The Asylum Seekers Centre provides practical and personal support for people seeking asylum living in the community. Our services include casework, financial relief, health care and counselling, employment assistance, education, advocacy, food and recreational activities.
We are a not-for-profit organisation and rely on grants, donations and volunteers to undertake our work.
OUR VISION
Australia opens its heart to people seeking asylum. Recognising our shared humanity with those seeking safety in Australia, we extend our welcome, respect and support. We are a stronger and more vibrant country as a result.
OUR PURPOSE
- Provide support and services for people seeking asylum to enable them to become independent and valued members of the community.
- Advocate for a supportive policy and service framework that recognises the rights and needs of people seeking asylum in Australia – regardless of how they arrive.
- Create a welcoming and supportive community – involving people from all walks of life in our work while building understanding of asylum issues and support for people seeking asylum.
OUR VALUES
- A people centred service. We focus on the needs of people seeking asylum, adjusting what we do and how we work in response to their strengths and capabilities.
- An organisation operating within a strong human rights framework. We respect the rights of people seeking safety through asylum in Australia and work with them to realise their human right to live in peace and free from danger.
- A collaborative partnership. We work with people seeking asylum, our volunteers, other sector agencies, donors and supporters, to provide the best possible service.
- An accountable and transparent agency. We follow standards of good practice for NGOs and critically reflect on our work so we can keep improving our services and have greater social impact.
Casework, Employment services, Health services, Education, Nutrition, Material & Social support, Legal services, Emergency relief, and Asylum seeker support services
Today more than 35 refugee, human rights, and faith-based organisations, including the Asylum Seekers Centre, have sent an urgent call to the major parties urging them to avoid divisive discourse during the election campaign.
In an open letter, we’re urging the Labor, Liberal, Greens, and Nationals parties to approach issues around people seeking asylum and refugees during the course of the election campaign with dignity and respect.
Divisive and hostile rhetoric causes real, lasting harm. Not only to people seeking asylum, refugees, and multicultural communities, but also to the fabric of a society.
We've already seen examples of divisive dog whistling this week and the federal election campaign hasn't even officially commenced. If this is the starting mark, we have serious concerns over where the campaign will finish.
So we’re putting a line in the sand that we won't stand for fear-mongering and punching down. And we’ll be holding politicians to account all the way up to election day and beyond.
https://lnkd.in/g2jCQpvN
Today, we joined more than 35 refugee, human rights, and faith-based groups in sending an open letter to the major parties urging them to avoid divisive discourse during the federal election campaign.
The letter calls on our leaders to approach issues around people seeking asylum and refugees with dignity and respect, and ensure the debate remains remains facts-based, compassionate, and informed by lived experience.
The point of this letter is to lay down a clear marker. We won’t stand for fear-mongering and divisive language, and we demand our leaders use their words to create unity, not division.
Read the letter: https://loom.ly/v3zpyDo
Huge thanks to Pocket City Farm for an insightful and interactive tour last Thursday with our community members.
We learned about sustainable food growing and found a refreshing escape in nature, despite the heat! Preparing fresh Roselle flowers and seed pods for jam making was a definite highlight.
As one participant shared, "these activities give us connection to one another. It really has helped me learn new life skills!"
Language shapes perception, and the way we describe people seeking safety profoundly impacts how they are viewed and treated.
We use the terms 'people seeking asylum' and 'person seeking asylum' to centre the person and acknowledge their humanity, story, and agency.
As our Client Support Services Manager Phuong explains, the term 'asylum seeker' can reduce people to a label or category and lead to dehumanisation.
"‘While ‘asylum seeker’ highlights a person’s need for protection, it fails to capture the individual’s full story, including their broader context, aspirations, and potential to enrich their community."
Curious to learn more about why the distinction is important?
🔗 Read more in our latest blog: https://loom.ly/FGJyHFs
Meet Fatima 👋 She was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and at the age of five, she and her family fled as refugees from Afghanistan to Australia.
Fatima Rahmati has almost two decades’ experience in advocacy and community development across human rights organisations and now works in the ASC's Employment Services team, where she helps connect people seeking asylum with employment opportunities, and advocates for their access to work and training.
In marking International Women's Day, Fatima reflects on the woman who has inspired her the most - her mother.
"She taught me to never give up, by fighting for us every day despite it meaning she never saw her mother again. She taught me that one woman can change the world by pouring love into others and changing their world."
Read Fatima's powerful International Women's Day reflections: https://loom.ly/GmsMZss
As the reality of a March Federal Budget looms, we must see the restoration of a safety net for people seeking safety.
The independent Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee this week called for a considerable increase to JobSeeker and related income support payments, which people seeking asylum are structurally excluded from accessing.
This leads to unimaginable poverty, the reality of which we see every day here at the Asylum Seekers Centre, with a sharp increase in people experiencing homelessness and a deterioration in mental health across the board.
People seeking asylum are living in our community without a safety net - no Centrelink, no housing support, limited work rights, and fluctuating Medicare access.
Even the Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program designed for those awaiting refugee status is flawed and dwindling. Successive governments have cut the program from $369.7 million in 2016-17 to $17 million in 2024-25.
We must not force people seeking asylum to trade danger for destitution.
The Albanese government must deliver on its election platform for people seeking asylum to have means-tested access to appropriate social services, including income, crisis housing, healthcare, and more. And the SRSS program must be expanded so that all people engaged in the entire process of seeking protection are eligible.
Old devices collecting dust? Your unused phone or laptop could be a crucial lifeline for people seeking asylum.
From job applications and further education to connecting with families and accessing vital services, your tech donations can transform lives.
Find out how to donate your mobile, laptop or tablet: https://loom.ly/7A9q4SY
Yesterday, we banded together as a community to send the message “we choose welcome” 💙
We've now raised $338,428 in our annual Giving Day thanks to hundreds of generous, compassionate supporters.
Our hearts are full with the outpouring of kindness and beautiful messages of welcome we received throughout the campaign, which we can't wait to share with our community.
➡️ Swipe through for some of these powerful messages.
And there's still time to help us reach our $350,000 target! Choose welcome and donate now: https://loom.ly/Rh23pcs
We’re approaching a federal election at a time when our politicians and media are fear mongering and punching down on people seeking asylum.
We need to send a message that we as a community choose welcome over injustice, hate, and division.
Every day, the Asylum Seekers Centre sends a message of welcome to people seeking safety in Greater Sydney through practical support and advocacy.
Today, on our annual Giving Day where donations are doubled, we ask you to please give a gift and join us in saying “I choose welcome”.
Double down against injustice and donate now: https://lnkd.in/gPmu5VHi
☀️ Giving Day is finally here! ☀️
It's the best day to donate to the Asylum Seekers Centre. For 24 hours only - every donation will be doubled! $1 = $2 💙💙
Our politicians may send messages of fear and division, but we can send one of welcome. Every dollar you give helps us offer a place of welcome and build a brighter future for people seeking asylum.
Donate now: https://loom.ly/Rh23pcs
