Guidelines for congregations wanting to assist

African communities with family reunification

The issue of family reunification has become the most urgent need for new arrivals. It is extremely hard for them to move forward knowing they have left loved ones behind in the appalling, unsafe conditions of the refugee camps. At the same time, if they have been sponsored, they arrive in Australia in debt, because they are responsible to their sponsor for paying back the loan. On top of this they are pressured by those they have left behind to send money back to Africa, and then find the funds to secure a SHP visa on their behalf. This situation very quickly becomes a personal and financial burden on new arrivals, and impacts heavily on the settlement process. In many cases it takes up to 18 months to 2 years to before the financial demands and responsibilities of living in Australia hits home. It is only then that they begin to understand they cannot continue to meet the needs of their family left behind in Africa - a painful realisation.

Last year (2003/2004) DIMIA’s figures showed that 50% of the 1000 Humanitarian Entrants, who arrived in Adelaide, including both those on refugee visas and SPH visas, were sponsored (SHP visa). This year the target number of Humanitarian Entrants has been increased to 1200. With the largest percentage of new arrivals coming from Africa, it is expected that the majority of those entrants’ country of origin will be The Sudan, followed by Ethiopia, then West Africa. Currently there are very few organisations administering interest free loans to cover the cost of travel for sponsors, and the capital base of these funds is limited and dependant on the rate at which they are paid back. The Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) interest free loan scheme is one and its capital base is under severe pressure due to the current demand, and it only funds up to $3000 at a time. As many churches experience an increase in Africans attending worship, or are welcoming Africans into their churches for the first time, they are faced with a unique and privileged opportunity. Many congregations are aware of some of the challenges that face new arrivals as they settle into a very different way of living. Some have already responded in positive ways to this challenge, while others are looking for guidance.

Over the last year a number of congregations have turned to Lutheran Community Care and other agencies for direction on how best to move forward with their plans to provide care and support to new arrivals. It is timely considering the current trend, to formulate some guidelines for those congregations looking for direction.

Guidelines for congregations considering supporting new arrivals

with travel assistance for family members still in refugee camps or

countries of first asylum

Guiding Principles

Selfless and unconditional service

It is important that there is agreement within congregations about the Christian values that will guide the nature of their work with and support for new arrivals. It is strongly recommended that time is taken to learn about the biblical mandate for service generally and serving refugees in particular: “The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love them as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:34, RSV. If these values are clear from the outset it diminishes the risk of disappointment and conflict among members created by unmet expectations and differing perceptions. Denis Voight the Refugee & Displaced Persons Project Officer for the South Australian Council of Churches, is available to provide seminars on this topic. Contact Denis on 82216633 or email: denis.voight@unisa.edu.au for more details.

Self-Reliance

Congregations are strongly encouraged to support new arrivals in a way that helps them achieve self-reliance and independence in their new homeland as soon as possible. Although assistance through hand-outs may be appropriate in the early days after their arrival in Australia, it is important that this is not continued indefinitely, in order to avoid people developing dependency on their hosts. It is acknowledged that this can be a difficult transition to make. There will be situations where judgements need to be made about when it is appropriate to simply meet a request and when it is necessary to point people in the right direction. The aim should be to provide support that helps them to develop skills and acquire the knowledge necessary to establish themselves independently in their new country.

Getting Ready – Being Informed

There is a wealth of information and experience available to assist congregations in their ministry of service to new arrivals in their midst. It is suggested that at least a few of the following opportunities are taken up as you get ready (and in the future, as well):

• Be informed of the settlement services that DIMIA fund for the first 6 months after arrival. These services are in place for all Humanitarian entrants. As mentioned above, it is important to encourage self reliance for new arrivals; therefore an understanding of what is already in place is crucial. The DIMIA website is a good place to start www.immi.gov.au

• Attend one of Lutheran Community Care’s Refugee information evenings (held twice yearly). These evenings provide information on the needs of new arrivals and the services available to them. Contact Lutheran Community Care for upcoming dates or visit the web-site at www.lccsa.org.au

• Attend the Australian Refugee Association’s Public Forums. For information on topics and dates visit their website www.ausref.net

• Invite Ken Semmler to share the experiences of the Ferryden Park Church ministry to the African Community. Ken can be contacted by email: khsemmler@ozemail.com.au

• Invite Cathy Lawson, Lutheran Community Care’s New Arrivals Community Linking Program’s Project Office, to speak to your congregation about the needs of new arrivals, and the services available to them through Lutheran Community Care. This presentation will be co-presented with some one from the African community. Cathy can be contacted clawson@lccsa.org.au

• Be aware of the issues. Talk to other Lutheran congregations and churches from other denominations that have developed a ministry to assist with travel expenses, learn from their experiences, both positive and negative.

• Contact Lutheran Community Care’s New Arrivals Community Linking Program’s Project Officer, Cathy Lawson, for a list of congregations currently providing ministries to the African community. • Consider forming a “Circle Of Friends”. For more information contact Bernie Goodwin at the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) 83542951.

• Donate to ALWS interest free loan schemes, through the LCC African

travel fund.