Hospitality in action at BASP - End the Waiting Vigil for Asylum Seekers

The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project continues to advocate for the just and humane treatment of people seeking refuge in Australia, in addition to its work of providing housing and relief to people without permanent visas who are experiencing extreme hardship. On 3rd September, as part of a nationwide campaign to ‘End The Waiting’ for asylum seekers, BASP hosted a vigil at the Brigidine Ministry Centre in Albert Park.

Over 60 people came to the event – including a welcome group of students from Killester College in Springvale. Claire Griffin, a Brigidine Sister, led the gathering with prayers and, together with BASP’s founder Sister Brigid Arthur, introduced asylum seekers, faith leaders and community advocates who spoke about the precarious and difficult conditions experienced by those have been waiting for more than 12 years for their cases to be resolved. 

BASP co-ordinator Libby Saunders spoke of the hardships of those who come seeking help. Most of them arrived by boat and went through an unfair procedure known as ‘Fast Track’ which was intended to process people quickly, but ended up doing the opposite. Today there are still around 6,000 people who have been issued with temporary Bridging Visas that have to be renewed every three to six months. Many are denied work rights and are practically destitute.

BASP sees and assists asylum seekers who have been worst affected by the injustices and inefficiencies of this system – those who are unable to work and can’t afford rent or sometimes even food, who are often without healthcare and are suffering from worsening mental and physical health problems caused by the years of living in poverty and insecurity. The situation is both cruel and unsustainable.

Norman Katende, a Ugandan man seeking asylum who is associated with BASP, has experienced this first-hand. Addressing those gathered at the vigil, he talked about what it is like to be in limbo for so long, and the indignity of being seen as a refugee, rather than a person. “No one chooses to leave their home. They do it because they have to,” he said.

Another person who has endured the at times unfathomable decision-making processes is Amineh Khasrajipourzabeh, who fled Iran with her family and arrived in Australia over a decade ago. With great strength, Amineh spoke briefly in person at the vigil – as well as appearing in a short video for the campaign – about her family’s ordeal of living for so long without permanent status.

Major Colin Elkington (Salvation Army) gave his reflections on the decisions that can lead to suffering and uncertainty. Colin told one story about a young woman who had come to speak to him. She had arrived in Australia by boat as a teenager, with her parents and two younger siblings. “When she arrived she had no English. She was 13 years old. She was bullied at school when she got here,” he said.

“But today she has a master's in neuroscience and is working on her PhD as well as having a degree in medicine. Unfortunately, she and her family have been rejected and are in immigration limbo.”

Father John Petrulis, Parish Priest at St Columba’s, Elwood and St Kilda West, also addressed the vigil, speaking with compassion about the extreme suffering of people forced to spend so many years waiting, and the urgent need for policy change.

The #EndTheWaiting campaign is organised by the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT), a group under the auspices of the National Council of Churches. Its aim is to have 100 vigils in 100 different electorates all over Australia, over 100 days. We are hoping that Members of Parliament will speak up for all those who have been waiting for so many years for permanent visas.

Marion MacGregor

BASP

Student Reflection

On the 3rd of September, at the Brigidine Ministry Centre in Albert Park, 27 Killester College students and teachers attended the #End the Waiting Vigil to support thousands of refugees and asylum seekers who have remained trapped in legal limbo for more than a decade. 

The #End The Waiting Campaign, was launched by Common Grace and the National Council of Churches in Australia and the Australian Refugee Task Force, are calling on the Federal Government to fix the injustices left behind by the discredited Fast Track system. 

During this vigil, representatives of Killester were given the opportunity to pray for refugees and asylum seekers. They heard the moving experiences of asylum seekers who have been waiting for permanent residency for well over a decade. They also heard from passionate church leaders who spoke of the urgency needed to address these issues to ensure hope, dignity and a future could be available to all Australians. 

It was a moving and enlightening experience that will hopefully foster a greater commitment in the Killester Community to respond to the call of injustice, particularly in our response to our fundraising and awareness raising for BASP.

Emily Martin 

Living Justice Living Peace Leader

Killester College, Springvale