Advocacy Resources
The resources below are designed to be used in conjunction with the information provided under the sections listed in the main index, such as education resources, policy documents, submission, articles and media releases.
Want to write to your local Member of Parliament?
How to Write a Letter to the Editor - The Ten Commandments of a good letter
Action and Resource Material:
Each year, the NCCA prepares parish and school education kits for Refugee and Migrant Sunday, which contain information on how to take action in support of refugees and displaced people. In these kits, you will also find stories, country studies and liturgical resources to help raise awareness, take action and celebrate the day. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office also produces Refugee and Migrant Sunday Resources.
The State of Refugee Advocacy in Australia
‘What if no one had spoken out against this policy?’ The rise of asylum seeker and refugee advocacy in Australia - Diane Gosden, University of New South Wales. This paper provides a good understanding of nature and direction of refugee advocacy in Australia. It examines the rise of the asylum seeker and refugee advocacy movement in Australia since the introduction of mandatory detention in 1992. This regime had been contested since its inception by small numbers of concerned individuals and core refugee, human rights, professional and church groups. However, after the 'Tampa' affair and the introduction of the 'Pacific Solution' in 2001 and 2002, refugees became highly contentious public issue. The government’s actions were supported by a majority of the population. At the same time however, a myriad of asylum seeker and refugee support groups sprang up spontaneously across Australia to contest the policy.
Archival Material:
1. The Better Way website - proposes a flexible case-management system as an alternative to detention
2. Social Justice Kit 2004 - "Security at All Costs? A Christian reflection on where to draw the line".
3. NCCA Election Kit - The Visions, Reflections and Questions contained in this resource reflect the spirit and intention of a range of statements by the member Churches of the NCCA.
4. The Justice Project Election Campaign Kit - The Justice Project has launched its campaign kit. This kit is designed to help everyone who wants to campaign for a more humane refugee policy.
5. NETACT Pre-Election Kit - NetAct (Network for Action) is a network of Catholic social justice, welfare and educational agencies. It is committed to a common vision of the world based on human dignity, right relationships and gospel values. In anticipation of the forthcoming Federal election, NetAct has produced a kit which includes a number of Issues Papers with underpinning principles, relevant issues and suggested alternative policies and actions. It provides both information and resources for discussion and for visiting your local Candidate/Federal Member.
