By Georgia FreeTuesday 27 Sep 2022Hope DriveSocial JusticeReading Time: 2 minutes
Imagine moving to a new country – without knowing so much as how to find a job, a house or even navigate the public transport system. That is the reality for thousands of refugees who enter Australia each and every year – but a new community-sponsored pilot program is set to change that.
Over the past few weeks, the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) has seen refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and Myanmar settle in Australia, supported by a group of community members that help them settle into their new hometown.
Gosford Group with Al Daoud Family
Run by Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA), the program sees groups of everyday Australians rally around refugee families – helping them to find housing, work, enrol children in school, apply for Medicare and even navigate Australia’s complicated public transport network.
A similar program has had massive success in Canada over the past 40 years – settling over 300,000 refugees in this manner. Slowly, other countries, including Australia, are adopting the program.
CSRA’s Community Development Training Lead Shabnam Safa, a former refugee herself, spoke to Hope Drive on the incredible benefits of this program not only for refugees but for the Australian community.
“Having the group of community members there already as friends when you arrive, gives you a head start,” Shabnam said.
“You don’t start from scratch.
“Having the group of community members there already as friends when you arrive, gives you a head start,” – Shabnam Safa, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia
“The [program] brings together groups of everyday Australians who want to do something practical to support refugees and start building their new life in Australia.
“People can get quite overwhelmed looking at… the sheer need of refugees around the world right now.
“This program is providing the opportunity… to make a difference in one family’s life.
“That is still making a difference.”
Listen to Shabnam’s full interview on Hope Drive in the player above.
To find out more about CRISP, visit the Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia website.
Images: supplied