Can you help us create pathways to dignity?
For many years now, in Australia, both the Indigenous community and people seeking asylum have often been marginalised and treated without dignity.
Indigenous Incarceration
It’s been 30 years since the Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody. Yet since that landmark report was handed down, no fewer than 470 Indigenous people have died in police custody or prison. Pat Dodson noted on the progress since the commission.
“We can do better…There’s enough evidence, there’s enough knowledge about how the nation has behaved towards First Nations peoples —it's time for us to take those lessons and make the reforms necessary” Pat Dodson
Recent protests. Image: Andrew Mercer
At the Edmund Rice Centre, we have responded to the call of Indigenous people to walk with them in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We partner with Indigenous communities to develop culturally orientated resilience projects that help foster resilience in young Indigenous people to help them with the adversity and pressures of society.
It’s time we all act on Indigenous dignity.
Detention of people seeking asylum
Since July 2012, thousands of people fleeing their countries for safety, have arrived in Australia seeking asylum, only to suffer the inhumane reality of detention, like Zaki Hadari did.
Zaki fled Afghanistan for his safety in 2012, only to arrive on Christmas Island after the Australian government had decided to implement harsh policies for people seeking asylum. As a result, Zaki spent time in detention, including on Christmas Island, before being released into the Australian community on a temporary protection visa.
"Christmas Island was a really harsh place to be in. Detention Centre life…I wouldn’t even call it a life, it’s designed that you are in prison. Your identity is taken away from you and you are given a number”
Christmas Island detention centre. Image: DIAC Images
There are still people detained in devastating circumstances in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
At the Edmund Rice Centre, we have responded to the call of Indigenous people to walk with them in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We partner with Indigenous communities to develop culturally orientated resilience projects that help foster resilience in young Indigenous people to help them with adversity and pressures of society.
With your support, together we can continue to create
pathways to dignity for Indigenous people and people seeking asylum.