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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-06-20 Daily Xml
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World Refugee Day

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:30): I rise to speak about and mark the fact that today is World Refugee Day. The United Nations describes World Refugee Day as a day on which 'we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees'. That is exactly what I want to do today, together with others in this house. South Australia is deeply enriched by the diversity that many people who have sought asylum here and now call South Australia home bring to the fabric of every aspect of community life.

Every single minute, 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. Refugees face circumstances that all of us in this chamber would struggle to imagine, circumstances that threaten every aspect of their life and wellbeing and that of their family. The depth of fear that many refugees experience in their home countries as a result of war and persecution can only be matched and fought through with the depth of their strength and courage to leave or far too often to flee. Their courage to leave their home, their community, many loved ones and everything they have ever known to find safety, to find opportunity and to find hope is truly remarkable.

While many of us may never fully understand exactly what refugees have been through, we can understand that they have experienced great loss and upheaval and need the support of our community so that they can start their new lives and thrive in a place they can now call home. We also know that we can show compassion and help in any way we can. We can deliberately take action to grow our understanding and to ensure that refugees in our community are welcomed and included.

I recently had the great pleasure of meeting with representatives from the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) to receive an update on their work with our refugee community. The work ARA do in our community is invaluable. They provide critical advice and advocacy to people newly arriving, as well as practical assistance and support. This support ranges from helping people with job applications, to visa assistance and settlement services. ARA also help people from a refugee background to raise awareness about domestic violence and to overcome relationship issues.

They have a fantastic long-term plan in which they hope to develop a culturally appropriate, early intervention program to work with men on addressing family violence issues, a youth-specific domestic violence program to enable young people experiencing violence to receive practical and emotional support and a refugee-specific women's group for those who have experienced domestic violence. They are building capacity and refugee communities to have community-led conversations about the need to work together to prevent domestic violence and to provide appropriate support to people experiencing it.

I am very pleased to know that ARA are addressing this issue as well as engaging in the many other activities they do. I look forward to continuing an ongoing relationship with ARA over many years. It is so important that we welcome new members of our community and give them the opportunity to reach their full potential. How daunting it must be to leave so much and start from scratch. With our support and love, and the incredible support of organisations such as the Australian Refugee Association, Welcome to Australia, of which I am a very proud ambassador, and many others, refugees are able to live a good life here and are empowered to reach their potential.

On Monday, I was delighted to attend an event that spoke to what we can do here in South Australia as a community to build understanding about what refugees experience and to empower them to reach their potential. This event was the launch of SA Refugee Week and the Australian Migrant Resource Centre 2018 Youth Poster Exhibition. Joining with hundreds of South Australians, mostly secondary students, to celebrate this week was an uplifting experience. I was enthralled by the way in which two secondary school young women spoke, one about her journey as a refugee to South Australia, a place she now calls home, and another who has not traversed that journey but who spoke passionately about the need for more compassion in our community.

I was also really happy to see the stunning posters created by young people that represented the need to create a place in which everyone belongs. This morning, our Labor leader attended the launch of World Refugee Day, and he tells me that it was an inspiring event, with so many across our refugee communities gathered to mark this very special day.

In closing, I say thank you to all the refugees who have settled in South Australia for your remarkable courage in the journey that has brought you to our state and the challenges you may continue to experience. I welcome you, honour you and appreciate all that you contribute in so many different ways to our state.

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