Courage at BASP

People seeking asylum need bucket loads of courage – first to leave the familiar and seek protection in a new country, and then to try to adjust, and make a new life for themselves - all the time trying to help, where at all possible, the people they left behind.  The sheer courage shown by many of the people we work with both astounds and inspires us. 

One of the biggest things we BASP people need to do is to encourage and try to understand those who come to us for assistance and then to advocate on their behalf.

Over the years we have argued strongly for change to Australia’s policies governing asylum seekers. This requires a level of confidence and courage because those in authority often have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. 

One woman, Fatemeh, an asylum seeker, is one of the most amazingly courageous people we know.  She has two daughters, the younger of whom, Zahra, is autistic and suffers from a rare illness.  She is non-verbal, not toilet trained and learnt to walk at four years.  Zahra is ineligible to access any specific help at home because the family are not permanent residents of Australia. 

They arrived as refugees on 21st July 2013 and were sent for off-shore processing of their application for protection to Nauru. Subsequently the family were brought to Australia for medical treatment. 

Families who spent time in detention on Nauru have now been told to apply to leave Australia and resettle in a third country. All applicants face health checks. This family will never be able to access resettlement because of Zahra’s complex needs and they cannot return to their country of origin.  They are therefore in total limbo. 

The family faces many challenges caring for Zahra's and as she gets older and heavier, managing her difficult behaviours is a 24-hour job. Zahra attends a Special Development School but, other than that, her family receive no assistance with her care.  Fatemeh bears the burden of most of this – the physical work, the anguish and worry and the insecurity of the lives of all her family. 

BASP is committed to work to make our country a kinder, fairer place that puts people at risk over all other interests.