MEMBER for Mallee Andrew Broad has written to Immigration Minister Scott Morrison proposing a pilot program for Swan Hill that helps refugees on bridging visas gain work or volunteer opportunities.
Mr Broad said the program would allow “productive activity” in the community, as refugees awaited immigration processing.
“Tolerance and understanding comes through interaction, the local Swan Hill residents have been great,” Mr Broad said.
“I hope I can get a program over the line in due course.”
Mr Broad’s focus on the local refugee population comes as the nation celebrates Refugee Week.
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is also behind support for refugees in local government areas.
The MAV said Refugee Welcome Zones such as Swan Hill showed commitment to welcoming refugees into the community, upholding their human rights and demonstrating compassion.
“While the Federal Government is responsible for policy when asylum seekers are placed in communities on bridging visas, there is inadequate State and Federal support services to help refugees adjust to a new lifestyle in an unfamiliar environment,” MAV president Cr Bill McArthur said. “Local government plays a key role to support them while they await the outcome for their application for asylum.”
Swan Hill District Health Refugee Nurse Maurisa McColm said being able to work or volunteer in the community would reduce much of the stress, anxiety and depression experienced by refugees.
Ms McColm talks with most refugees settled in Swan Hill and said they were “universally” affected by mental health issues.
“How could they not be common?” she said.
“Irrespective of whether they have a trauma background, most of them will say they are having difficulty sleeping, they will talk about how they can’t see their families.”
Ms McColm said not having a job or occupation of some kind was cited as a major reason for stress or other symptoms of mental health issues in refugees.
“Those refugees who have work or a permanent visa… they’re doing better,” she said.
But Ms McColm said the services in place to support refugees and migrants were strong in the region.
“We have a psychiatrist and a mental health nurse who visit weekly and the services are quite good in Swan Hill,” she said.
“But no matter what you offer them they say that they want to work and that they want their family.”
