Circle of Friends

CIRCLES  OF  FRIENDS

Circles of Friends is an ARA initiative. They began largely in response to the public perception that locking up refugees and their children was not the best way forward for them or for Australia. While not so many people face detention these days the Circles still provide essential services to refugees and asylum seekers. High on the list of things they do is offering direct financial assistance to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers with no work rights or Medicare entitlements are forced to survive on charity. Some people have been in this state for years while their cases drag on through the RRT, the Federal Court and eventually to the Minister of Immigration. Circles of Friends are non partisan, non denominational groups of ordinary Australians with a strong desire to give everyone a ‘Fair Go’.

The Circles of Friends are community based grass roots groups who try to help where they can. There are more than 100 Circles of Friends on ARA’s books at this time, some more active than others. They are independent groups who team up with refugees or asylum seekers and provide everything from friendship to finance with a smattering of driving lessons and furniture removals thrown in for good measure. Some Circles provide accommodation for those who cannot find or afford housing. Instances of Circles paying medical or dental expenses for those they care for are not uncommon. Each Circle has its own way of doing things and is completely independent in terms of its decision making, fund raising, meeting agendas and recipients of its largesse. Some Circles have had such diverse functions as concerts to raise funds to group protest letter writing sessions to beach day barbeques just for fun.

ARA coordinates the Circles by regular newsletters called the Hub Mail. These newsletters contain any relevant information that the Circles may need to know including reports of past appeals and updates on ‘ongoing situations’. In addition to the monthly newsletters ARA may at any time issue an appeal for help on behalf of any individual or family who is experiencing hardship. Generally the appeals focus on asylum seekers and their needs. ARA also receives many enquiries from Circle convenors or treasurers who have queries regarding their accounts. These queries are attended to primarily by the Circle of Friends coordinator who, if unable to answer directly, seeks the answers from the relevant people. ARA attempts to protect the privacy of all individuals including the Circle members themselves as well as the refugees or asylum seekers. Currently the position of Circles of Friends coordinator is a voluntary one; the current coordinator is expected to stay at ARA until sometime in August.

Many of the Circles were established to take care of individuals or families who were being held in detention and continue to look after their people who are now in the community. These Circles may not be seeking new projects but continue to fulfil a very important role by assisting these people to adjust to life in the outside world. Former detainees often have mental health issues and suffer from social dislocation which the Circles try to overcome by ongoing contact and active support.
Other Circles were established for single purposes such as the Vietnam Education Project or providing second hand books and support to orphans in Kenya or school books to the South Pacific to help the children there. Still others were set up to support refugees or asylum seekers or their relatives who had experienced trouble outside Australia. Another Circle was set up to promote and provide for Homework Clubs which assist school children in their studies here in SA.

All in all the Circles of Friends are an important part of the wider network of  NGO’s and service providers who target refugees and asylum seekers and who provide essential support to those often overlooked by mainstream services.

Circles of Friends provide a unique way for ordinary people to become involved in helping refugees and asylum seekers which for many Australians is part of the way they see themselves.  As well as providing invaluable assistance where it is most needed, it enables people to have an active role in this demanding and stressful period.  Getting involved is never done lightly but it is almost always a very rewarding experience for both Circles members and those they help.

ARA’s role
Provide information, background, advice, suggestions, etc in relation to refugees and
asylum seekers
Identity individuals or families for whom the support of a Circle would be very
helpful.
Manage Circle funds.  By having Circles operate under the ARA umbrella, circle
members pool their money as donations to ARA. These are ear-marked for their particular Circles.  ARA records the contributions and makes payments as guided by each Circle Convenor.

Financial transparency
 As all ARA’s financial affairs are audited annually, this provides transparency
and clear audit trails for all contributions and payments.

Tax Deductibility
This arrangement means that Circle members can claim tax deductibility for donations to the Circle.

Administration Fee
To meet some of the costs involved in administering the program, ARA deducts 5% from contributions.  This is much less than the savings made through tax deductibility.

For further information about Circles, contact Reception at ARA on 8354 2951 or Email: reception@ausref.net