Nicole Reardon
Is Australia really providing refugees and asylum seekers a fair go?
After an explosion occurred onboard a boat carrying asylum seekers, it’s time to dig a little deeper into the issue.
Unpack the issues
The Transit Lounge recently spoke to Uniting Church minister and long-term refugee advocate, Rev Isobelle Shortreed. Isobelle is chaplain at Royal Perth Hospital, where 23 of 47 asylum seekers travelling on the boat were taken after the explosion for treatment for their wounds. 
Asked whether she thought Australia is giving refugees and asylum seekers a fair go, Isobelle’s response was mixed. She acknowledged that the Government’s response is getting better, with the removal of the temporary protection visa (TPV) and the closing of detention centers. She also spoke of the firm but “humane attitude” of the police and Immigration staff attending to the injured refugees taken to Royal Perth Hospital.
“People were frightened of the refugees because they were so obviously different, but everything changed once people started to get to know the refugees who were filtering into our community — to see them face to face and know them as individuals
“In Western Australia, we’ve had quite a long time to get used to refugees, with many refugees entering our community over the past ten years.”
However, she points out, the reaction of the public towards refugees and asylum seekers varies.
“For instance,” she says, “During the time that the incident occurred off Ashmore reef and the following days when the victims were receiving treatment in hospital, I recall turning on the radio and listening to a talk-back program where people were saying the most appalling things about the men…I remember one caller ringing to complain that they had had a routine operation booked at the hospital and because of the [Asylum seekers] they couldn’t get in.”
Isobelle believes that this type of negative response towards refugees and asylum seekers is, in part, due to the cover they receive in the media.
“It is often sensationalist and inaccurate.” Isobelle says. “You don’t hear many personal stories from refugees in the media and there are generally no follow-up stories on ‘incidents.’”
The coverage of the recent boatload of asylum seekers, caught in the explosion off Ashmore reef, is indicative of this. While certain details of their voyage and the consequent explosion cannot yet be published, there has been little coverage surrounding the mens’ recovery, with the press instead focusing on the political ramifications of this incident.
As the chaplain on duty at the time of the incident, Isobelle was there when the 23 men arrived at the Royal Perth Hospital.
“They arrived in a convoy of ambulances,” she says, “The men were of a range of ages — a couple were teenagers up until some in their 50s. Their wounds and burns varied in severity.
“Their medical needs were the prime needs at the time and the theatres ran for 12 hours a day for four days.”
After their initial treatment, Isobelle explained, the men were kept in isolation in order for the Police and Immigration to conduct their assessments. Realising this was a distressing experience for the men, Isobelle, with the hospital’s approval, sought out the help of a local Imam to aid them.
“To our understanding, most of the men were Muslim and an Imam is an important figure in the Islamic community… Our [Uniting Church] Social Justice Commission was able to seek out an Imam named Husseini who is the leader of the local Jafari community as well as another local community leader.”
Both community leaders, Isobelle relates, were very concerned for the men’s welfare and happy to assist. Under instruction that they had to be accompanied at all times, the community leaders were able to visit the injured men.
“The mens’ reactions when they saw the Imam was extremely moving,” Isobelle says. “Without exception, they all broke into tears. They had been so frightened and so unsure of their surroundings.
“Even though it had been explained by interpreters, some still didn’t realise they were in Australia — they thought they were still in Indonesia.”
With the aid of the Imam and hospital staff, the men have gradually recovered and the majority have now been released into a community house, where they can be visited independently by members of the local community.
Asked whether she thought the treatment and care offered to the men had changed their initial perspective of the hospital and Australia, Isobelle says, “Absolutely. We were seeing smiles by the end of their recovery and they had formed magnificent relationships with the staff.
“There was a delightful nurse from the Burns Unit who fell in love with them all and by the time they got discharged, they were calling her ‘Mum.’ Great relationships were forged during that time.”
It is Isobelle’s hope that by developing this personal perspective, Australians will be able to perceive the common humanity with those people who seek refuge in our country, as was witnessed recently at Royal Perth Hospital.
“The hospital is a sanctuary of healing and hope,” said Isobelle. “How wonderful it would be if our whole community was a sanctuary of healing and hope as well.”
Isobelle recommends getting in contact with CARAD if you wish to provide donations of practical support to asylum seekers or detainees.
Unpack the issues...
- How do you perceive refugees and asylum seekers?
- Do you think that the Rudd Government’s policy changes are improving the circumstances for asylum seekers and refugees?
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