Tag

refugee

A Refugee Week Message from the Traditional Owners

The Blue Mountains City Council Aboriginal Advisory Council (AAC) have said that they “support the idea to recognise International Refugee Day through events particularly highlighting some of the extremely difficult challenges faced by refugees.” This is a powerful message of fellow feeling coming from a people who experience continued dispossession and racism Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group would like to thank the ACC for their gracious response.

COVID-19 and BMRSG’s Response

Like everyone else the BMRSG community faced huge challenges when we were told to self isolate. But the refugees on various temporary visas faced much greater challenges. Distressing stories are coming through all the time about situations where jobs have been lost; people have been exposed to COVID 19 and expected to self isolate in crowded accommodation. Those on bridging visas, and that is most households we visit, have virtually no Covid19 related entitlements or general Centrelink access. They also may or may not have Medicare entitlements