Refugee tour

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG Police are hoping a study tour of Burmese refugee camps will help avoid a repeat of the settlement problems they encountered with African migrants.
The station’s Region Five multicultural liaison officer, Senior Constable Joey Herrech, is this week in Thailand near the Burmese border observing refugees from the strife-torn country who are living in the camps.
His observations will be noted in a report as well as a series of presentations to community groups, fellow police officers and migrant services so that the City of Greater Dandenong is better prepared to cope with another emerging community from a nation riddled political and social turmoil.
Sen Const Herrech is also helping train Department of Immigration and Citizenship staff to be able to teach the Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO) to refugees prior to their arrival in Australia.
AUSCO teaches refugees about all aspects of Australian life before they set foot into the country and Sen Const Herrech’s input will focus largely on law and order in a democratic society.
In Dandenong this week, Inspector Tom Rawlings told the Star that Sen Const Herrech’s work was to be applauded and that it was an evolutionary step in how Dandenong, Victoria and the nation dealt with the settlement of refugees.
“We had African refugees here before (police) even realised,” he said
“But this time we are on the front foot and want to look at the conditions and culture of Burmese refugees before they arrive.”
The Federal Government this month announced it would cut back on the number of African refugees entering the country and focus on taking Burmese refugees.
“They will be a different community with many social and cultural differences,” Insp Rawlings said.
“We (the police) just need to know that we are doing everything we can do to support multicultural communities.”
During the 2006-07 financial year Australia received 1629 Burmese settlers, and Victoria 632.
The number is expected to increase as a result of the Federal Government’s announcement, which comes in the wake of the Burmese junta’s repression of protesting pro-democracy activists that resulted in at least 13 civilian deaths.