During Human Rights Week, the Humanitarian Crisis Hub held an information and discussion session on Refugee Advocacy as part of its monthly workshop program. The session explored avenues to approach and influence local and federal government on issues related to refugees and asylum seekers, with handy tips for meetings, letter writing, phone calls, and media relations.
Guest speaker Pamela Curr, Campaign Coordinator of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, shared her insights into the Australian political system and practical advice on how to exert influence within it. Her fifteen years of experience in fighting for the human rights of outworkers, refugees and asylum seekers came through in anecdotes of her personal experiences and the lessons she had learnt. Participants joined in on discussion. There was great input from representatives of Care for Congo, Ogaden Youth Forum, the Ecumenical Multicultural Centre, and students of Melbourne and Monash Universities.
