By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
TALK to any charity worker in Greater Dandenong – they’ll tell you that giving work rights to asylum seekers would solve many problems.
Since August 2012, asylum seekers on bridging visas have been barred from work or study by the Federal Government.
They’re given basic Medicare access, and 89 per cent of Newstart to live off – or the even less generous Youth Allowance for 18-21 year olds.
Migrant service AMES asylum-seeker team leader Lesley Eksteen said most of the 1670 Greater Dandenong asylum seekers it continued to support were on bridging visas.
Salvation Army Dandenong Corps captain Stuart McGifford said Dandenong received 2214 new arrivals – enough for a “country town” – in 2012.
Many were depressed due to a combination of isolation, language barriers, unaffordable transport and education and not being able to work.
“Most, if not all, were hard workers back home. They were proud to have jobs.”
Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau manager Jinny McGrath said asylum seekers were a growing part of their emergency relief clientele, at about eight per cent.
“They’ve got nothing in terms of household goods, and the other big deficiency is finding affordable accommodation.”
She said granting work rights would make a “major difference”.
“Some of them are quite skilled and can contribute.”
Dandenong Neighbourhood House stages classes such as English language, cooking and computing for up to 150 asylum seekers a week.
Manager Robyn Coslovich says the work bans were consigning “proud men” to depression and boredom.
“We don’t allow people to be idle in our own lives. We call them ‘dole bludgers’.”
Springvale Benevolent Society president Joe Rechichi helps at least 20 asylum seekers on a regular basis.
He says he’s seen up to seven people dwell in “unlivable” conditions in a two-bedroom unit.
“They just don’t have enough to live off.”
Friends of Refugees volunteer Sri Samy said the government’s “chilling” position was recently put to her by Department of Immigration and Border Protection officers.
“I had a meeting with the department about Tamil people committing self-harm.
“I pointed out that they don’t have work rights. They are twiddling their thumbs, not having much to do.
“Giving them work rights would solve a lot of problems.
“They said (Immigration and Border Protection Minister) Scott Morrison doesn’t want them integrated in the community so it will be easier to get rid of them.”
The immigration department did not respond before deadline.
