Justice in Action at BASP
At the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, justice is not a one-year theme. It is the quiet, steady work of welcoming people pushed to the margins and supporting them until they can stand independently. Justice is reflected in how we greet people at the door, listen to them, walk alongside them, and advocate when systems fail.
Every week, people arrive at BASP carrying stories of displacement, uncertainty and long years of waiting. Some come with nothing but a small bag. Some come after sleeping in cars or on couches. Some come after years without work rights, Medicare or safety. Justice begins in these moments, with welcome, with food, with housing, with someone saying, “You are not alone.”
The Gospel offers a simple but radical invitation: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” It is not a metaphor for us. It is the daily reality of our work. Justice begins with welcome, and welcome begins with seeing the person in front of us as worthy of care, dignity and hope. Another Gospel moment speaks directly to our mission: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” In many ways, BASP’s mission echoes the parable of the Good Samaritan, the outsider who stopped, who noticed, who acted. Justice is always found in the stopping, the noticing, the acting.
This is also what it means to be Church. Not simply a building or an institution, but a community that lives the Gospel through action, a Church that bends toward compassion, that chooses accompaniment over judgement, and that places dignity at the centre. BASP is one of the places where Church becomes visible: in food parcels, in housing support, in advocacy, in shared meals, in the quiet dignity of welcome.
This spirit is the legacy of Saint Brigid, who gave away her father’s sword, her food, her apples, her land, always choosing generosity over status, welcome over fear. Her flame still burns in our work today, a symbol of courage and hospitality for all who seek refuge. And it is the legacy of Nano Nagle, who walked the streets of Cork at night with her lantern, bringing education, hope and dignity to those who had none. Her lantern is a symbol of justice that does not wait for daylight - justice that goes out, seeks, and lifts. BASP carries that lantern today in every act of accompaniment.
BASP now houses more than 150 people each month and pays rent for a further 70–80 individuals and families. Our Foodbank continues to operate on a simple principle: no one is turned away. As Sr Brigid Arthur has said, “We maintain a policy of not turning anyone away who requests access to our foodbank services.” Justice is sometimes as simple as a bag of groceries offered with dignity.
Housing remains one of the clearest expressions of justice. Marion, our Housing and Tenancy Support Officer, often says that the work is “compassionate and centred on people’s safety, wellbeing and pathways to independence.”
Justice is also found in the stories that shape our community.
This year, for our Housing and People Support Officer, Natarla Reid, that meant supporting one of our long‑term residents, who had battled a brain tumour for years, get granted the highest level of care available - eight hours a day, seven days a week. This came after months of advocacy, medical evidence gathering, and persistence. He told us, “I feel safe now.” Justice is dignity.
A young Iranian family, supported by BASP for more than a decade, finally received permanent residency after years of appeals, setbacks and deep hardship. Their message to us was simple: “Thank you for always being kind and supportive.” Justice is perseverance.
Another person, who had been rejected repeatedly for jobs because of visa uncertainty, finally secured employment in construction after BASP advocated with the employer, helped him obtain safety tickets, and provided work boots and transport. He now supports his family and says, “I feel proud again.” Justice is employment.
With the help of the Brigidines, BASP was able to secure a car for one of our people who needed reliable transport to secure work. That car changed everything, he could accept shifts, arrive on time, and support himself. Justice is opportunity.
Through St Dominic’s Welcome the Stranger program, BASP supported a single mother who wanted to do delivery driving to support herself and her son. She had no car, no savings, and no safety net. Together, we purchased a vehicle for her. She now works, earns, and provides for her child. Justice is empowerment.
Julie Catalano spent months helping one of our people prepare his citizenship application - gathering documents, writing statements, navigating scrutiny that asylum seekers often face. When he finally became a citizen, he invited Julie to the ceremony. She said, “It was one of the proudest moments of my life.” Justice is belonging.
In Woodend, MRRAR hosted a picnic for 20 asylum seekers, complete with a soccer match, Australian‑themed desserts and posters explaining Aussie slang. And when Esther brought her newborn baby, Gershon, to BASP, she said, “It feels calming to be here.” Justice is welcome.
Our volunteers walk alongside people in countless ways - driving them to job interviews, helping them with applications, practising English, advocating with landlords, and celebrating every small victory. One volunteer recently said, “I came to help, but I ended up learning what community really means.”
Advocacy remains central to BASP’s mission. This year, when we learned that the Federal Government was considering decreasing Australia’s humanitarian visa intake, BASP acted immediately. CEO, Renee Mazloum wrote to Josh Burns MP urging the Government to protect and expand humanitarian places, stating clearly that 20,000 should be the minimum intake for a country with Australia’s capacity and responsibility. The letter emphasised that reducing the intake would deepen suffering for people already waiting years for safety, family reunion and stability.
This was one of several advocacy actions BASP undertook. We contributed to national submissions calling for fairer visa pathways, guaranteed work and study rights, and permanent solutions for people in long‑term limbo. We raised concerns about the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act, which granted broad discretionary powers to the Minister. We advocated for people denied Medicare, for families facing eviction, and for individuals whose work rights were suddenly removed. We worked closely with Refugee Legal to support people in the legacy caseload - many of whom arrived in 2012 and are still waiting for resolution.
Palm Sunday was another powerful moment of justice. BASP helped organise the Walk for Justice for Refugees, mobilising volunteers, supporting speakers and standing alongside thousands who gathered under the banner “Stronger Together” Sr Brigid interviewed Gipson, Rasha Abbas and Rathy Barthlote - voices that reminded us why justice must be persistent, public and courageous.
Justice is also joy. It is citizenship ceremonies, shared meals, DOXA camps, water safety programs, employment pathways, and babies passed gently from arm to arm in the BASP office. It is volunteers who say, “I get more out of this than I give.” It is the flame of St Brigid and the lantern of Nano Nagle - symbols of welcome, hope and courage - still burning in the work we do today.
And justice is community. One of the ways we build that community each year is through the St Mary’s Hampton Online Trivia Night, returning on Friday 9 October, from 7:30 pm to 9:40 pm. It is a night of fun, connection and generosity, with teams gathering in homes or online to support BASP’s work. The suggested donation is $30 per team member, and bookings can be made at BASP Trivia night - 9 October 2026 Tickets | TryBooking Australia (cohdig.au/trivia). Enquiries: basptrivia@gmail.com.
Justice is not a theme for BASP, it is our identity. It is the courage of St Brigid, who welcomed the stranger without hesitation. It is the lantern of Nano Nagle, carried into the night for those who had been forgotten. It is the Gospel call to recognise the dignity of every person who knocks on our door. It is the work of being Church - a Church that welcomes, accompanies, advocates and loves without condition.
To all who stand with the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project - thank you.
Whether you donate, volunteer, advocate, partner with us, or work alongside people seeking asylum every day, you form the heart of this project. Your generosity fills homes with safety, fridges with food, and lives with dignity. Your advocacy ensures that voices too often ignored are heard. Your solidarity reminds people who have endured trauma, detention, and uncertainty that they are not alone.
You give us the ability to do what we do for the most vulnerable. You make justice real.
Thank you for walking with us.
Renee Mazloum
Chief Executive Officer
Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project