Overcoming Adversity: The Australian Refugee Story

A Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group Forum
A project of the Family Support  Service Inc.


FORUM GOAL
That the humanity of Australian refugees’ lives is understood and their considerable contribution to Australian society appreciated.
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MC 
Adam Searle, MLC, barrister, former Blue Mountains Mayor and with a track record as a fair, firm and impartial chair

WELCOME TO COUNTRY
David King from the Gundungurra indigenous people. David will also give his view
on the refugee issue.
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WHERE AND WHEN 
Date: 12 November 2011, Time: 2:00 pm to 5.00 pm. Location: Mid Mountains
Neighbourhood Centre, 9 New St Lawson, a 5 minute walk from Lawson train
station. Signs will be put up to assist people find the place.  Entry: $5
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SPEAKERS 
Professor Glenda Sluga:  
Glenda Sluga is Professor of International History at the University of Sydney. How on earth did she end up there? Her parents were classic beneficiaries of a postwar immigration program targetted at refugees of the European war, albeit in the early 1950s when immigration had become much more blatantly about labour, and
less pedantically about ‘Northern’ European and Aryan types.  They came from a rural part of Slovenia, then in Yugoslavia and near the border with Italy.  In her presentation she will talk about what she learnt from her early work on the history of Australian immigration, and set the current refugee debates in much needed comparative and historical context.

Professor Kevin Dunn
Kevin Dunn is Professor in Human Geography and Urban Studies, and commenced this position at UWS in May 2008. He was formerly at the University of NSW (1995-2008), and the University of Newcastle (1991-1995). His areas of research include:
immigration and settlement; Islam in Australia; the geographies of racism; and local government and multiculturalism. He teaches cultural and social geography, migration and urban studies.
Recent books include Landscapes: Ways of Imagining the World (2003) and Introducing Human Geography: Globalisation, Difference and Inequality (2000).

Dr Sanjugta Vas Dev
Sanjugta has over ten years experience in research on issues pertaining to refugees. She has a deep interest in the way that refugees interact with and impact on their hosting community and the ways that they contribute to community life at an economic and social level. She was a lead researcher to the recent report "A Significant Contribution: The Economic, Social and Civic Contributions of First and Second Generation Humanitarian
Entrants" commissioned by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and authored by Professor Grame Hugo. Sanjugta completed her PhD dissertation on the role of refugee advocacy organisations in Australia and
Malaysia. She currently works for the Government of South Australia.

Cyril O’Conner 
Cyril, 39, was the immediate past manager of the House of Welcome, a project of the NSW Ecumenical Council, which provides essential services to asylum seekers and refugees who are in real need, and are often at immediate risk of homelessness and destitution. Cyril grew up during a time when Ireland had serious
economic and political problems. He said “With a Catholic upbringing and a country in distress it was not surprising that I developed a social justice conscience”. A humble man with a big heart  who has worked like a Trojan with asylum seekers.

Eh Say Aung
Eh Say is a Karen refugee who came to Australia  in 2007 via the official humanitarian program. Prior to his arrival he spent ten years in Them Hin Refugee Camp on the Thai Burma border. He is now working in Sydney. Eh Say will talk about his journey and his new life in Australia.
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Entertainment : The Mudlarks, the popular Blue Mountains based all women choir, will perform contemporary, folk and traditional songs from their cappella harmonies repertoire.
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Organiser’s Say: 
Credible polling had consistently shown negative attitudes towards asylum seekers, especially boat arrivals. Many thought they were queue jumpers, who at best should only be given temporary stays. Remarkably, a number of Greens voters expressed this type of view. Politicians paid heed and, in the hysteria that has
followed, everyone has forgotten the great contribution that refugees have and continue to make to Australia. A reminder was needed and we hope the forum will be a valuable contribution towards that.
Ilan Salbe
More info: BMRSG website www.bmrsg.org.au or contact Ilan Salbe
(isalbe@bigpond.com or 0408 258 984) or Marie Standen 4751-2120 or
mstanden@pnc.com.au