CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn ACMRO Presentation Towards A Better World by Mustafa Karimi and Jackson Dunkley

CatholicCare Who we are. CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn is the welfare arm of the Catholic Church in the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese. Has been providing welfare services to the archdiocese since Employs over 250 staff. Provides more than 50 programs for the State and Federal Governments.

CatholicCare What we do. CatholicCare’s primary focus is “Helping People”. Guided by Catholic Social Teachings, the Agency aims to offer responsive, quality programs to the most disadvantaged in our community. CatholicCare is committed to advocating for a fair and just society, and through our services promote independence, social inclusion and community participation to reduce isolation and disadvantage.

Community Migration Service What we do. Services include: 24 Hour Supported Residential care Assistance with access to health care Access to education including fees, uniforms, text books and excursion costs Linking with social and religious networks Provision of a fortnightly living allowance Volunteer support Other day to day case work and welfare support as required

CatholicCare Tenison Woods

Community Migration Service To Date. Since April 2011 we have: Provided support to 72 young people, 56 have successfully graduated from our service into Australian Society, 8 have chosen to settle in Canberra. Currently we have: 14 boys in residence awaiting their VISA outcomes, 10 at Tenison Woods, 4 at Kaleen House.

Mustafa’s Story

Mustafa Karimi “I left my beloved family and home country to escape persecution, in my case on the basis of religion. “I left my beloved family and home country to escape persecution, in my case on the basis of religion. “I had the opportunity to move around, engage with people outside detention and participate in social events … similar to what I could do back home.” “I had the opportunity to move around, engage with people outside detention and participate in social events … similar to what I could do back home.”

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences Increased level of independence Always supported by CMS staff. Taken care of but also quite closely monitored. Able to have closer contact with friends, family members and support networks.

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences “It was very difficult and stressful time when most of my housemates got their visas and left the community detention and I had no information or news about my visa outcome.” “I felt that though we have no wired fences around us but there are still so many restrictions to our movement, still there is a curfew time, limited money and the long wait for our visa status to be determined seemed endless.”

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences Enrolled in Dickson College as a year 11 student. Determined to finish year 12, working towards up skilling myself. “… feeling of being fairly productive on a day to day basis.” Engaged in unpaid, voluntary work.

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences Stayed more than a year in community detention centre. Finished year 12 by the time I got my permanent protection visa. I learnt a lot and gained better understanding of living independently in a foreign country, confident and prepared. First aid, white card, and driving licence. Enrolled in a Certificate course in Community Services

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences “Now I am working as a Support Worker at Catholic Migration Service. It’s good to see myself at the other side of the table. I understand the situations better from client’s sides and now also understand the difficulties of the staff. I now understand why they had to say no to some things I wanted to do and also about all the policies and procedures that staff have to abide with.”

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences

“I enjoy working this job as I feel I am helping clients who are now in similar or rather worse situation where I once was. I know where the shoe pinches. I am able to give hope to the clients when they feel depressed, home sick and worried about visa outcome. I share my own experiences with them and encourage them to be hopeful and strong. They can identify themselves with me and I have a responsibility to be a role model for them.”

Mustafa Karimi Community Detention Experiences “We all came to Australia through different boats and routes but we are all in the same boat of life changes.”