Add your Name!
The Refugee Council of Australia are collecting signatures in support of expanding access to Medicare, the PBS and JobSeeker for children and families seeking asylum.
Sign on as an educator, parent, student or relevant group
Signatures are being collected from teachers, parents, academics, students, education focused associations, unions and societies, in support of expanding access to Medicare, the PBS and JobSeeker for children and families seeking asylum.
Sign on as a concerned member of the public
Sign on to the public petition to call on the Federal government to ensure basic supports for people seeking asylum during COVID-19 and the subsequent economic recovery. People seeking asylum have come to Australia to seek protection. It is not safe for them to return home. Australia is their home. We need our government to ensure a basic safety net for people seeking asylum at this time.
Why should you add your name?
There are currently around 16,000 children in families seeking protection in Australia. Many people seeking asylum have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19, as they often work in the service sectors worst affected. People seeking asylum are not eligible for the JobSeeker or JobKeeper payments, like many other workers. They have been left with nothing. It will be hard for them to re-enter the workforce, especially in the current economy.
There are serious concerns that many families seeking asylum have been left in a situation where they have no work, no income, and no way out. Demand on emergency relief at asylum agencies has in most cases trebled, with unprecedented demand for food, medicines and rent relief.
A coalition of educators, carers and students are working to put pressure on the Federal government to ensure adequate support is provided for people in this situation. COVID-19 does not discriminate, and neither should access to a safety net or assistance during this time. We are in this together and there must be support for all who need it, regardless of visa status.
You can see retired principal Dorothy Hoddinott AO speak to The Today Show about the campaign here.
