St John's Cathedral Community News October 2017 #91

October Outreach : Mercy Community Services’ Romero Centre

Mercy Community Services’ Romero Centre: providing safety and support to asylum seekers. “The ones who have a voice must speak for those who are voiceless.” ~ Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) Asylum seekers face complicated challenges and uncertain futures. The Romero Centre in Dutton Park provides a warm welcome and customised support for people seeking asylum in Brisbane. Named after Archbishop Oscar Romero from El Salvador, a passionate human rights campaigner, and managed by Mercy Community Services, the Centre was established in 2000 in response to the needs of people seeking safety in Brisbane. The Centre operates an individualised case management service which enables access to an appropriate mix of support and expertise, connecting asylum seekers with emergency support (including food and shelter), legal assistance, English classes, medical care, trauma counselling, and community. Last year, without government funding, the Romero Centre team provided over 2,300 actions of support for people seeking asylum. The Centre relies on donations and volunteers to support their work.

There are asylum seekers living in Brisbane with limited or no access to income. In late August, some who were receiving government support lost financial assistance immediately, and accommodation with little notice. Such changes in policy contribute to growing needs in emergency supplies for children, families and individuals. Without money, meeting basic needs becomes impossible. Asylum seekers are real people, with real stories. They seek the safety we enjoy. People who flee from dangerous countries are trying to escape persecution. It’s as simple as that. But for hundreds of people in the Brisbane area, life is anything but simple – it’s complicated and frightening. Since the most recent shift in

government policy, some face an even more uncertain future. Beyond the basic needs, there is isolation, with no friends or family.

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OCTOBER 2017