other News
Anna Reynolds and the Tasmanian Greens have launched a Christmas Appeal which is collecting items for asylum seekers in detention at Pontville. Thanks, Anna! Appropriate items include books, CDs, DVDs, jigsaws and games. The Tasmanian Greens ‘Green Shop’ at 208 Elizabeth Street will be the collection point for people who would like to donate to this Christmas Appeal. Donations need to be dropped at the shop between 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday before 14 December. For more information contact Anna Reynolds on 0423 222 149 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
The Hobart branch of Amnesty is re-convening its Refugee Action group to campaign on human rights issues that affect refugees and asylum seekers. If you are interested in supporting Amnesty in this way, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discuss.
All in all, we have some exciting months ahead of us! Please feel free to distribute this email among your networks to ensure that TASS re-booted is a resounding success!
Yours Sincerely,
—
Emily Conolan
Founder, Tasmanian Asylum Seeker Support (TASS)
http://www.facebook.com/tasasylum
Earlier on Tasmanian Times, James Dryburgh: Brighton’s open Hand
Show Comments
Comments (4)
I think the majority of Tasmanians have alot more important things to worry about than helping freeloader asylum seekers..Like for example keeping their heads above water as they themselves struggle to survive, with the ever increasing cost of living, dealt upon them by a parasitic government..Asylum seekers dont belong in Tasmania as there are very few jobs in tasmania, so what are they going to do for employment..? sponge off the taxpayer of course..
Seems very strange Governemnt sending asylum seekers to Tasmania of all places..Im sure its all part of their hidden plan of course..
#1, with all due respect, Asylum Seekers have every right to live in Tasmania. We are bound by not only legal, but moral obligations. If we are going to participate in wars that contribute to human displacement, then we take in asylum seekers. Even if we didn’t, we should do it as a matter of decency to fellow human beings.
I would take 1000 asylum seekers anyday over the comments you’ve put here that only lend to people thinking Australians are racist when in fact we are not.
My taxpayer funds fuel your ability to make comments like this and I don’t like that but there’s not much I can do about that either. Welcome to democracy.
Dear #1 for a reason why we need asylum seekers in Tasmania start with the imminent depopulation of the island. You can look up the demographics at the ABS or TCCI and be stunned at what will happen to your asset values as the population decreases to as low as 350,000 by 2050. Why? The death of the baby boomers and the complete absence of a replacement generation to populate the island. The next reason you will need these ‘free-loaders’ here is that the current population will be incapable of looking after the health care of the baby boomers as they first head into hospital and drain the health services and then head to the mortuary. The tax base will disappear, the infrastructure will really fall apart as 350,000 try and pay for what was built for 500,000. The schools will die, the youth will leave in greater numbers and the value of your house will fall so low as to make it not feasible to repair the sewerage lines and water reticulation to your house. The government will fall into bankruptcy and you and your family will drown in a river of debt that will make Greece look like a bankers picnic.
Try googling ‘Tasmanian unfunded superannuation’ for a real shock as to why you need to replace the tax payers of Tasmania with new ones, because the idiots who you currently vote for haven’t got a clue what they are doing Labor/Liberal or Green have ignored this hoping it will go away just like you hope your economic salvation will go home.
Tasmania needs immigrants like never before and if you think you are special and that your xenophobia is rational then ask yourself who is going to replace the current crop of health professionals 40% of whom are retiring within the next five years.
So if you want to keep on complaining about the free-loaders why don’t you look at the bureaucratic freeloaders and how we in Tas pay for education and health more per capita than any other state and the results are the worst in Australia.
Free-loaders are everywhere, I know a whole community of Anglo-Saxon descendants where the children regularly burn their neighbors house down and then frighten everyone else in their suburb as they steal their neighbors cars and burn them out for fun after a joy ride.
I understand now why 2800 Sudanese arrived here 6 years ago and 2500 have now left. I understand why in the last re-incarnation of Pontville not one detainee stayed in Tasmania, they are smarter than you and I. They saw the writing on the wall and ran like hell from the incoming economic catastrophe and despair you and I have created for ourselves.
You people are very gullible and your views will contribute to the downfall of Tasmania / Australia..as has happened in the UK and the US..