We do a lot with a little.
Help us to house and support asylum seekers and refugees in the Australian community.
Words matter: Corrosive narratives dehumanise refugees
The way we talk about other human beings matters. We may use hurtful language. We may deny them their identity by giving them numbers or names that are not their own names. We can assign them identities based on the name of the boat that arrived in, seeking refugee...
Another 45 people released due to high court ruling on indefinite detention as Coalition plays hard ball on ‘patch-up’ bill
Paul Karp, Chief political correspondent, The GuardianMon 27 Nov 2023 19.22 AEDT Australian Border Force alleges four people previously released have breached their visa conditions. Peter Dutton has accused Labor of a “patch-up” job on its response to the high court...
Refugee Council welcomes the historic High Court ruling finding indefinite immigration detention unlawful
Refugee Council of Australia, 9 November 2023 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the High Court’s decision that has found indefinite immigration detention to be unlawful and unconstitutional in cases where there is no prospect of people being...
You can help
- provide hospitality and practical support for people seeking asylum
- actively network with like-minded individuals and groups who are working for justice for asylum seekers
- promote advocacy for the rights of people seeking asylum
- engage in education about asylum seekers’ issues
- donate or volunteer
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Stay informed of what BASP is doing to assist and advocate for refugees, by reading our newsletter
Our staff
BASP is staffed by a small team of dedicated experienced professionals, and Volunteers who kindly support our everyday work with an extraordinary range of expertise and experience.
Brigid Arthur, Project Coordinator
Brigid Arthur CSB is our Project coordinator and a Brigidine Sister with a long and passionate career as an educator. She has been described as ‘an octogenarian human rights advocate, protester and leader.’
(csb = Congregation of Sisters of Brigid)
Libby Saunders, Project Coordinator
Libby is an experienced social worker who worked in disability and community care before joining BASP in 2014.
Libby is mainly involved with housing and volunteers.
Aims
The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) is a Melbourne-based initiative of the Brigidine Sisters which aims to:
- Provide hospitality and practical support for people seeking asylum;
- Actively network with like-minded individuals and groups who are working for justice for asylum seekers;
- Promote advocacy for the rights of people seeking asylum;
- Engage in education about asylum seekers’ issues.
Volunteer
We have many volunteer opportunities e.g. volunteer for our Friendship through teaching English program, providing friendship and support to an asylum seeker family along with personalised assistance in everyday English. Help families settle in their Australian community by exploring local facilities and services together. Volunteers visit an assigned family once a week to offer friendship and support.
Please contact us to help.
Be informed about asylum seekers in Australia
Authorised Travellers
Contrary to the images sometimes projected by government and the media, most asylum seekers arrive in Australia by air as authorised travellers.
Ordinary Human Beings
Asylum seekers are ordinary human beings with the same emotions and reactions that most of us would have in similar circumstances.
Persecution
They have been involved in persecution in their own countries that we find hard to imagine from the safety of this country.