Asylum Seekers Centre

The Asylum Seekers Centre of NSW (ASC) opened as a house of welcome and referral base for community-based asylum seekers in September 1993.

It was the first organisation of its kind in Australia, and commenced operations with a part-time salaried staff member and a part-time volunteer.

The Jesuit Refugee Service identified the need for the service, the Good Shepherd Sisters provided the rent-free premises and staff salary, and Uniya Jesuit Social Justice became the auspicing body for the centre.

Almost 14 years on, ASC has assisted over 3 000 adult and child asylum seekers and has 4.5 full-time equivalent staff and a network of 80 volunteers. ASC continues to rely upon the generosity of donors and volunteers to sustain its delivery of essential services to an extremely disadvantaged and largely destitute population.

Sister Noelene White, a founding member of ASC and a long-term Chairperson of its management committee writes:
“I look on my association with the ASC as a very blessed part of my life journey. I am sad that such a place was ever necessary in this country, but in that terrible reality we have created a little oasis of care and support.”  Read more of Sister Noelene's article.