Congratulations to Sr Brigid Arthur – UNANIMA’s 2024 Woman of Courage
We congratulate Sister Brigid Arthur, CSB AO, who was recently presented with the 2024 Woman of Courage by UNANIMA International — an honour which recognises women from around the world who have exhibited exceptional courage and leadership to make a difference in their communities, especially for the betterment of the lives of women and children.
In her nomination of Brigid for the Woman of Courage award, Sister Noelene Simmons SM, wrote:
"Brigid’s passion to see the human dignity and rights of all people respected has compelled her to stand beside those who experience incredible hardship and vulnerability, especially refugees and asylum seekers.
Over the years Brigid has spent countless hours visiting refugees and asylum seekers in detention, listening to their stories, supporting them in their applications for residency and citizenship and fighting for their right to freedom, safety and fullness of life. Upon their release from detention, she has companioned them as they began life in a new country away from family and familiar surroundings. She has supported them in negotiating the complex pathways to welfare payments, obtaining accommodation and employment and in seeking school enrolments for their children.
Brigid has been a constant advocate for asylum seekers at their assessment and court hearings and has been the litigation guardian for a number of minors. She has also been attentive to asylum seekers' pastoral needs providing opportunities for social interaction and connecting them into local community groups.
Brigid has not been willing to accept the status quo regarding Australia's harsh refugee and asylum seekers policies. She has not been afraid to speak directly to politicians, at rallies, in the media and through other forums to challenge government policies and seek a better life for refugees and asylum seekers despite their race, culture or faith. On one occasion Brigid confined herself in a cage on a Melbourne street to protest the indefinite detention of refugees by Australian authorities.
BASP houses over 200 people and does so by placement in and supervision of some houses being made available by other religious institutes. But the majority are being rented by BASP. This cost, plus utilities, is about $100,000 a month. Miraculously donations come in to cover it in the face of no government funding and Brigid's tireless advocacy and speaking with groups to raise the funds. Brigid, as a fierce voice for the voiceless, has inspired donors thus enabling BASP to go on providing this care and service."
In her acceptance speech, Brigid expressed her deep gratitude to all those she has worked alongside and to everyone who has supported BASP over the years, helping to sustain its vital work. She also urged those gathered “to rethink what it means to be global citizens, to question boundaries that are there to exert power and exclude the vulnerable, in an increasingly complex world.”
Quoting Australian historian Manning Clark, Brigid said she embraces the idea of being a “life-enlarger” - someone, and indeed an organisation, that seeks bold, inclusive, and humane ways of acting, challenging the systems that harm vulnerable people. Always hopeful, she reflected on the role of hope, not as passive comfort but as a call to action: “Hope is not a resting place, but a starting point… it should make you jump up and do something.”
UNANIMA’s recognition brings global attention to the courageous, compassionate work taking place in local communities—reminding us that meaningful social change often begins with the actions of ordinary people.
Congratulations, Brigid, on this well-deserved honour. May your example as a true “life-enlarger” continue to inspire us with hope, courage, and compassion, lighting the way toward a world where every life is recognised as precious and justice is upheld for all people.
Nicole Mangelsdorf
Executive Director