Asylum seeker and migrant support services
Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (09:42): I rise today to acknowledge two important organisations which play a role in my local community, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, who are known to many of us, and also Afri-Aus Care. The ASRC has called Thomas Street in Dandenong home now for a year after the opening of their hub in that location, and in that time they have supported nearly 2000 local refugees and asylum seekers by connecting them to a range of different services in partnership as well with a number of other local organisations. I had the great pleasure of being able to meet with the ASRC and some of their partners, SisterWorks and also Multicultural Youth Support Services – Peter Aguto from that organisation – and hearing about both the challenges that clearly exist within our asylum seeker and refugee community and of course the enormous power of work being done by organisations like ASRC and their partners in Dandenong to make sure they are meeting that need through the provision of food in partnership with a range of other food providers and also in terms of assisting with meal programs, employment pathways, mental health supports and a range of other services.
It was really heartening to hear the story of one young man who had been given life-changing support. (Time expired)