We do a lot with a little. Help us to house and support asylum seekers and refugees in the Australian community.
News
Release of men from detention in Papua New Guinea’s Bomana detention centre
Of the 52 men detained in Bomana most have been returned to their country of origin having become broken people due to the conditions prevailing within Bomana. Now the final 18 have been released and reside in boutique hotels in Port Moresby. Although conditions are...
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Help wanted
Obtaining employment is not easy for a person seeking asylum. If you, or anyone you know can provide employment in the areas listed below please contact BASP by tel 9696 2107 or email c o n t a c t @ b a s p . o r g . a u Retail Assistant 19 year old has Retail...
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Letters to the editor, The Age
The hearts of Australians have gone out to the numerous families suffering from the devastation brought about by these seemingly never-ending bushfires. The resilience of those affected, and the heroic response of firefighters and numerous volunteers, has been...
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New court ruling gives hope to refugees under threat of deportation
The federal government’s power to detain and deport refugees who commit crimes in Australia has been severely curtailed by a federal court ruling. Since 2014 the Government has been making the interpretation of ‘character grounds’ ever more strict and has used this...
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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 work in pairs, visiting an assigned family once a week for about an hour. 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.
I am helping a family from Chad to speak English. I feel good to know that my assistance helps a mother of five negotiate the daily shopping run. It’s been my privilege to come to know a caring and grateful new Australian family.
JennyBrigid brought a toy helicopter to the detention centre so I could send a birthday present to my son in Sri Lanka. I haven’t seen him since he was a baby.
Raka (not his real name)You accepted me unconditionally and you changed my life from sorrow to joy, from darkness to light and from no hope to hope.
FrancineYou can help BASP
Contact us to assist, get involved, donate time, money, household goods or expertise.