By NARELLE COULTER
A DATABASE to centralise and co-ordinate community assistance for refugees and asylum seekers will be one idea put forward at a special forum to be held in Dandenong on Wednesday.
It is just one idea councillor Roz Blades believes will help ease the crisis being felt across the city as charities, churches and welfare groups struggle to keep up with demand from asylum seekers and refugees trying to feed, cloth and shelter their families.
Greater Dandenong has invited all Victorian municipalities as well as representatives of the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Refugee Council, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and the Office of Multiculural Affairs and Citizenship.
Cr Blades is determined to send a clear message to Canberra that the situation in Greater Dandenong is stretched to breaking point and without immediate help there could be unwanted social and economic consequences.
In 2012-’13 720 asylum seekers settled in Greater Dandenong, including a large proportion of Afghan Hazaras and Sri Lankan Tamils.
The majority of asylum seekers do not have work rights and are entitled to limited financial support, leaving people teetering on the edge of poverty.
To access help through the Asylum Seekers Assistance Scheme applicants need to meet financial hardship criteria and have been waiting for a decision on a protection visa for six months or more.
The Federal Government also funds the Community Assistance Support Program, which supports the work of charities and other non-government organisations such as the Red Cross.
Cr Blades said the growing gap between government support and grassroot need was being filled by overstretched volunteers.
“We don’t want to engage in a policy debate, what we are about is trying to get extra resources for those who are providing the services like Foundation House, the Community Aid and Advice Bureau, churches, other groups and individuals.
“We are the most multi-cultural city in Victoria and a Refugee Welcome Zone. We have a lot of knowledge about providing services to migrants and we have the people and the ability to provide those services. When you extrapolate out the fact that we are reasonably knowledgable in this area and are still not coping it is concerning.”
“We don’t even know how many people there are out there in need.”
Cr Blades said specific requests for more federal help would be thrashed out at the forum.
However, one idea she is keen to fund is a central register of donated goods and services.
“I had a phone call from a lady the other day who had a lounge suite that the Salvos didn’t want. People want to donate but don’t know how to go about it.”
Cr Blades said it was important Greater Dandenong secured the support of other Victorian municipalities to convey to the Federal Government a united depth of concern. All Victorian municipalities have been invited to send a delegate to this week’s forum.
“Obviously not all local government areas have the same issues we have, but local government can come on board and support us. We have the support of the Local Governance Association and the Municipal Association of Victoria,” Cr Blades said.
“What I do know is that people are struggling and this council has an obligation to support the agencies who are looking after these people.
“We have a responsibility to look after all our residents.”
After the forum, the council will make a formal written submission to the Federal Government asking for enhanced support.
