NEWS + EVENTS

REFUGEE WEEK 2009 - June 14-20

In 2009, Refugee Week will be celebrated from Sunday, June 14 to Saturday, June 20, to coincide with World Refugee Day (June 20). For information about Refugee Week, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

2008 Sierra Unite Inc. Drive
Make a difference in the life of a Sierra Leonean by donating goods to be shipped to schools, colleges, polytechnics and IDP camps in Sierra Leone.
For more information click here and for a specific list of what is needed please click here.

Invitation to comment on the Government's draft report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pronography
Details: To view the draft report go to http://www.ag.gov.au/opcrcreport2008. To comment on the report, provide views by January 5, 2009 to crcreport@ag.gov.au or International Security and Human Rights Branch, Office of International Law, Attorney-General's Department, Robert garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton, ACT, 2600.

Saturday November 1, 8, 15 & 29 - Melbourne
Multicultural Arts Immersion for Young People
This is a contemporary arts access program for newly arrived young people to Australia.The program is targeted at refugee and migrant people aged 16-25 who have been living in Australia for 5 years or less. Young people with the support of project workers attend a workshop program introducing them to contemporary visual, performing and dance arts disciplines.
Details: The program is free and takes place at the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art (ACCA), Malthouse Theatre and Chunky Move. Food and transport provided. For more information contact Rob Ball, Coordinator Youth Participation at CMY (03) 9340 3726 or rball@cmy.net.au

November 11,12,21 & 22 - Melbourne
Listen to Us! A series of theatre performances put on by the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition
Details: Free event but bookings essential. Ring Riza Eteve on (03) 9654 1243 or email arts@virwc.org.au

Thursday 20 & Friday 21 November - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Conference: Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights
Details: For more details and registration by November 1, please visit http://sites.google.com/site/apcrr2008/registration-form

November 20 to 22 – Canberra
2008 Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
Details: Canberra's inaugural Human Rights Arts and Film Festival will showcase a bold collection of Australian and International films, including 'North Korea: A Day In The Life' (winner Pyongyang Film Festival 2004 Special Award for Documentary) and 'The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo' (winner Special Jury Prize for Documentary at Sundance film Festival); For tickets and details go to http://www.hraff.org.au

Saturday November 22 – Sydney
African Family Day in Parramatta: includes free African food, Dereb Deselegn and band, performances by Besaat Seyoum and Asim Gorashi
Details: 11-5pm; Parramatta Park, The Crescent; All welcome; free event; for more details visit http://www.africanoz.com

Saturday November 22 – Sydney
The Beats That Give Back concert for Tibetan refugees
Details: 4pm-12am, South Curl Curl Life Saving Club, Carrington Parade, Curl Curl. $30 at the door or $25 online http://www.beatsthatgiveback.org.au/index.html

Monday November 24 – Canberra
Free public forum: UN Declaration of Human Rights 60th Anniversary
Details: The Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, is marking the 60th Anniversary of the UNHR. Guest speakers are Emeritus Professor Ivan Shearer (renowned international human rights law scholar and practitioner) and Professor Hilary Charlesworth (Professor of Internation Law and Human Rights and Director of the Centre for International Governance and Justice at the ANU); free event but bookings are essential on (02) 6277 2313 or jscfadt@aph.gov.au; 9.30am-11am at Main Committee Room of Parliament House, Canberra.

Tuesday November 25 – Sydney
Forum: Human Rights violations against the people in North and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka as the war continues. Speaker: Dr Daniel Thiagarajah, Bishop of CSI Church Diocese of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Details: 4 - 5.30pm; Amnesty International Australia (Room 1 - Mahatma Gandhi) 79 Myrtle St., Level 1, Chippendale. NSW

Tuesday November 25 – Sydney
Free sceening of 'The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo'
Details: Caritas is presenting a free Directors screening of this award-winning film during this year's Human Rights Arts and Film Festival in November and December; 6.15pm at Dendys Newtown; contact caritas@caritas.org.au or (02) 8306 3444

Tuesday November 25 – Sydney
Parramatta Homelessness Forum
Details: 9am-3.30pm; Department of Community Services, 31-37 Macquarie St., Parramatta; afternoon and morning tea provided; RSVP to Victoria Edghill (02) 9806 5138

Wednesday November 26 – Melbourne
Seminar: Researching services for survivors of torture and trauma – a preliminary investigation about recovery outcomes. Presented by LaTrobe University Refugee Health Research Centre with Dr. Colleen McFarlane and Dr. Ida Kaplan, The Refugee Health Research Centre, LaTrobe University/Foundation House
Venue: Foundation House, 6 Gardiner Street, Brunswick
Details: Registration 5.00pm, Seminar: 5.30pm to 6.30pm; for further information contact rhrc@latrobe.edu.au or Tel: 03 9479 5874 or visit http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rhrc/conferences.html

Wednesday November 26 – Melbourne
Inner East Social Inclusion Initiative: A Community Leadership Program for people who are willing to take a lead to reduce the social isolation of older people in the community
Details: 12-1.45pm (lunch included); Ashburton Support Services, 296 High St., Ashburton; RSVP to Janis Price on (03) 9239 2543 by Nov 14

Thursday 27 to Friday 28 November - Brisbane
National Refugee Primary Health Care Conference - Caring Nationally
Details: Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre. Both conference days $350 +GST or 1 day $175 +GST. For more details go to: http://www.materonline.org.au/Home/Events/QIRCH-2008-conference.aspx

Friday November 28 – Melbourne
‘It is Better to Have an Artichoke than a Son’ or Debunking the Myths: the Role of Women in Migrant Communities
This seminar scrutinizes women's roles including the gender roles assigned to them: this will be considered from the perspectives of several immigrant and refugee communities.
Details: 9am-2pm, Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Suite 207, Level 2, Carringbush Building, 134 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, Victoria. Contact Dr Salma Al-Khudairi, Education and Training Officer MCWH on (03) 9418 0999

26-28 November - Melbourne
'Building a Common Future - Africa and Australasia.'
Call for Papers: Submissions due 28th July
African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific 31st Conference.
Venue: Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne Australia
For more information click here.

Monday December 1 - Sydney
Rendition Monologues: True Stories of torture and abuse in th name of the war on terror. A theatre production starring Marcus Graham, Kate Atkinson, Wayne Blair and Damian Walshe-Howling
Details: 8pm; Belvoir St Theatre Donwstairs, 18 Belvoir St., Surry Hills; $20; to book go to http://www.belvoir.com.au or (02) 9699 3444

Tuesday December 2 - Brisbane
Launch: A Matter of Interpretation
Details: Launch of Queensland Access to Interpreters Working group highlighting issues of access to interpreters and the importance of cultural competence in government departments and funded community organisations; 3-4.30pm at Multicultural Development Assocation, 512 Stanley St, South Brisbane; RSVP to Ally on (07) 3004 6907 or allysons@qcoss.org.au

Tuesday December 2 - Sydney
Open seminar: Border autopsy - Misadventure or death by policy?
Details: Presented by UNSW's School of Social Sciences and International Studies, the talk will outline the deadly consequences of contemporary border controls, consider possible explanations for the widespread indifference to this mounting death toll, and contemplate the possibility of a less border-conscious future; 1-2pm; Law Building 2/F Common Room; RSVP by Nov 28 to Michael Salter at m.salter@unsw.edu.au

Wednesday December 3 - Melbourne
Community Leadership Program: Opening Doors into Community
Details: The Community Leadership Program is part of an exciting new initiative developed by a group of organisations who are members of the Inner East Primary Care Partnership. First-round applications close 3 December 2008. For details contact 1300 651 463 or jane.oldfield@ucco.org.au

Thursday December 4 to Sunday December 7 - Sydney
Human Rights and Arts Film Festival
Details: Tickets are now on sale for this annual film festival at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington, Sydney. This year there will be six film sessions over four days and nights, with a range of international feature-length and documentary, comedy, animation and drama films, focusing on human rights issues ranging from freedom of speech to the human impacts of climate change; tickets range from $12-$25 per session and can be booked by visiting http://www.hraff.org.au/sydney

Thursday December 4 - Brisbane
Amnesty International Annual Women's Breakfast
Details: Held as part of the Stop Violence Against Women campaign; 6.30am for 7pm start; $45 per head $35 concession $400 per table of 10 (cost includes full hot breakfast); Sebel Citygate Hotel, King George Square Brisbane; RSVP by Nov 26 2008 to Michael Hayworth michael.hayworth@amnesty.org.au or (07) 3136 6400

Thursday December 4 - Sydney
Fundraising Gala Dinner: VOICE of Hope
Details: The Vietnamese Overseas Initiative for Conscience Empowerment (VOICE) is an international not-for-profit which has recently expanded its scope to advocate for and assist for victims of the human trafficking trade in SE Asia; Cost $100; 6.30-11.30pm; Waterview Convention Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. For more info please contact Jacob Nguyen 0413 436 250 or Vuong Nguyen 0434 228 499 or email australia@vietnamvoice.org

December 1 to 6 - Sydney
Making a Scene: A festival of theatrical scenes with diverse local communities
Details: A week of performances styled on the Augusto Boal definition of forum theatre. Bookings essential to Julia Bilecki 0407 603 058 or 9513 2882 or email events@brunswickwomenstheatre.com

Monday December 8 - Sydney
Workshop: Down There
Details: Based on the newly released DVD called 'Down There', the half day workshop aims to build confidence and support for service providers to talk about reproductive and sexual health topics with CALD communities; 9.30am-1pm; Auburn Community Development Network Centre, 86 Harrow Rd., Auburn; workshop only $40 for 1 person and $70 for 2 people and DVD; morning tea provided; to register contact Professional Education Unit of Family Planning NSW (02) 8752 4349 or education@fpnsw.org.au

December 10 to 12 - Sydney
Cities Nature Justice: Dialogues for Social Sustainability in Public Spaces. An international symposium addressing new dialogues between the science and social science of sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region
Details: Free; 9.30am-4pm; UTS Blackfriars Campus, Blackfriars St., Chippendale; RSVP online http://www.transforming.cultures.uts.edu.au/news_events/conference/rsvp.html

Wednesday December 10 - Sydney
Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights
Details: Speakers are Lord Bingham, leading human rights jurist and former Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and Elizabeth Evatt AC, former member of the UN Committee on the Elimination and Discrimination against Women and the UN Human Rights Committee; 10.30am-12pm; Law Theatre, Law Building, UNSW, Kensington Campus, RSVP by Dec 5 to ahrc@unsw.edu.au

Wednesday December 10 - Brisbane
Free forum: Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights
Details: Speakers include Phillip Adams AO and Stephen Keim SC; 6.30pm for 7pm start; Sebel-Citigate, cnr Ann and Roma Sts, King George Square; RSVP to UDHR60@justrightsqld.org.au or (07) 3136 6400

Friday December 12 - Melbourne
Launch of manual and DVD for service providers working with Southern Sudanese families
Details: The Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) has launched a DVD called 'But here, life is different...', which aims to act as a service response for the prevention and intervention of family violence within the Southern Sudanese community in Australia; 9.30am - 12.30pm; Matsudo Room, Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Victoria, RSVP by Nov 28 to Jessica Bishopon (03) 9285 4888 or jbishop@miceeastmelb.com.au

Friday December 12 - Melbourne
Seminar: What's wrong with Human Rights? with Professor of Human Rights Steven Greer from Bristol University School of Law
Details: 12.30-2pm; Lander & Rogers, level 12, 600 Bourke St., Melbourne; RSVP to admin@pilch.org.au

December 10-14, 2008 - NYC
2008 Humanitarian Media Foundation International Film/Media Festival & Conference
Call for papers: Submissions due 1st August
The 2008 Festival & Conference incorporates three different areas, the Film Festival, Art & Photographic Exhibition, and the Humanitarian Film/Media Conference. A substantive and cohesive program is being formed which draws elements from each of these areas. For more information email pr@humanitarianmedia.org

Thursday 11 & Friday 12 December - New Delhi, India
Conference: Beyond Firewood: Exploring Alternative Fuels and Energy Technologies in Humanitarian Settings
Details: Coordinated by the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. For more details http://www.fuelnetwork.org/index.php/Beyond-Firewood-Exploring-Alternative-Fuels-and-Energy-Technologies-in-Humanitarian-Settings.html

June 1 - 3 2009 - University of Ottawa, Canada
Conference: Forced Migration and Shifting Borders the 2nd annual conference of the Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies
Details: Submission of abstracts by February 15, 2009 to carfms2009@gmail.com

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

UTS Access Schemes for Refugees
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) invites refugees and asylum seekers to apply for university study.This scheme is for refugees on permanent humanitarian visas who wish to apply for undergraduate or postgraduate UTS courses. Eligible applicants will receive a concession on the academic entry requirements of their course.

Special Admission Scheme Refugee application forms are due to UTS by Tuesday 30 September 2008. Applications can be downloaded from http://www.equity.uts.edu.au/education/getting/special.html. Applicants must also submit an application for university admission to the NSW Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by completing an on-line UAC application at www.uac.edu.au Applications to UAC are due by Tuesday 30 September 2008.

Year 12 students who are completing the HSC in 2008 should apply to study at UTS under the inpUTS Educational Access Scheme. Application forms are available from schools or from UAC - see the UAC website www.uac.edu.au InpUTS Educational Access Scheme applications are due by Tuesday 30 September 2008. Information about UTS courses can be found on the UTS website at http://www.uts.edu.au/study/courses.html.

Community Relations Commission
The Community Relations Commission is developing a Community Resource List of respected community members in consultation with the NSW Police Force and the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The Commission is calling for volunteers and is currently seeking applications from interested community members to be part of this important new initiative.
Applications close on 30 JUNE 2008. Click for more information or application form.

Counselling Support Line for Burmese Community
In response to the recent disaster in Burma (Myanmar) the Transcultural Mental Health Centre has re-activated the 24 hour counselling support lines as of 9 May 2008.
The hotline is available to provide support for members of the Burmese community living in NSW who may be affected by the natural disaster.
The Service will operate a free seven day 24 hour on-call roster to provide psychological and emotional support to people who have lost loved ones and suffered devastation in the recent cyclone in Burma (Myanmar).
The service is able to provide community support initiatives if required in consultation with the Burmese community.

African Pregnancy DVD - free copy available now
As a result of a collaborative project of SWAHS, NSW Refugee Health Service, Multicultural Health Communications Service, Auburn and Blacktown Migrant Resource Centres and South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service, a DVD in Somali, Dinka and Arabic was developed to inform and encourage women to present early for antenatal care and make full use of services offered by antenatal clinics.
This resource aims to improve antenatal health and subsequent birth outcomes of women and their babies from small and emerging African communities.
To download media release click here. To order a free copy of the DVD, please contact Monique Wakefield on (02) 9840 3376 or
Monique.wakefield@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Adelaide: Settling In - with the Australian Refugee Association
A radio program that connects people, events and campaigns in support of refugees and asylum seekers.
Every Wednesday night from 6-7pm (Adelaide time) On Radio Adelaide 101.5FM or listen online at www.radio.adelaide.edu.au
For more info contact ARA (08) 8354 2951

'Harvesting Hope' - by Christian Ayling
A novella which focuses on the life of a tormented Muslim women. Centred around the life of Yasemin Sandulli, ‘Harvesting Hope’ offers a delicately weaved tale of life, love and loss with an ensemble of poetry and prose to highlight the racial intolerance that exists within Australia today. Book reviewer Kathleen Stewart from Author’s Ally said 'The twists and turns in this thought-provoking young-adult fiction will keep the reader enthralled to the end.' – for the full review click here.
To order this book
Contact Stephen Matthews (Publisher Ginniderra Press)
at stephenmatthews@ginninderrapress.com.au
or PO Box 6753 Chatswood ACT 2615 Australia
You can also order online at
http://www.ginninderrapress.com.au/gplist%20fiction.htm
Or click below to go directly to the order page
http://ww6.aitsafe.com/cf/add.cfm?userid=82155142&product=Harvesting%20Hope&price=18.00

“Ziba Came on a Boat” is a children’s book based on real events about a refugee child whose family has lost almost everything. This beautiful picture book takes us on her brave journey to make a new life far from home. “Ziba Came on a Boat” is nominated for Picture Book of the Year by The Children’s Book Council of Australia. For more information click here

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