We do a lot with a little. Help us to house and support asylum seekers and refugees in the Australian community.
Low cost or free secondhand car and lawnmowers wanted – Please contact Libby 0418 526 036
JAG BASP Online Auction 29-31 Oct
The parish of St Mary of the Cross Aspendale/Mordialloc is holding an online silent auction to raise money for BASP. Bidding begins at 5pm on Friday 29 October and finishes at 5pm Sunday 31 October 2021. There are 51 items – many one off. Bidding is easy! To view...
Naser Moradi Exhibition
An exhibition of the work of Naser Moradi, an Afghan asylum seeker and self-taught artist finding hope in the darkest of places. WHEN Tue 30 November to Thu 2 December 2021, 10.30am - 5.30pm Fri 3 December 5.00pm - 8.00pm Sat 4 December 11.00am - 3.00pm & 6.00pm -...
The Year that Made Me: Sister Brigid Arthur, 1975
After becoming a teacher, and then principal of a number of secondary schools in Melbourne’s Western suburbs Sr Brigid Arthur started up the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project where she has worked for the past twenty years. Listen to ABC radio program here (13 min)
Sr Brigid addresses “Walk for Justice & fair go for Refugees”
Sr Brigid addresses "Walk for Justice & fair go for Refugees" rally on Palm Sunday, 28 March 2021 outside the State Library Victoria: I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand - the peoples of the Kulin nation and I pay my respects to...
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
About BASP
Staff
Brigid Arthur csb, Project Coordinator, is 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, 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.
Volunteers, kindly support our everyday work with an extraordinary range of expertise and experience.
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.