First-Hand Accounts on the Plight of Asylum Seekers

As part of Refugee Week, Bendigo and Castlemaine Libraries will welcome Christine Cummins to share her first-hand accounts of working with asylum seekers and refugees.

Christine spent five years at the Christmas Island immigration detention centre working with asylum seekers as a team leader and as a torture and trauma counsellor. Prior to this, she worked as a nurse in Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, and in Iran with Afghan refugees. Christine has also spent time with indigenous communities in the remote Kimberly region of Australia.

Since leaving Christmas Island in 2014, Christine has focused her energy and passion on raising awareness of the plight of asylum seekers and the impact of Australian government immigration policies. She is a passionate advocate for the vulnerable, striving to achieve social justice.

“Refugee Week is a timely opportunity to gain a better understanding of the plight of asylum seekers through Christine’s first-hand experiences,” said Mark Hands, Goldfields Library Corporation Community Partnerships and Engagement Manager.

“We are pleased to be able to provide a forum to assist Christine in her vision to raise awareness for these communities and individuals, helping them in their plight to seek justice,” said Mr Hands.

The number of asylum seekers in Australian detention centres has been decreasing since early 2014, with around 3,700 people in detention in February 2016, down from almost 13,000 in June 2013. However, the average amount of time spent in detention centres is on the rise, averaging 454 days in February 2016, up from 72 days in July 2013.*

Christine will speak at Castlemaine Library on Thursday 16 June, and at Bendigo Library on Tuesday 21 June.

Both events are free, and bookings are required.

For further information, visit www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au

*Source: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, www.asrc.org.au/resources/statistics/detention-and-refugee-statistics