Jennifer Pittorino
Asylum seekers in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay will continue to receive vital support at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) with a $500,000 state government grant.
On Friday, April 21, Multicultural Affairs Minister Colin Brooks announced the one-off grant with the support of Footscray MP Katie Hall, Preston MP Nathan Lambert and Albert Park MP Nina Taylor.
The grant will allow for the ASRC to continue their support by providing essential services including delivering food bank support, as well as funding the many roles of frontline legal services, bicultural and social workers.
Mr Brooks said he is proud of the important work being done at the ASRC.
“We know there have been some tough times financially for so many organisations making things very challenging at the moment,” he said.
“We know this money will be put to such good use.”
ASRC chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis said the ongoing support from the state government has led them through challenging times.
“We are an organisation that relies on the kindness and the goodwill of a community, we are so honoured to have a state government that continues to stand for the marginalised refugees, and who understands their role is about looking after local Victorians,” he said.
“The people that walk through these doors are not asylum seekers, they are local Victorians and future Australian citizens, and you’re setting them up for a life where they can thrive and not simply survive.”
Founded in 2001, the ASRC is Australia’s largest human rights organisation providing support to over 7000 people.
More than 80 per cent of the people supported by the ASRC are living with no form of income and rely solely on the ASRC.
Mr Karapanagiotidis said without the grant, the ASRC would not be able to continue operating.
“We would not be able to keep housing people, and be their supermarket, their pharmacy and the roof over their heads”, he said.
