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We welcome High Court decision not to deport children |
| 31 August 2011 |
 MA Media Release - 31 August 2011Two of the nation’s leading community service organisations, Baptcare and Mission Australia, have welcomed the High Court’s ruling that it is illegal to send unaccompanied asylum seeker children to Malaysia. Baptcare and Mission Australia recently announced their support of Melbourne’s Crossway Baptist church and its offer to government to accommodate and care for the unaccompanied asylum seeker children rather than see them deported to Malaysia – at no cost to taxpayers. Baptcare had offered case management to the families prepared to accommodate the unaccompanied minors as well as individualised support to every child in care. Mission Australia had offered its experience as one of the country’s largest providers of homelessness and youth services to support the church with developing procedures to ensure the care of children is delivered at high standards and with cultural sensitivity. “We welcome the High Court ruling, and now implore the government to consider alternative proposals to house unaccompanied asylum seeker children. We would welcome the opportunity to work with government to create options to release asylum seeker children into the community where they will have access to the supports that every child deserves,” said Baptcare’s Chief Executive, Mr Jeff Davey. "The decision made by the High Court is a very positive outcome for the unaccompanied minors. These children should get a chance to be looked after in the community which is far more beneficial to the child's long term wellbeing while their asylum application is processed. The offer we made to the government to accommodate and care for these children still stands," said Dale Stephenson, Senior Pastor of Crossway. “When the government was first elected in 2007 it promised a humane and even-handed approach to refugees. It promised community-led care of refugee children. Following today’s decision, we’re hopeful we’ll now see a change of heart and a return to those principles,” said Mission Australia’s Chief Executive, Mr Toby Hall. For the past three years Baptcare has provided supported community-based accommodation, social work and advocacy to male asylum seekers while they await the outcome of their visa application. Baptcare’s case workers have extensive experience in the specialist field of supporting asylum seekers during extended periods of uncertainty while maintaining their mental health and dignity. “Many asylum seekers have experienced trauma and torture, experiences that most of us could never contemplate or understandand have been forced to flee their homelands under threat of persecution because of their race, religion, political beliefs or ethnicity,” said Mr Davey. “We believe this is a justice issue; to have sent unaccompanied asylum seeker children to Malaysia would have been letting them down,” Mr Davey said. Photo/interview opportunity
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