Dear Valued Readers,
Dear Valued Readers,Welcome to the May edition of the AFFMA Newsletter.
Since the last newsletter, an election campaign has begun in Australia. Over the past decade or two, refugee and asylum seeker issues have been hotly contested political issues at federal elections.
This month’s edition outlines the policy platforms of the three main political parties.
From a compassionate viewpoint, it is the Greens that has the most progressive policy stance on refugee issues.
The Liberal National Coalition and the Labor Party have policies with varying levels of compassion; however, both support the detention of refugees genuinely trying to seek asylum within Australia’s borders.
Understanding the policy positions may help you further comprehend the nature and scale of the refugee and asylum seeker issues that face our region, and the globe more generally.
Building on the great feedback we received following our segment on successful Australian refugees, and in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Refugee Week (as celebrated in Australia) which runs from 19 to 25 June 2016 we have decided to keep this as a regular feature of our newsletter to continue to reinforce the valuable contribution that refugees have had and continue to have on Australian society.
This week we follow the journey of a Vietnamese refugee turned comedian and a European Jewish refugee turned successful and world-renowned Australian artist.
I would also like to take this further opportunity to remind you that AFFMA’s 2016 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 June at 5pm at our Newtown Office.
I would also like to remind all readers that our permanent volunteer migration agent-lawyer and transformational life coach continues to offer business and leadership coaching to business people and those aspiring to start their own business whether in the migration field or any other field.
Please also be aware that AFFMA receives a number of local and overseas inquiries every week from non-asylum seekers/ refugees.
If you are interested in referrals from us, please send us an email to <info@affma.org.au> with your background and area of expertise as well as a membership form if you are not a member.
AFFMA is also looking for migration agents who are willing to complete a Protection Visa application from beginning to end on a pro bono basis either at your office/home or our office in Newtown.
AFFMA is an Approved Voluntary Organisation by the Office of the MARA. Agents volunteering at our organisation can claim one CPD point for every three hours of pro bono work.
One last point of housekeeping, our office will be closed from Monday 6 June to Friday 1 July 2016inclusive as most of our volunteers are students-at-law and they need to prepare and take their exams during June.