Latest News, Papers, Activities
August 2011 - Stop The Politics - Recover The Compassion
The Group actively promotes Refugee and Migrant Sunday amongst Anglican parishes.
It is also in the process of compiling a directory of those who have particular expertise in some aspect of work with refugees and is exploring the possibility of developing a course on Cross Cultural ministry.
The group has continued to collate information from dioceses concerning their work with refugees. It aims to provide an overall picture of what the Anglican Church is doing in this area.
History
The Refugees Working Group was established by the Standing Committee at its October 2001 meeting. The Working Group sought to establish a mandate according to the General Synod resolution, namely to undertake the following activities:
The issue of Australia's approach to refugees and assylum seekers was discussed at length during the 12th meeting of General Synod in July 2001. During the meeting, General Synod resolved (Resolution 08/01):
"That this General Synod:
1. a) calls upon the people of our dioceses to give continuing care to refugees and asylum-seekers through prayer, and other spiritual physical and emotional support;
b) applauds the work of Anglicans throughout the country already involved, including Anglicare Australia and its members; and
c) requests the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia concerned to act to provide chaplaincy and pastoral care, where possible, to residents of detention centres in NW Australia, Woomera, Villawood, Maribyrnong and any other centre created;
2. requests the Federal Government and, in particular, the Minister for Immigration and Multi-cultural Affairs to:
a) conduct an urgent review of the plight of temporary protection visa holders and the support mechanisms available to them in the Australian community;
b) address the disparity between current treatment of persons overstaying their visas and persons held in detention or with temporary protection visa status; and
c) provide separate and appropriate living quarters for women and children detainees if so requested by any of them;
3. asks the Standing Committee of General Synod to establish a working group which will -
a) advise the Standing Committee on how these issues might be best addressed in the dioceses and parishes so that action can be taken at every level of the Anglican Church of Australia;
b) undertake such research as might be necessary to further this work; and
c) report back to the next session of this Synod;
4. asks the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia to observe Sunday 26 August 2001 as Refugee Sunday this year, and that the last Sunday in August be observed as Refugee Sunday in each year from 2002."
Activities 2005-2007
It developed a critique of the "Pacific Solution" and has provided media briefings on this issue.
In 2006, Libby Hogarth from S.A was appointed to the Working Group.
In November 2005, the Standing Committee of General Synod resolved that:
a. That the Report of the Refugee Working Group be received and noted.
b. That a new member be appointed to the Refugee Working Group to replace Val Graydon who has resigned.
c. That Standing Committee receive the Group's paper on the detention policy of the Australian Government.
d. The Group recommends to Standing Committee: -
1) That the Anglican Church of Australia continue to advocate for legislative change to end the mandatory, indefinite and non-judicially reviewable
nature of Australia's detention system and
2) That the Anglican Church of Australia continue to advocate for the granting of Permanent Protection Visas, instead of Temporary Protection
Visas, to refugees recognised under the Refugee Convention; and
3) that the Refugee Working Group prepare a strategy for continued advocacy for consideration by the next meeting of Standing Committee;
e. That Standing Committee notes the current campaign seeking the right to work for asylum seekers on Bridging Visa E and asks the General Secretary
to write to both the Minister of Immigration and the Shadow Minister supporting this.
f. Standing Committee notes the Working Group is collating information on what each diocese is doing in relation to refugees and is also preparing a
paper on the trafficking of women.
In June 2005, the Standing Committee affirmed the mandate of the Working Group as follows -
1. Gathering and collating information around diocesan work on refugees and asylum seekers;
2. Networking with Anglican and ecumenical staff in refugee ministries;
3. Advise Standing Committee, General Synod and the Bishops' Conference on issues, necessary action and advocacy;
4. Collating information on Sudanese ministry in the Anglican Church of Australia;
5. Monitoring issues relating to Government policy and the implementation of policies such as mandatory detention, care of people in detention,
deportation of people at risk (eg. for political or religious reasons), trafficking; and
6. Encourage awareness within the Anglican Church of Australia and also observance of Refugee Sunday.
Activities 2001-2004
The Working Group resolved to:
General Synod 2004 Report
August 2011 - Stop The Politics - Recover The Compassion
The Group actively promotes Refugee and Migrant Sunday amongst Anglican parishes.
It is also in the process of compiling a directory of those who have particular expertise in some aspect of work with refugees and is exploring the possibility of developing a course on Cross Cultural ministry.
The group has continued to collate information from dioceses concerning their work with refugees. It aims to provide an overall picture of what the Anglican Church is doing in this area.
History
The Refugees Working Group was established by the Standing Committee at its October 2001 meeting. The Working Group sought to establish a mandate according to the General Synod resolution, namely to undertake the following activities:
- Advice to the SCGS on how refugee and asylum-seeker issues might best be addressed in the dioceses and parishes so that action can be taken at every level of the Anglican Church of Australia.
- Such research as might be necessary to further this work.
- Hearing and making heard the voice of refugees and asylum-seekers.
- Liaise and work co-operatively with ecumenical and other agencies in the field and facilitate similar activity by the Anglican Church of Australia.
- Make representations or submissions to government and non-government bodies as required.
The issue of Australia's approach to refugees and assylum seekers was discussed at length during the 12th meeting of General Synod in July 2001. During the meeting, General Synod resolved (Resolution 08/01):
"That this General Synod:
1. a) calls upon the people of our dioceses to give continuing care to refugees and asylum-seekers through prayer, and other spiritual physical and emotional support;
b) applauds the work of Anglicans throughout the country already involved, including Anglicare Australia and its members; and
c) requests the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia concerned to act to provide chaplaincy and pastoral care, where possible, to residents of detention centres in NW Australia, Woomera, Villawood, Maribyrnong and any other centre created;
2. requests the Federal Government and, in particular, the Minister for Immigration and Multi-cultural Affairs to:
a) conduct an urgent review of the plight of temporary protection visa holders and the support mechanisms available to them in the Australian community;
b) address the disparity between current treatment of persons overstaying their visas and persons held in detention or with temporary protection visa status; and
c) provide separate and appropriate living quarters for women and children detainees if so requested by any of them;
3. asks the Standing Committee of General Synod to establish a working group which will -
a) advise the Standing Committee on how these issues might be best addressed in the dioceses and parishes so that action can be taken at every level of the Anglican Church of Australia;
b) undertake such research as might be necessary to further this work; and
c) report back to the next session of this Synod;
4. asks the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia to observe Sunday 26 August 2001 as Refugee Sunday this year, and that the last Sunday in August be observed as Refugee Sunday in each year from 2002."
Activities 2005-2007
It developed a critique of the "Pacific Solution" and has provided media briefings on this issue.
In 2006, Libby Hogarth from S.A was appointed to the Working Group.
In November 2005, the Standing Committee of General Synod resolved that:
a. That the Report of the Refugee Working Group be received and noted.
b. That a new member be appointed to the Refugee Working Group to replace Val Graydon who has resigned.
c. That Standing Committee receive the Group's paper on the detention policy of the Australian Government.
d. The Group recommends to Standing Committee: -
1) That the Anglican Church of Australia continue to advocate for legislative change to end the mandatory, indefinite and non-judicially reviewable
nature of Australia's detention system and
2) That the Anglican Church of Australia continue to advocate for the granting of Permanent Protection Visas, instead of Temporary Protection
Visas, to refugees recognised under the Refugee Convention; and
3) that the Refugee Working Group prepare a strategy for continued advocacy for consideration by the next meeting of Standing Committee;
e. That Standing Committee notes the current campaign seeking the right to work for asylum seekers on Bridging Visa E and asks the General Secretary
to write to both the Minister of Immigration and the Shadow Minister supporting this.
f. Standing Committee notes the Working Group is collating information on what each diocese is doing in relation to refugees and is also preparing a
paper on the trafficking of women.
In June 2005, the Standing Committee affirmed the mandate of the Working Group as follows -
1. Gathering and collating information around diocesan work on refugees and asylum seekers;
2. Networking with Anglican and ecumenical staff in refugee ministries;
3. Advise Standing Committee, General Synod and the Bishops' Conference on issues, necessary action and advocacy;
4. Collating information on Sudanese ministry in the Anglican Church of Australia;
5. Monitoring issues relating to Government policy and the implementation of policies such as mandatory detention, care of people in detention,
deportation of people at risk (eg. for political or religious reasons), trafficking; and
6. Encourage awareness within the Anglican Church of Australia and also observance of Refugee Sunday.
Activities 2001-2004
The Working Group resolved to:
- request a significant period of time for a report and subsequent discussion by the Bishops at the Bishops' Conference in March 2002;
- request those bishops who have detention centres within their dioceses to visit them and report accordingly to the Bishops' Conference;
- develop a prayer resource for circulation to all Anglican parishes;
- offer advice to Standing Committee on understanding the position and plight of Temporary Protection Visa holders in Australia;
- request Anglicare Australia to prepare a survey of work with refugees being done by Anglicare agencies around the country;
- consider making a submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner's Enquiry into the Children in Detention. Bishops in relevant situations have been requested to produce submissions. The date for reception of such submissions was put back to 3 May 2003;
- a review of the system of Temporary Protection Visas as well as seeking to prepare a more detailed brief for a deputation to wait upon the Prime Minister (if possible) or the Minister for Immigration; and
- to undertake a presentation and a workshop at the National Anglican Conference.
General Synod 2004 Report