‘Bridge builders’ needed
Eight English classes run each week at The Salvation Army Auburn. (Photograph supplied by Greg Donovan)
The Salvation Army Auburn’s services are in demand by hundreds of new migrants and asylum seekers on bridging visas.
Expecting around 40 men, mainly asylum seekers, from the community to turn up to a recent welcoming event, Auburn Salvation Army Corps officer Cheryl Kistan says 80 arrived. The next week, 100 arrived.
“When they come to us we treat them with love, grace and acceptance. Often they don’t get treated like that. Sometimes they’re treated more like criminals,” says Cheryl.
Demand for welfare has also markedly increased and two months after English conversation classes were re-established, and the eight classes a week are all running at capacity.
There are also more than 100 people on the waiting list for the Auburn Salvation Army’s multicultural driving school, and Cheryl says volunteers from The Salvation Army and community are urgently needed to help meet growing community needs.
For many years, the corps, located in one of the most ethnically-diverse suburbs in Australia, has been building bridges within the local community.
Cheryl, who works with husband and corps officer Nesan, says demand has markedly increased with scores of asylum seekers being temporarily released into the community on bridging visas.
Unable to work under the Commonwealth Government’s ‘no advantage’ policy, Cheryl says many are released and resettled with only a small plastic bag of clothes, no bed, furniture, or bedding, and are eligible for only 89% of Government income support to cover all living costs such as food, rent, clothing, transport and utility bills.
She says many who have already fled “horrendous” situations, now suffer terrible loneliness, grief due to separation from loved ones, and live in continual dread of their cases being rejected and being placed back into detention and then deported.
“Depression is a huge problem,” she says. “Because they are not allowed to work, they get stuck in a kind of a rut. Many are skilled workers in their own countries – doctors, teachers, printers and engineers.”
Rather than simply offering welfare, Cheryl says the corps saw a great need to offer English skills and work-ready skills to newly-settled migrants and asylum seekers.
Cheryl says: “Giving people the skill of speaking, reading and writing English, helps them to be part of Australian society. It helps them to help themselves, so they are able to communicate with shopkeepers, government agencies and doctors.”
She says as well as newly-settled refugees, a large number of asylum seekers are taking up volunteer opportunities through the Family Store and a number have been offered
accredited retail training.
The centre also offers budgeting courses, retail training courses, support through Salvos Legal, a yearly camp and homework club for children.
Cheryl says of the asylum seekers: “These guys are hungry to learn. They are all hard workers. They turn up early…and you’ll often see them four or five days a week.”
With no funds to travel or participate in entertainment, unable to work, separated from family and often traumatised, Cheryl explains the programs also simply offer a sense of purpose and community to displaced asylum seekers.
While holding deep respect for the variety of faiths, Cheryl says as a minister, the privilege of responding to questions about the Christian faith from those who come is also profound.
“They love coming!” she says. “They ask, ‘why are you being so nice to us?’ and we get the opportunity to say, ‘because we love Jesus, we want you to know Jesus loves you’ and we share how Jesus giving new beginnings, fresh hope, grace and forgiveness.”
Salvationists who wish to volunteer can contact Cheryl at Auburn Salvation Army: (02) 9646 3767.
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