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Dear Friends,
Welcome to Refugee Week 2008!
This year, in addition to the talents, resilience and various contributions made to our society by asylum seekers and refugees, we are delighted to be able to celebrate the demise of the temporary protection regime (as announced in the recent federal budget). Nonetheless, while various government policies and practices are currently under review, it seems that there is still much work ahead of us before asylum seekers are guaranteed humane and reasonable treatment in Australia.
As we near the end of the financial year it is clear that our intake statistics will surpass those of all previous years - with a staggering 290 or so asylum seekers approaching our centre for support. As has been the case for many years, most of our new clients lack permission to work or to access Medicare or Centrelink benefits. Providing urgent assistance to these new clients, while still responding to previous year caseloads, makes for an extremely heavy workload for our two caseworkers and part-time health care coordinator.
This tax time please consider making a tax-deductible donation to assist us to sustain the vital humanitarian work of the centre as we grapple with a steadily increasing demand for our services (this link will take you to the trusted "our community" website). Please read to the bottom of the newsletter to find out about a gift (free for ASC) which will go to 15 donors.
 This Refugee Week we warmly invite you to join us at the centre to enjoy an exhibition of beautiful lino-prints created by asylum seekers living in our community. "A PLACE TO CALL HOME" opens this Thursday 19June at 6pm and continues on Friday from 2pm to 7pm. The exhibition will be opened by City of Sydney Councillor Phillip Black.
All featured artworks are for sale - and proceeds go directly to the artists.
Please visit the centre, celebrate asylum seeker talents and stories and help provide direct financial support to asylum seekers by purchasing a beautiful artwork. Find out more about this free art exhibition .
 Thank you to all who attended our hugely successful annual quiz night fundraiser - as well as our extraordinary organising committee and sponsors. Once again a big thank you to our inimitable host of the evening, HG Nelson. And also to Chris Taylor, from The Chaser's War On Everything, who proved to be an extremely entertaining co-host in Tony Squire's absence! We now have photos from the night for you to enjoy in our quiz night gallery and also a slideshow!
Ros Bradley is a member of the quiz night organising commitee, a serving ASC Board member, and has volunteered at the centre in various capacities over many years. In this volunteer profile Ros explains how she became invoved with the centre's work and what motivates to sustain her tireless support of asylum seekers.
 We congratulate Ros on the recent launch of her truly wonderful book Mosaic: favourite prayers and reflections from inspiring Australians , published by ABC Books. Mosaic is available for sale from the centre and at ABC bookshops.
In addition to donating half of all proceeds of book sales to the ASC, and to mark our 15th birthday this year (stay tuned for details of upcoming celebrations!) Ros has generously offered a copy of Mosaic to the first 15 people to donate to the work of the centre (this link will take you to the trusted "our community" website).
As ever, warmest thanks for your much needed support from all of us here at ASC!
Please forward this on to others who may be interested in learning more about what to do.
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