Our Voices
RISE eX-detainees statement: Preventative Detention regime bill – Fear-mongering anti-immigrant and anti-refugee campaigns waged by the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal National Party once again. 06/12/2023
Today the “Preventative Detention regime” bill - another white supremacist migration law was passed in the Australian Parliament. The Australian Labor Party and the Liberal National Party are sticking together once more to wage fear-mongering anti-refugee and...
eX-detainee statement- ‘Call to protect Afghan Refugees facing Mass deportations by the Pakistan government and increased violence in Iran’
RISE eX-detainees highly condemn the Pakistan Government who have announced that it would deport 1.7 million undocumented Afghan displaced people back to Afghanistan. So far Pakistan has forcibly deported over 300000 Afghan refugees and Pakistan officials are also...
eX-detainee statement, November 14, 2023 – Our community has been permanently harmed by Australia’s indefinite administrative refugee detention system, and no one can undo or revoke the effects of this unfair and discriminatory practice just because it is now deemed to be “illegal”.
In 1992, the Australian Labor government introduced indefinite administrative immigration detention to block non-white refugees from coming to Australia by boat, and last week the Australian high court declared it unlawful. The news of the high court decision triggers...
eX-detainees’ Day Statement 2023 “Australia” is a fictitious Land that resides in the minds of white supremacists, thanks to your Labor, Liberal, and Greens mandatory detention refugee policy.
We, Refugee eX-detainees in so-called Australia, mark the 13th of September 2023 as eX-detainees’ Day for the eighth year in a row. On eX-detainees’ Day, we commemorate the ongoing political struggle, pain, suffering, and resilience of refugees around the world, many...
eX-detainees’ Statement – “Refugee Week” or “Refugee Day” is like a parody of a PR saviour campaign while we suffer continuous discrimination and detention abuse in Western and non-Western countries.
At present, there are over 103 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, with over 32 million refugees among them. Over 1 million refugee children were born as refugees. What is the main aim of "Refugee Week" or "Refugee Day," originally initiated by UNHCR (the UN...
eX-detainee Refugees who arrived by boat in Australia strongly condemn the UK government’s proposed adoption of Australia’s neo-fascist, anti-refugee “stop the boats” blue-print
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees is the first not-for-profit Refugee and Asylum seeker organisation in Australia to be governed by eX-detainee Refugees. We were founded in 2010 by an eX-detainee who was held hostage in both offshore and onshore detention...
“Bedding with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, who torture and abuse us, makes you a white supremacist” – eX-detainee Refugees about “Queer Displacement conference”
"Bedding with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, who tortures and abuses us, makes you a white supremacist" - eX-detainee Refugees about "Queer Displacement conference” While queers were parading with politicians, military, police, and detention profiteers at...
Queer eX-detainees urge artists, presenters, and other participants to boycott the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, which also hosts WorldPride 2023, in so-called Sydney, Australia.
Queer eX-detainees urge artists, presenters, and other participants to boycott the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, which also hosts WorldPride 2023, in so-called Sydney, Australia. Who are we ?RISE:Refugee, survivors and eX-detainees is a not-for-profit...
Death in Villawood (suburb in Sydney, Australia) – Another immigration death in custody in Australian-run torture camps. 30/01/2023
REST IN POWER Death in Villawood (suburb in Sydney, Australia) - Another immigration death in custody in Australian-run torture camps. 30/01/2023 It is not the first time and it won't be the last - another death in administrative immigration detention in front of your...
RISE eX-detainees Invasion Day Solidarity Statement 2023
For the 11th year running, RISE: Refugee, Survivors and eX-detainees, the FIRST self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia governed and led by eX-detainees, is making a public statement, supporting the boycott of “Australia Day” aka Invasion day....
eX-detainees’ Open Letter to Midsumma Festival.
We eX-detainees urge the Midsumma Festival to immediately cut ties with security company Serco, Victoria police or any current relationships with politicians both federal and state. There is nothing to be proud of about the detention industrial complex and any...
Here is another example of Hypocrisy and racism prevalent in Australian cricket and Cricketers.
Australia has detained and stripped the rights of all those who arrived by boat including hundreds of refugees seeking protection from gendered violence. A Significant number of them are Afghan Refugees. Thousands of Afghan refugees are languishing inside and...
SHAME, if you are applauding the Australian Labor government’s recent announcement that 19000 eX-detainees are eligible for permanent residency “early next year” : The Labor party has blood on its hands (31/12/2022)
When Labor recently announced without any clear details, that 19000 eX-detainees are "eligible" for permanent visas, Australian journos simply appeared to rehash the government’s PR/media brief and failed to question the Labor Party's own culpability in Australia’s...
eX-detainees at RISE highly condemn the recommendations of non self-determined Human rights and Refugee/Asylum seeker support organisations and individuals in so-called Australia to the UN Subcommittee for the prevention of Torture.
eX-detainees at RISE highly condemn the recommendations of non self-determined Human rights and Refugee/Asylum seeker support organisations and individuals in so-called Australia to the UN Subcommittee for the prevention of Torture. Our take on these NGOs’ broken...
eX-detainees’ Day Statement 2022
On eX-detainees’ Day, we demand reparations for eX-detainee refugees in "Australia" with top priority given to them by social services, including health, housing, employment and education and food banks. 29/09/2022 We, Refugee eX-detainees in so-called Australia, mark...
#HomeToBilo – What Nades, Priya and their kids went through is a perfect example of….
#HomeToBilo What Nades, Priya and their kids went through is a perfect example of ⁃ Australia's white supremacy⁃ Normalisation of indefinite detention torture and abusive refugee policies⁃ Australia's White / POC / politicians who are part of the colonial saviour...
eX-detainees’ statement : Dump the refugee saviour industrial complex and create space for lasting change – eX-detainees’ in so-called Australia call for a boycott of “Refugee Week”, and “World Refugee Day” 20/06/2022
When our quest for freedom and safety has been sabotaged and questioned,When our lives are crushed and disabled permanently in Australian-run detention centres,When we are systematically discriminated against outside detention centres as well;Eating refugee-cooked...
Media Release : 20/05/2022 – Mandatory refugee detention is not only arbitrary detention – from our experience, it is the mandatory torture of refugees. RISE eX-detainees urge the Australian Public NOT to Vote for Any Parties that Support Mandatory Detention Policies – not for 1 day or indefinitely – during Federal Election 2022
For thirty years during every Australian federal election campaign, our lives have been used as political fodder to advance the careers of politicians and their associates. We are not your political pawns. Enough is enough - we request the Australian public NOT to...
RISE eX-detainees’ Media Statement 16/05/2022 : Australia has provided the world with a blueprint for contemporary modes of border imperialism. Both the Australian Labor party and Liberal/Nationals in agreement that ex-prisoners in detention should pay for the million dollar cost of their time in immigration detention as part of their white supremacist blueprint package.
RISE eX-detainees’ Media Statement 16/05/2022 : Australia has provided the world with a blueprint for contemporary modes of border imperialism. Both the Australian Labor party and Liberal/Nationals in agreement that ex-prisoners in detention should pay for the million...
RISE eX-detainees Statement 14/04/2022 : eX-detainees urge artists and athletes to Boycott the 2026 Stolenwealth Games in so called Victoria
RISE eX-detainees urge artists and athletes to Boycott the 2026 Stolenwealth Games in so called Victoria STOP SPORTWASHING AND ARTWASHING OUR DETENTION TORTURE AND RAPE IN SO CALLED AUSTRALIA. The Stolenwealth (“Commonwealth”) games are merely another cheap white...
RISE eX-detainees Statement : We cannot celebrate Detained Refugees getting released by the Australian government without guarantee of permanent protection and long term support – The government’s refugee torture and discrimination system is indefinite.
We cannot celebrate Detained Refugees getting released by the Australian government without guarantee of permanent protection and long term support - The government’s refugee torture and discrimination system is indefinite. If you are celebrating refugee detainees...
RISE eX-detainees Statement : Occupation, Genocide, Aiding WAR and now making a mockery out of people seeking asylum almost seems to be imprinted in the Australian government’s white supremacist DNA.
Occupation, Genocide, Aiding WAR and now making a mockery out of people seeking asylum almost seems to be imprinted in the Australian government's white supremacist DNA. This is not a Joke : the Australian government is organising a competition for Sri Lankan...
RISE eX-detainees Invasion Day Solidarity Statement 2022
For the TENTH Year running, RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees the FIRST self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by eX-detainees for Refugees are making a public statement, supporting the boycott of “Australia Day” aka Invasion day....
Media Release: RISE eX-detainees launched the Detention Divestment Campaign. Initiated and driven by eX-detainees. 11/11/2021
Media Release: RISE eX-detainees launched the Detention Divestment Campaign. Initiated and driven by eX-detainees. As eX-detainees, we acknowledge that the land we seek protection on is the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples whose sovereignty was...
eX-detainees’ Statement : Three refugee survivor detainees have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Park Hotel detention centre in Melbourne, Australia. #OzHotelPrisons 18/10/2021
Three refugee survivor detainees evacuated from Papua New Guinea and Nauru for “medical treatment” to Australia have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Park Hotel detention centre in Melbourne, Australia. There are reports that other refugee survivors detained in...
eX-detainees’ Day Statement 2021 : 27/09/2021
eX-detainees’ Day Statement 2021: We seek to determine our own future by pushing for long-term changes for our community. We, Refugee eX-detainees in so called Australia, mark the 27th of September 2021 as eX-detainees’ Day for the sixth year in a row. On...
Medevac eX-detainees need long term sustainable support services from those who started the “Medevac Campaign” not lip service or feel good statements ; 02/09/2021
Medevac eX-detainees need long term sustainable support services from those who started the “Medevac Campaign” not lip service or feel good statements Last week over 30 medevac eX-detainees were "released" from detention centres to community detention or given...
RISE eX-detainees condemns any groups or individuals encouraging the Australian government or any other government involved in the US led intervention to restrict the intake of Afghan Refugees to a quota during the current crisis. 23/08/2021
RISE eX-detainees condemns any groups or individuals encouraging the Australian government or any other government involved in the US led intervention to restrict the intake of Afghan Refugees to a quota during the current crisis. “Refugee quota” is a racist and white...
Australia, US, UK, Canada and ALL other countries involved in the occupation of Afghanistan have blood on their hands: RISE eX-detainees call for immediate permanent protection and sanctuary in Australia for Afghan eX-detainees and detainees held in Australia’s onshore and offshore detention camps, asylum seekers and their families
The military occupation of Afghanistan has resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians and war crimes – it has also forcibly displaced and uprooted entire communities from their homelands and has a long-lasting impact that is likely to carry over to the descendants...
RISE eX-detainees highly condemn the Morrison Government’s attempt to silence the not-for-profit advocacy and welfare sector in Australia.
RISE eX-detainees highly condemn the Morrison Government’s attempt to silence the not-for-profit advocacy and welfare sector in Australia. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Government is on the verge of wiping out not-for-profit advocacy and rights...
eX-detainees’ Open Letter To The Royal Women’s Hospital Board of Directors
eX-detainees' Media Release 02/08/2021; eX-detainees urge Royal Women's Hospital to divest from the detention industry and sever all financial ties with Wilson Security eX-detainees from RISE wrote to the Royal Women’s Hospital Board of Directors on the 13th of July...
eX-detainees’ “Refugee Week / Day” Statement 2021
eX-detainees’ "Refugee Week / Day" Statement 2021 RISE: the eX-detainee self-determined, led and governed, advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia calls for a boycott of Refugee Week, and “World Refugee Day” for the ninth year in a row. While the deadly...
eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees at The Park Hotel Melbourne, along with state accountability and action for permanent protection and community settlement.
eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees at The Park Hotel Melbourne, along with state accountability and action for permanent protection and community settlement. There are over 30 Refugee detainees being held hostage within the City of...
RISE highly condemns campaign and rights organisations like GetUp, ASRC, Human Rights law centre, migrant organisations and campaigners and NGOs in Australia staying silent on Israeli military attacks on Palestinian land and the genocide of their citizens. 17/05/2021
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees, highly condemns campaign and rights organisations like GetUp, ASRC, Human Rights law centre, migrant organisations and other so-called "progressive" campaigners and NGOs in Australia staying silent on Israeli military...
eX-detainees’ Statement 14/05/2021: Unashamed white Australia allocates $464 Million on expanding the onshore refugee detention torture network during the Australian 2021 budget.
eX-detainees’ Statement 14/05/2021: Unashamed white Australia allocates $464 Million on expanding the onshore refugee detention torture network during the Australian 2021 budget. While spending $464 Million on expanding the onshore refugee detention torture network,...
eX-detainees’ Statement 11/05/2021 : eX-detainees condemn the Australian Government’s recent move of “fast-tracking” the asylum status assessment process of more than 1000 asylum seekers in Australia by the end of June 2021.
eX-detainees' Statement 11/05/2021 : eX-detainees condemn the Australian Government's recent move of “fast-tracking” the asylum status assessment process of more than 1000 asylum seekers in Australia by the end of June 2021. The Coalition Government is targeting...
eX-detainees’ Statement : eX-detainees urge anyone who is organising detention protests and rallies to STOP inviting politicians or detention workers. It is Triggering, Unacceptable and commodifies our experiences. 07/05/2021
Enough is Enough! eX-detainees urge anyone who is organising detention protests and rallies to STOP inviting politicians or detention workers. It is Triggering, Unacceptable and commodifies our experiences. RISE highly condemns those who are continuously organising...
#StudentWalkOut Media Release : 04/05/2021 – Students who support human rights everywhere should join the call of eX-detainees to End Detention Centres and End Mandatory Detention Policy
#StudentWalkOut Media Release : 04/05/2021 - Students who support human rights everywhere should join the call of eX-detainees to End Detention Centres and End Mandatory Detention Policy RISE eX-detainees are calling for students across Australia to take action...
eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees at The Park Hotel Melbourne, along with state accountability and action for permanent protection and community settlement.- 19/03/2021
#OzHotelPrisons eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees at The Park Hotel Melbourne, along with state accountability and action for permanent protection and community settlement. Yesterday, (19th of April 2021) 17 Refugee detainees were forcibly...
RISE End Detention Student WalkOut Statement – 01/03/2021
RISE End Detention Student WalkOut Statement - 01/03/2021 RISE eX-detainees are calling for students across Australia to take action against successive Australian governments for their inhumane treatment of refugees in Australian-run onshore and offshore mandatory...
RISE eX-detainees’ Statement 19/02/2021 : The eX-detainee Refugee community demands the Australian Government and Medical advisory groups include us in the vaccine priority list
RISE eX-detainees Statement : 18/02/2021 The eX-detainee Refugee community demands the Australian Government and Medical advisory groups include us in the vaccine priority list. The eX-detainee community in Australia is ONE of the most disadvantaged communities in...
RISE eX-detainees’ Statement 12/02/2021 : RISE highly condemns the Victorian Government and DHHS (Department of Health and Human services) for resorting to frequent lock-downs in Victoria without proper infection control plans.
RISE eX-detainees’ Statement 12/02/2021 RISE highly condemns the Victorian Government and DHHS (Department of Health and Human services) for resorting to frequent lock-downs in Victoria without proper infection control plans. This is a reality we need to face every...
RISE eX-detainees Invasion Day Solidarity Statement 2021
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees the FIRST self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by Refugees for Refugees makes a public call for a boycott of “Australia Day” aka invasion day, for the ninth year in a row. Even before making our...
eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees at The Park Hotel Melbourne, along with state accountability and action for permanent protection and community settlement.
Yesterday, (17th of December 2020) Refugee detainees were transferred from their prison in Mantra Hotel to another #OzHotelPrison in The Park Hotel Melbourne. eX-detainees demand the immediate release of refugee detainees, along with state accountability and action...
RISE EX-DETAINEES CALL FOR REFUGEE DETAINEES AT THE PARK HOTEL MELBOURNE AND KANGAROO POINT TO BE FREED AND GRANTED PERMANENT PROTECTION – GET INVOLVED
#OzHotelPrisons RISE eX-detainees call for the urgent release of refugees being detained by the Australian government in two hotels - The Park Hotel Melbourne, Victoria and Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, Queensland. Every one of them has been evacuated to Australia for...
eX-detainees’ Statement : APOLOGY FOR AUSTRALIA’S WAR CRIMES IN AFGHANISTAN DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING
If you are surprised by hearing or reading about Australia committing War crimes in Afghanistan, you need to do another reality check of Australia’s national and international record. Australia has been committing not just War crimes but also Crimes against humanity...
Media Release: eX-detainees urge the residents in Darebin NOT to vote for council election candidates who have not taken active and material steps to release our community detained in the Mantra Bell City Hotel.
More than 50 refugees are arbitrarily detained within the confines of the Mantra Bell City Hotel, Preston in the Melbourne metropolitan area. In 2019, every one of these refugee detainees was evacuated to Australia for medical treatment and detained in the Hotel after...
Media Release : We eX-detainees condemn the ‘Refugee Council of Australia’ and demand that they withdraw their proposal to send eX-detainees and Asylum seekers for fruit picking and farming jobs in exchange for “residency”.
eX-detainees condemn the so-called ‘Refugee Council of Australia’ (headed and led by white non-refugees/eX-detainees) who have recently proposed to Australian MPs to send eX-detainees, Asylum seekers and Refugees on TPV and SHEV to work in the regional areas due to a...
eX-detainees’ Day Statement : ‘In Australia, the eX-detainee community is arguably ONE of the poorest, racially profiled and systematically discriminated community group’
eX-detainees’ Day Statement 2020 As eX-detainees in Australia, we acknowledge that the land we seek protection on is the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whose sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. We,...
RISE EX-DETAINEES CALL FOR REFUGEE DETAINEES AT MANTRA AND KANGAROO POINT TO BE FREED AND GRANTED PERMANENT PROTECTION – GET INVOLVED
#OzHotelPrisons RISE eX-detainees call for the urgent release of refugees being detained by the Australian government in two hotels - Mantra Bell City Hotel, Victoria and Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, Queensland. Every one of them has been evacuated to Australia for...
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees calls on the Victorian Trade Hall Council (VTHC) to condemn the brutal police lockdown of 9 public housing towers in Flemington, and North Melbourne.
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees calls on the Victorian Trade Hall Council (VTHC) to condemn the brutal police lockdown of 9 public housing towers in Flemington, and North Melbourne. While VTHC has launched a fundraiser for those living in lockdown, this...
RISE: Refugee, Survivors and eX-detainees condemn Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew’s brutal use of 500 police to enforce a “hard lockdown” of nine public housing estates in North Melbourne and Flemington
RISE: Refugee, Survivors and eX-detainees condemns Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew’s use of 500 police to brutally enforce a 5 day “hard lockdown” on nine public housing estates in North Melbourne and Flemington during this COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to being low...
Media Statement : RISE ASKS YOU TO BOYCOTT REFUGEE WEEK / REFUGEE DAY 2020
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees, the first self-determined, Refugee-led, advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia calls for a boycott of Refugee Week, and "World Refugee Day" for the eighth year in a row. These events have been initiated by UNHCR (The...
RISE Exclusive Media Release : More than 100 Musicians / Artists divested from Australia’s Refugee Detention Industry in solidarity with eX-detainees and current detainees facing ongoing torture and abuse , 04/06/2020
RISE eX-detainees wholeheartedly welcome the action taken by over 100 musicians and artists who have divested from Australia's abusive Refugee detention industry. RISE eX-detainees have been working with a group of Australian based musicians and artists over the last...
RISE Media Statement 07/04/2020 : As COVID-19 continues to spread, the eX-detainee Community in Australia urges the Australian government to immediately release all onshore and offshore refugee detainees and grant permanent protection for all Refugees
As COVID-19 continues to spread, the eX-detainee Community in Australia urges the Australian government to immediately release all onshore and offshore refugee detainees and grant permanent protection for all Refugees The deadly Coronavirus has been detected in...
Your actions show us Refugee eX-detainee lives are not worthy by greedily stockpiling in the name of COVID-19
Your actions show us Refugee eX-detainee lives are not worthy by greedily stockpiling in the name of COVID-19 By eX-detainee and RISE founder Ramesh Fernandez At times the eX-detainee community in Australia have been neglected when there is an emergency. The...
RISE: Refugee Survivors and eX-detainees Invasion Day Solidarity Statement 2020
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees the FIRST self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by Refugees for Refugees makes a public call for a boycott of "Australia Day", for the eighth year in a row. Even before making our first public...
RISE Media Statement : ?NO Bush fire evacuation plan provided by Peter Dutton and Refugee support groups for eX-detainee Refugees forced to move to regional Australia by the Department of Home Affairs?
RISE is highly concerned about the welfare of eX-detainee refugees in Australia who are forced by Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton?s government to move to regional areas on SHEV 790 subclass visa. The Department of Home Affairs is yet to provide or publicly announce a...
RISE EX-DETAINEES STATEMENT ON MANTRA BELL CITY HOTEL REFUGEE DETENTION 19/02/2020
RISE eX-detainees are aware that there are more than 50 refugees being held hostage within the city of Darebin, in Mantra Bell City hotel which is part of the French owned ACCOR group. RISE eX-detainees condemn the detention torture of these Refugees on the premises...
BOYCOTT REFUGEE WEEK / REFUGEE DAY : 18/06/2019
This is the sixth year in a row that RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees, the first eX-detainee-led, self-determined, advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia continues to call for a boycott of Refugee Week. Meanwhile, as the numbers of Refugees displaced...
eX-detainees’ Message to the Refugee Sector in Australia
If you are wondering what we should do after Scott Morrison's Liberal government winning the federal election 2019; Here are a few eX-detainees' recommendations at RISE for you to consider. Our eX-detainee members have been saying this for years but it has been...
YOU need to change, NOT US – Some points to take away from RISE eX-detainees? campaign (Federal Election 2019)
Thanks to all volunteers and those who supported our Sanction Australia campaign during the Australian Federal Election 2019. Here are some points we have noticed during this period: 1. Stop Arguing with eX-detainees! Those folks who questioned us and left abusive...
Overview of ALP’s (The Australian Labor Party) Disastrous Record of Immigration Policies, Actions & Scandals While in Federal Government
RISE encourages the public to remind themselves that BOTH major parties have proven to be extremely willing to torture and punish refugees and asylum seekers for political gain while campaigning and while in federal government. This document contains a reminder of...
Closely Follow Rejection of Chinese Christians? Asylum Applications in Australia?- Report is written by Chinese Asylum Seekers in Australia
Introduction As is well known, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is an atheist revolutionary party that believes in atheism, materialism, and evolution. It has publicly declared that ?there has never been any Savior.? Its ideological and theoretical basis is...
?Message to Refugee supporters: Don’t be fooled by PM Scott Morrison and his party members – cover up of white supremacist refugee policy 19/03/2019
We eX-detainees, asylum seekers and refugees at RISE would like to alert the public that since the Christchurch incident in New Zealand, Australian PM Scott Morrison and his party members are covering themselves in sheep?s clothing for political advantage and...
STUDENT WALKOUT 6th March 2019 – 1pm State Library of Victoria – Melbourne
The Australian Government recently announced the reopening of Christmas Island Detention Centre, which proves their hostility and brutality against asylum seekers coming by boats, and is a continuation of using refugees and asylum seekers as political pawns for their...
Refugee Detention, Torture and Abuse by Australia doesn?t STOP for holidays, New Year celebrations, Christmas Carols or Sporting events ? #SanctionAustralia
? While you are celebrating your end of year events, our community is being tortured, abused and murdered in Australian run detention centers in front of your eyes every single day. Have you forgotten? This is a call by RISE eX-detainees to the Australian public and...
#SaveHakeem Urgent Action Call: STOP deportation to Bahrain of Australian refugee Hakeem Al Araibi in Thailand
Hakeem Al-Araibi has been recognised as a refugee and granted permanent protection by the Australian government. Last week, while he was in Thailand, he was taken by the Thai authorities to an immigration detention centre and told he will not be sent back to...
RISE Calls On Universities And Health Services To Divest from The Detention Industry.
A Breakdown of the health and education institutions currently financially tied to security companies complicit in ongoing detention torture. There have been countless reports and inquiries regarding the deaths, torture and sexual abuse faced by refugees who have been...
RISE eX-detainees? objections to Colour Code & Democracy in Colour?s Victorian Election Scorecards 2018
Yet again, Refugee eX-detainees are thrown under the bus by so-called "progressive? political campaigners during the Victorian State election - According to the election scorecard formulated by Colour Code, an outfit that is run under the umbrella of GetUp and claims...
THE ?LIFETIME BAN? BILL AND THE ?NEW ZEALAND DEAL? – FACT SHEET 2018
THE ?LIFETIME BAN? BILL The Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016 ? the ?Lifetime Ban? Bill ? was introduced and passed in the House of Representatives in November 2016. It has been before the Senate since that time; The Bill will...
Thuy?n nh?n Vi?t Nam xin t? n?n ?ang b? ?e do? tr?c xu?t v? n??c, c?ng ??ng ng??i Vi?t ph?i l?m sao? (Vietnamese asylum seekers arrived by boat is being threatened of deportation, what can the Vietnamese community do?) – 12/10/2018
By RISE Vietnamese Member who seeks asylum in Australia. (Scroll down for English version) Thuy?n nh?n Vi?t Nam xin t? n?n ?ang b? ?e do? tr?c xu?t v? n??c, c?ng ??ng ng??i Vi?t ph?i l?m sao? C?c thuy?n nh?n Vi?t Nam v?a ??n ?c h?m 27/08/2018 ?? b? c?c ng??i d?n ??a...
?NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE? – 09/10/2018
?NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE?? by Nguyen Hong Duc When I started out as RISE?s Ability Rights worker two years ago, my role is to find supports for refugees and asylum seekers with disabilities. What I found was a distinctive lack of services across the migration...
eX-detainees? day statement : Do not bury eX-detainee voices or undermine over 2 decades of our labour towards dismantling immigration detention centres
We, eX-detainees at RISE in Australia, mark the 17th of September 2018 as eX-Detainees? Day, for all asylum seekers and refugees who have been forcibly detained whilst seeking protection. This is our 3rd annual eX-detainees? day. Crucially, this initiative is entirely...
Transgender Refugees living in the community in Australia and Access to Primoteston
Recently, in the last few weeks, RISE: Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees? transgender members who were coercively assigned female at birth and are living in the community, raised concerns about the removal of Primoteston Depot (a form of testosterone injection) from...
RISE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS TRAFFICKED BY AUSTRALIA TO MANUS AND NAURU
RISE members including offshore and onshore eX-detainees strongly condemn successive Australian governments for holding hostage our community members in Manus and Nauru torture camps for more than five years now. RISE demands that the Australian government to...
This is the fifth year that RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees, the first self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by Refugees for Refugees continues to call for a boycott of Refugee week.
This is the fifth year that RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees, the first self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by Refugees for Refugees continues to call for a boycott of Refugee week. ?Meanwhile almost every agency across the...
RISE Statement on the siege and massacre of Gazans.
The past two months have been horrific for the people under siege in Gaza. They have historically attempted for several weeks to protest at the border of Israel?s 12 year air, sea and land blockage and demand their right of return to 1948 areas now occupied by Israeli...
We RISE eX-detainees including Palestinian eX-detainees highly condemn the recent attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza strip by Israel.
Genocidal acts are being carried out daily, inside and outside the borders of Gaza by Israel and it is not a hidden matter; it is out there for people to witness. So far, over 40 Palestinians have been killed in the recent massacre with 2000 others injured. We are not...
eX-detainees highly condemn artists performed in the #Stolenwealth (?commonwealth?) games in Australia 2018 and call to boycott such artists.
We eX-detainees in Australia strongly condemn those artists who performed in the Stolenwealth aka ?Commonwealth? Games in Australia 2018. We eX-detainees have requested artists to boycott the ?Commonwealth? Games both nationally and internationally on the basis of our...
Stolenwealth Games Boycott ? A First Nations & eX-detainee Solidarity Statement 26/03/2018
Members of the First Nations and eX-detainees from RISE have consulted to produce this solidarity statement and call for all supporters to boycott the Stolenwealth (?commonwealth?) Games which is to be held in Queensland, Gold Coast in Australia in April 2018....
Joint Statement on Ms. Suu Kyi attending Asean-Australia Special Summit in Sydney, March 2018
On the event of Asean-Australia Special Summit, we Rohingya community from Australia would like to call the Australian government to raise cases of ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing against Rohingya community in Arakan (Rakhine) state of western Burma (Myanmar). The...
Message from rise members from the Chinese community who are seeking protection in Australia
We, Chinese Christians of the church of almighty god request Australian government to pay more attention on our protection claims in Australia We are Christians of the Church of Almighty God (CAG) seeking protection in Australia. Group of us arrived to Australia in...
SANCTION AUSTRALIA FUNDRAISER
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees is the first welfare and advocacy organisation governed entirely by refugees, asylum seekers and ex-detainees in Australia. RISE represents over 30 refugee community groups in Australia and located in Melbourne. In October...
FIVE reasons why you should support RISE?s New Year’s Appeal 2018
Dear Supporter, This month RISE is launching our New Year's Appeal for 2018. Your support will allow us to continue challenging the harmful and xenophobic refugee policies and discourses which surround eX-detainees, refugees and asylum seekers and pervade social and...
#SanctionAustralia: What can supporters located in ?Australia? do?
1. Contact human rights and civil society groups. Ask them to publicly sanction Australia for torture of refugees. 2. Pressure the UN to sanction Australia for refugee rights violations and from participating in any refugee/humanitarian and human rights decision...
RISE eX-detainees condemn today?s brutal attack on refugees and the forcible removal of refugees on Manus by Australian lead and funded authorities : 23/11/2017
Today refugee detainees on Manus informed us that they have been attacked by the Australian lead and funded authorities on Manus. According to the reports, this operation is a joint effort by the AFP and the PNG authorities. Refugees on Manus have been protesting the...
#SanctionAustralia – What Actions can international activists take?
1. Contact human rights and civil society groups within your region. Ask them to publicly sanction Australia for torture of refugees. 2. Pressure the UN to sanction Australia for refugee rights violations and from participating in any refugee/humanitarian and human...
RISE eX-detainees Urgent Request : Protest against Detention, Torture and Rape : #SosManus #SanctionAustralia
This request is coming from RISE eX-detainees, calling for national and international wide action against the Australian Government for its inhumane treatment of refugees on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Firstly we like to thank everyone for supporting our call...
Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd dog’s breakfast on Manus
Kevin Rudd on Twitter: "Turnbull's handling of Manus is inhumane. The 2013 Agreement was for a year. Turnbull has failed to resettle them, so they should come to Oz" Who permanently exiled our people to PNG? ? Who froze asylum applications against Afghans and Sri...
#MelbourneCup Twitter storm to bring attention to the Crisis faced by Refugees in Manus
#MelbourneCup Twitter storm to bring attention to the Crisis faced by Refugees in Manus When Tuesday, 7th of November 2017 (Time: 14:45 - 18:45 hours EST Australia ) What? RISE:Refugee Survivors and ex-detainees call on our supporters to join a Twitter Storm by...
Urgent Request by RISE ex-detainees for protests and actions on Melbourne Cup day to bring to the World?s attention the escalating crisis faced by Refugees held hostage by Australia on Manus – 05/11/2017
RISE ex-detainees urgently requests protests and other actions to be held next Tuesday, 7th November 2017 on Melbourne Cup day, a high profile international event, to bring to the world?s attention the escalating crisis faced by detainees held hostage by the...
WHY AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BE SANCTIONED?
We, detainees and eX-detainees, have endured many hardships. We have survived wars, terror and violence, crossed borders and reached perilous open seas. Where we have hoped to find sanctuary, we have instead been greeted with hostility and state sanctioned violence in...
YOUR SCRIPT TO THE RIGHTS GROUPS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I.. (name)..... from (location) urge (insert human rights group) to sanction Australia and exclude Australia from participation in all international humanitarian and human rights decision making processes. Australia has been committing crimes...
RISE OPEN LETTER TO RIGHTS GROUPS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, Immediate action has to be taken on this, as Australia has become infamous as a resource centre for many other countries to shape anti-refugee policies. On behalf of our members and governing staff from over 30 refugee and ex-detainee...
EX-DETAINEES? REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SANCTION ON AUSTRALIA
TAKE ACTION AGAINST AUSTRALIAN REFUGEE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS! We ex-detainees from RISE: Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees urge international human rights groups and the UN to sanction Australia and exclude Australia from participation in all international humanitarian...
2nd ANNUAL EX-DETAINEES? DAY FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES 3rd OF SEPTEMBER 2017
?As ex-detainees in Australia, we acknowledge that the land we seek protection on is the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples? We, ex-detainees at RISE in Australia, mark the 3rd of September 2017 as Ex-Detainees? Day, for all asylum seekers and...
RISE PRESENTS: FIRST NATIONS AND REFUGEES SOLIDARITY PANEL DISCUSSION
As an extension of our ongoing work and last year?s #SovereigntySanctuary launch event at the foot of Parliament House of Victoria, RISE will host a panel discussion between First Nation People and Refugees who have sought protection in Australia (16/09/2017, 2pm,...
RISE: Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees boycotts ?world refugee day and refugee week? for the fourth year running: 16/06/2017
RISE: Refugees,Survivors and Ex-detainees will be boycotting ?Refugee week? and ?World Refugee day? for the fourth year running in Australia. It would be unconscionable for us to partake in this macabre circus while the crisis of hyper militarisation and abuse faced...
Australia continues to bully and discriminate refugees by giving no option for protection – Ramesh Fernandez (25/05/2017)
The announcement by the Australian Government last Sunday to force refugees to lodge their applications by 1 October 2017 is merely more cruel, calculated, systemic discrimination. The Coalition Government is targeting refugees who have arrived in Australia by boat...
Proposed citizenship test simply a pathway to a new White Australia policy : 24/04/2017
Proposed citizenship test simply a pathway to a new White Australia policy - Ramesh Fernandez The announcement of a new citizenship test by the Australian Government clearly discriminates against people coming from non-English speaking backgrounds. It is also a direct...
Letter from an Ex-detainee
As an ex-detainee I do not support any form of mandatory detention. As ex-detainees, we continue to suffer from mandatory detention and institutionalised forms of torture. For more than 20 years our communities have experienced death in detention, inhumane and...
Before you donate to a refugee nonprofit agency, you need to consider the following items to check whether they are ethical or not:
1. Is the organisation run by the affected people? 2. Does the cause directly support the affected people? 3. Does the organisation support or have they supported or worked/invested in detention centres? 4. What is their position on mandatory detention policy in...
Why I support RISE?
1. RISE is autonomously run by refugees, mainly ex-detainees 2. I'm a refugee & a person of colour 3. RISE doesn't use images of refugees to gain funding 4. RISE is founded by an ex-detainee 5. RISE board and staff are from refugee backgrounds 6. RISE supports...
Australian politicians want Pauline Hanson to exist – It’s not a secret
Pauline Hanson is a perfect mascot for Australian politicians in this racist state.- By Ramesh Fernandez (ex-detainee and refugee) The 2016 federal election has brought in xenophobic and Islamophobic politicians and politics in Australia including the return of...
#BlockTheBill Campaign 2018
What is the ?lifetime ban? on refugees? The Coalition is proposing a bill amendment that would prevent asylum seekers arriving by boat after 19 July 2013 from ever entering Australia. On 19 July 2013, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that from this day...
Update on RISE?s #BlockTheBill Campaign
Dear RISE members and supporters, As you know, last week RISE started the #BlockTheBill campaign after members of parliament in Australia?s lower house passed the bill for a lifetime ban of refugees coming by boat.The lifetime ban of refugees bill has NOT yet been...
An asylum seeker was attacked and racially vilified for the second time by the same group of 4 white men .
Four days ago, we reported that a RISE member was assaulted by 4 white men. It has happened again on Wednesday night. The same group of 4 white men, armed with the same weapons, verbally abused him and chased him into a restaurant. Our member (an asylum seeker) was...
Open letter from a former detainee in Australia ? ?Please fight these draconian anti-refugee laws?
I object to the proposed law announced by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to ban asylum seekers and refugees who arrived by boat from ever entering Australia, and I call on Australians to fight and resist these unconscionable policies. Since the reopening...
Letter to the Australian Public – Re:Proposed legislation to ban refugees and asylum seekers who come on boats from entering Australia
On behalf of our members and governing staff from over 30 of the refugee and ex-detainee communities in Australia, RISE urges the Australian public to say NO to the Turnbull government?s plan to introduce legislation to ban asylum seekers who arrive by boat from ever...
Open Letter from RISE eX-detainees to Save the Children-Australia and Overseas board of directors
RE: Six Questions from eX-detainee survivors about Save the Children-Australia's role in Australia's Nauru and Manus Asylum seeker Detention and Abuse supply chain. RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees is the first and only refugee organisation in Australia that...
Ex-detainees? day for Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Ex-detainees? day for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, 3rd of September 2016. "We refugees and asylum seekers need protection NOT detention". We, Ex-detainees at RISE in Australia, mark the 3rd of September as Ex-Detainees? Day for all Asylum Seekers and Refugees who have...
How the Australian Census & Neglect by the Refugee sector severely impacts Refugees & Asylum seekers (9 August 2016)
Refugees, asylum seekers and ex-detainees were called for a meeting with a government subcontracted community settlement service provider yesterday and told there will be a ?national census? and you all need to provide information. When refugees asked for help due to...
We ex-detainees and survivors of torture and abuse at RISE, support the Emergency actions for the children of Don Dale and all prisons rally organised by First Nations Community groups across Australia. 28/07/2016
As refugees, asylum seekers and ex detainees in Australia, we acknowledge that the land we seek protection on is the land of Indigenous peoples where sovereignty was never ceded. The recent report by Four Corners on institutionalised torture in Don Dale Youth...
Open letter from ex-detainee and torture survivor to the Wheelers Centre, on their questionable decision to invite Human rights violator Phillip Ruddock to speak Today on ?Human Rights? – 12/07/2016
Event details ? Today (Tuesday, 12th July 2016) 6.15pm-7.15pm - here I am writing to complain about your forthcoming event featuring Phillip Ruddock. My name is Abdul Baig. I am a former refugee, now Australian citizen, and I was detained in immigration detention for...
RISE?s Federal Election Pledge 2016:
?We do not support any form of detention, doesn?t matter 1 day or 30 days or 1 year? On behalf of our members and governing staff from over 30 of the refugee and ex-detainee communities in Australia, RISE urges the Australian public to say NO to utilising refugees and...
Are hospitals a safe space for refugees and asylum seekers ? No it is not – written by an ex-detainee and refugee.
Asylum seekers and refugees have been escorted by guards to hospitals with handcuffs and remain so while waiting for the doctors. Quite often they have to talk to doctors when the guards are present. Are hospitals run by the department of immigration, border force or...
RISE boycotts ?World Refugee Week? for the Third Year Running : 19/06/2016
RISE: Refugees,Survivors and Ex-detainees has been boycotting and refusing to partake in ?Refugee week? in Australia for the last three years, largely due to the fact that it has been appropriated as a PR exercise by various groups and individuals that have done...
On experiential-based refugee campaigns & the performance of humanitarianism
Why must the experience be reconstructed, restaged, as isolated incidents all so that you can experience it through your body and consciousness? by Tania Ca?as Refugee campaigns that promote the opportunity to temporally occupy a minuscule segment of refugee, asylum...
First Nations Liberation, RISE & WAR Present : Sovereignty + Sanctuary : A First Nations / Refugee Solidarity Event
Refugees coming to Australia are being indefinitely detained both onshore and offshore, involuntarily deported back to their countries to danger and physically and sexually abused in detention centres. As refugees, asylum seekers and ex detainees in Australia, we...
Message from an ex-detainee and refugee on “profiling” refugees with degrees / social stability and Dutton
Rather than targeting Peter Dutton's racist and xenophobic comment, the media and refugee sector in Australia and overseas responded by "profiling" refugees with degrees & social stability. One of those profiled was not a refugee, instead his grandparents were...
RISE Arts present Mahmoud Salameh (Palestinian-Syrian Cartoonist & ex-detainee) Exhibition, Film Screening and Q&A
RISE Arts is excited to present the artwork of Mahmoud Salameh, a Palestinian-Syrian-Australian cartoonist, animation filmmaker, graphic artist and ex-detainee. Now based in Sydney, Mahmoud has had years of experience working as a professional artist in Syria, Lebanon...
Letter from an Ex-detainee 29/04/2016
As an ex-detainee I do not support any form of mandatory detention. As ex-detainees, we continue to suffer from mandatory detention and institutionalised forms of torture. For more than 20 years our communities have experienced death in detention, inhumane and...
Australian government run camp in Manus Island is illegal says PNG Court-Bring back ALL asylum seekers and refugees held hostage in Manus and Nauru! 28/04/2016
RISE:Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees, welcomes the PNG court decision declaring that the Manus Island detention camp run by the Australian government is illegal. However, Australia has a history of dirty politics and disregarding pro-refugee laws. We are cautious...
Forty years since the first refugee boat arrived in Australia from Vietnam
On the 26th of April 1976, the first boat of Vietnamese people sought refuge in Australia. Forty years on and Vietnamese people continue to flee Vietnam by boat today. It is estimated that there are currently 800 Vietnamese asylum seekers detained in either on-shore...
50 asylum seeker families trapped for hours in Melbourne CBD by Immigration Department 18/04/2016
Are we human or what? As refugees, asylum seekers and ex-detainees who make up RISE we condemn the inhumane treatment of asylum seeker families this morning when they were trapped and corralled by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border protection (DIBP)...
RISE Statement : The Refugee Trade must Stop! – 24/3/2016
Stand with us and oppose the refugee trade between the Australian government and Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. RISE is extremely concerned about the discussion of the refugee trade deal that is basically human trafficking between the Australian government and...
Message for Ex-detainees, detainees and RISE members – 19/03/2016
As ex-detainees and detainees, firstly we should remember we are one of the most vulnerable people in Australia who have experienced physical and psychological trauma as well as ongoing discrimination and deaths in mandatory detention in Australia.? We also need to be...
“When I was on the boat I never thought I would survive, but countless times while I was in detention I wondered why I didn’t die”. 26/02/2016
"When I was on the boat I never thought I would survive, but countless times while I was in detention I wondered why I didn't die" by Ramesh Fernandez, Founder of RISE, Ex-detainee and Refugee People might think that coming to Australia by boat is a comfortable...
Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Australia by Refugees, Asylum seekers and ex-detainees at RISE : 23/02/2016
Dear Prime Minister Turnbull Re: reports of 14 Broadspectrum guards (13 male) entering Tent and strip searching Asylum seeker women incarcerated in Nauru RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees is the first Refugee and asylum seeker welfare and advocacy...
“Australia Day” message by Ex-detainees, Asylum seekers and Refugees at RISE
RISE does not endorse any movement or individuals who claim to be pro-refugee but celebrate "Australia day". To link our refugee community to such events and white-wash this history is not just insensitive to the Indigenous communities of Australia but also to most of...
EAL Teachers – application closed
Estimated hours: Negotiable (estimated 2 - 4 hours) (volunteer). Where: A location in Springvale (ten minutes walk from station. A large proportion of work is organising from home. When: Class held 12:30 - 3:30 Sundays (beginning first Sunday in February). Most work...
Teacher?s Assistant – application closed
Estimated hours per fortnight: 4 hours (volunteer) When: Sundays, 12:30 - 3:20 Where: Springvale (10 minute walk from the train station) Who: You will work with the Program Coordinator, Class Facilitators, other Teacher?s Assistants, an English as an Additional...
RISE Arts’ Space Equipment Appeal
Dear Friends, We would like to bring to your attention an exciting new initiative within RISE. As part of the new RISE drop-in centre we are seeking to establish a community-based performance space. The drop-in centre will provide a platform for aspiring artists in...
Deported to danger: Sudanese refugees in Jordan 18/12/2015
The Jordanian government denied Sudanese refugees protection by dehumanising and detaining Sudanese refugees, and then deporting them back to the danger of further persecution in Sudan?by RISE member . RISE highly condemns the forceful deportation of hundreds of...
RISE supports call for UN to end contracts with G4S worth more than $22 million annually:
While Australia's Manus island detention camp was subcontracted to G4S, asylum seeker Reza Barati was killed and other asylum seekers maimed after attacks were carried out by detention staff in 2014. To date no one has been convicted of these crimes. In 2010, Angolan...
Support Self Determination : Support RISE end of the year appeal 2015 :
RISE is managed, developed, staffed and controlled by people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Dear Friends, RISE prides itself on being a registered, not-for-profit organisation, and working tirelessly to improve non-government and government policies in...
Statement by Refugees, Asylum seekers and Ex-Detainees at RISE in solidarity with Indigenous communities in Australia
STOP THE FORCED CLOSURE OF ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA RISE: Refugees Survivors and Ex-detainees condemn the current Australian government?s move to close down and dispossess over 150 Aboriginal communities in Australia. ?We support the global call to action...
The Grand Delusion of Democracy in Myanmar – 23 November 2015
The Grand Delusion of Democracy in Myanmar -? by Australian Burmese Rohingya Organization (ABRO) The National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar, led by Nobel peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has won the majority of available seats in Parliament according to the...
WHY BORDERS IMPACT ON US?
I was released from detention two years ago, but I get lost by asking myself these Questions? It?s very sophisticated, because I ran from war into war! Struggling and striving for basic human rights, I discovered how oppression and xenophobic border policies impact on...
Criminalisation Of Our People
Criminalisation of our people by Australian government calling us [illegal] and decriminalisation of their people in order to maintain their interest is called [justice system]. Our people are the most vulnerable to sexualised torture, and rape! It is how our people...
10 Things you CAN do if you are not an Ex-detainee
1. Amplify our voices 2. Realize when to back off 3. Leave us to speak on behalf of ourselves 4. Not using our images & stories to promote your cause 5. Don?t refer to us as : Illegals, ?irregular arrivals, queue jumpers 6. Being aware of misinformation about us...
Help us to relocate our Drop-In Centre : 07/09/2015
Help us to relocate our Drop-In Centre RISE is a grassroots refugee organisation which is entirely controlled, staffed and run by refugees, asylum seekers and ex-detainees. Due to the high demand for our...
Creation of a Racist State? My VISA is my Skin Colour #MyVisaIsMySkinColour – 28/08/2015
Creation of a Racist State? My VISA is my Skin Colour? #MyVisaIsMySkinColour We request that all RISE members and refugees to stay safe during this weekend. We refugees, asylum seekers and ex-detainees at RISE condemn the Federal government?s disturbing announcement...
“Go back to where you came from: The coloniser’s story”
Like its previous season, this show encourages latte sipping lefties to feel good about themselves by watching predominantly white aussies on a leaky boat with paramedics trying to 'recreate' the 'refugee experience' - without the reality of being locked...
RISE Winter Appeal 2015
It?s winter again which means most of the asylum seekers and refugees who are on the bridging visa with no rights and low income are in desperate need of our services. Most must try to make ends meet with a meagre allowance that is less than Newstarts. Buying...
RISE’s response to Refugee Week 2015:
The world has forcibly displaced over 57 million people, the highest number since World War II. Most of the displaced refugees are hosted by non-signatory refugee countries, yet most people who celebrate Refugee week are signatories of the refugee convention. There...
Employment Opportunity at RISE (Support Services Coordinator)
Position Description Division: Case Supporting Program Title: Support Services Coordinator Work Type : 2 days a week Salary : Negotiable Location: Melbourne , Victoria Apply : admin@riserefugee.org (please insert ?SSC position? in the subject) About Support Services...
Statement by Refugees, Asylum seekers and Ex-Detainees at RISE in solidarity with Indigenous communities in Australia : 01/05/2015
STOP THE FORCED CLOSURE OF ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA RISE: Refugees Survivors and Ex-detainees condemn the current Australian government's move to close down and dispossess over 150 Aboriginal communities in Australia. ?We support the second global call to...
Open letter from mother of Australian born baby-who is to be deported to Nauru ? 18/12/2014
25 detained babies born in Australia-and their families (Making up 44 children) ?are to be deported to the Nauru camp as per the recent passing of the Migration Bill by the Australian Senate. OPEN LETTER: What is our crime? What have we done to be punished like this?...
RISE Exclusive media release-Migration Bill/TPVs – 05/12/2014
RISE?: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees, condemns the passing of the Australian Liberal/National coalition government?s migration and maritime powers legislation amendment bill (resolving the asylum legacy caseload) 2014 against refugees arriving by boat, passed...
Press release: West Papua ?19 days of freedom? : 30/11/2014
On the 1st December 1961 the New Guinea Raad Council ? West Papuan parliament under Dutch colonial rule ? raised the Morning Star flag for the first time, signalling the recognition by the Dutch of West Papua?s national symbols and statehood. By the 19th of December,...
RISE : End of the year Appeal – ?Nothing About Us Without Us?
Dear Friends, RISE prides itself on being a registered, not-for-profit organization, working tirelessly to improve non-government and government?policies in relation to refugees/asylum seekers and to generate a positive social change for our community. RISE is...
RISE : End of the year Appeal – ?Nothing About Us Without Us?
Dear Friends, RISE prides itself on being a registered, not-for-profit organization, working tirelessly to improve non-government and government?policies in relation to refugees/asylum seekers and to generate a positive social change for our community. RISE is...
RISE endorses joint statement on counter-terrorism legislation – 16/10/2014
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees joins with over 40 community organisations and academics calling on the Commonwealth Parliament not to rush through changes to Australian counter-terrorism legislation. RISE believes there is a real possibility that the new...
Proposed reintroduction of TPV (Temporary protection VISA) ? for refugees in Australia: RISE Media Release 12/09/2014
RISE highly condemns the proposed reintroduction of Temporary protection Visas (TPVs) for refugees by Australia’s Liberal/National coalition government yesterday. TPVs create greater discrimination of refugees who happened to use boats as a mode of transport to...
RISE exclusive media release (24 July 2014) : RISE WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK?S SERVICES
RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees has withdrawn from the use of National Australia Bank?s banking services because of its involvement in Australia?s inhumane, unlawful and unconscionable offshore detention industry. We have been a National Australia Bank...
Federal republic of West Papua executives released from prison – 18 July 2014
The Indonesian government has claimed it is releasing the President and Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of West Papua (FRWP) on Monday 21 July 2014.? President Forkorus Yaboisembut and Prime Minister Edison Waromi were convicted of treason, along with Selfius...
Urgent request to the international community to investigate disappearance of 153 Asylum seekers : 04/07/2014
RISE has sent a second communication in the early hours of the morning to the UN High Commissioner for Human rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment requesting an urgent investigation into the...
RISE – Two day Social Media Blackout on Refugee Week : 20/06/2014
(Refugee week)?: Next two days we will be having a social media blackout to mourn for refugees facing death crossing borders by land, sea and air, entering countries where they are imprisoned indefinitely while governments and international NGOs controlled by OECD...
Press statement on Cambodia?s refugee resettlement agreement with Australia by CHRAC ( The Cambodian human rights action committee) –
Phnom Penh, 4 June 2014 ? The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) ? a coalition of 21 NGOs working in the field of the promotion Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law in the Kingdom of Cambodia raises serious concerns about Australia?s pending agreement...
RISE Winter Clothing Appeal – 2014
It?s nearing winter again which means it?s time to bring out the coats. With the success of last year?s Winter Coat Appeal, RISE is once again welcoming donations of quality winter clothing. Unfortunately, many of our members endure the cold winter months without...
A letter from an asylum seeker in the Australian government?s Manus Island detention camp: 11/05/2014
Dearest XXXXX Please TELL people of AUSTRALIA that the AUS GOV is spending your taxes just to keep many innocent and defenceless asylum seekers in detentions which there is no difference between them and pigsties. What is it?s benefit for people of AUSTRALIA? THEY PAY...
A letter from an asylum seeker in the Australian government?s Manus Island detention camp – 06/05/2014
Dear xxx. hi In manus camps, at the moment we all face many problems. The gym equipments are very few and poor. The medical has a very poor condition too. When a sick asylum seeker goes to the medical,some doctors and nurses(not all of them) tell him that you are not...
Message of Thanks from Asylum seekers in Australia’s offshore detention camps : 17/04/2014
A message of thanks from asylum seekers in Australia?s offshore detention camps in response to the coverage their letter and poem from Manus Island (http://riserefugee.org/post/82338911881/letter-and-poem-from-manus-island-detention-camp-with) received at the Palm...
Letter and poem from Manus Island Detention Camp with request that it be included in Palm Sunday Rallies this Weekend – 11/04/2014
I am writing from Manus Island Detention Camp. We left our homes because of a variety of reasons. We found Australia thinking this would be a place of shelter. We had different reasons for stepping into this very dangerous and so suffering journey. But all of us...
RISE Media Release (4 April 2014): The forced transfer of asylum seekers in Sydney?s Villawood detention centre to the remote desert camp of Curtin and Yongah Hill in Western Australia
RISE condemns the acts of violence yesterday, against asylum seekers in Villawood detention centre in Sydney, Australia by SERCO security guards under instructions from the Australian department of immigration and border protection. A few days ago, asylum seekers were...
Media Release, 2 April 2014 : Melbournians Call for Release of the 77 Papuan and Malukan Political Prisoners held in Indonesian Prisons.
Wednesday April 2nd?is an international day of actionto demand the freedom of Papuan andMalukans political prisoners.Actions will be held in Melbourne,London, The Hague, Auckland, Wellington, Edinburgh and West Papua calling for the immediate and unconditional release...
RISE: 2014 Appeal – ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’
Dear Friends, RISE prides itself on being a registered, not-for-profit organization, working tirelessly to improve non-government and government? policies in relation to refugees/asylum seekers and to generate a positive social change for our community. RISE is...
Conceptualisation of Transfield by RISE member (designer/artist) – Mohamed Nur
My reasoning with the banner is simple. What does the viewer see? Does the viewer see people entering a camp and into buildings or do they see the opposite, people leaving the fenced camps and out to freedom? The graphics used are intentionally simple to have people...
An open letter to Biennale of Sydney artists from the refugee community :
Monday 17th February 2014 Dear Artists, RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees, is the first organisation in Australia to be governed entirely by refugees and asylum seekers. RISE consists of over 30 different refugee communities in Australia and exists to enable...
RISE commencing ‘CYPHA PROJECT’ – 08/02/2014 @ 12.30pm
The RISE Cypha Project is aiming to utilise conscience hip hop and its culture, as well as facilitated discussions around social justice, to educate, motivate, inspire and empower young people with the skills and confidence to reach their fullest potential. The Cypha...
RISE, “Australia day” and boats
RISE does not endorse any movement that claims to be pro-refugee but celebrates ?Australia day?. To link our community to such events and white-wash this history is not just insensitive to the indigenous communities of Australia but also to most of us from...
RISE music studio need your support
Dear Friends, We would like to bring to your attention an exciting new initiative within RISE. As part of the RISE Cypher Project we are seeking to establish a community based recording studio. The RISE music studio will give opportunities to aspiring young artists to...
Go home, community leaders tell Lebanese asylum seekers
RISE is concerned by reports of a dangerous, grossly negligent and unethical undertaking by Australian Lebanese community leaders Jamal Rifi and Sheikh Malek Zeidan undertaking a trip to Manus Island and Nauru detention centres to urge Lebanese asylum seekers to ?Go...
The Syrian refugee crisis and Australia?s response
Wednesday 1st of January 2014 As this year ends, the death due to starvation of 15 Palestinian refugees trapped with 20?000 other Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus due to the current conflict in Syria is in the news. ?Before the war broke out in...
Racism in Australian media/Structural Racism and the Refugee issue
Monday 30 December 2013 Many in the Australian refugee advocacy movement would have read or heard of an article in the Monthly about ?Why Australia hates asylum seekers? by Christos Tsiolkas. Yet very little has been said regarding the editor of this same publication,...
Daily humiliation for Women in Australian immigration Detention centres:
In some detention centres in Australia, female asylum seekers/refugees have to go to SERCO officers to ask for tampons/pads & given just 1 or 2 at a time. Keep in mind SERCO has been given millions of dollars to ?service? immigration detention centres...
Urgent action: Stop UK Mass deportation today to Nigeria/Ghana
"We?ve abolished slavery & capital punishment yet we?ll let a person die for overstaying a visa" If we in Australia do not respond to this and UK succeeds in this deportation-it is a green light to all governments including our own to continue treating asylum...
RISE Action using internet on UN Human rights day (20 yr anniversary) TODAY:
"20 years working for your rights"?looks as though they haven?t done a good job. Things have got worse in the last 20 yrs with the highest number of refugees this year since 19 yrs ago! -Post on your facebook with this hashtag #UNRightsAt20 -Post on...
ACT NOW : Australian government is providing boats to Sri Lankan navy to “stop refugee boats”
ACT NOW: Sri Lanka to use Aussie gift boats to stop refugee boats and Tony Abbott is going to sign a new MOU between Sri Lankan and Australian Navy . Also on reports of alleged torture by Sri Lankan security forces, Mr Abbott told reporters that while his government...
Afghan MPs call on the Coalition to scrap Temporary Protection Visas
A group of 45 members of the Afghan Parliament have written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott appealing to him to reconsider the government?s proposal to re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). The translated text of the letter is below. To: The Hon Tony Abbott,...
2 years ago a Tamil refugee died in Villawood IDC : (28/10/2013)
Today, a Tamil refugee attempted to hang himself in a Melbourne immigration detention (MITA) after being detained indefintiely for nearly 4 years.? It is two years after the death of ?S?, another Tamil refugee in Villawood immigration detention centre in Sydney who...
RISE call to action (15/10/2013)
Suicide Attempt yesterday (14/10/2013) in Melbourne immigration transit accommodation: Refugee, M47, a father and husband, separated from his family for more than 6 years, detained administratively in transition countries and now indefinitely detained in Australia for...
RISE Alert (22/9/2013): Stop mass deportations of Vietnamese asylum seekers by the Australian government
Vietnamese asylum seekers in Australia?s immigration detention centres are in danger of being deported without being allowed to apply for asylum (?screened out?). Reports surfaced last month that Vietnamese immigration police officers were allowed into Yongah hill by...
HiRISE PRESS RELEASE- 3 September 2013
HiRISE- a unique live art performance bringing stories from our city?s high rises? to the stages of Melbourne Fringe 2013. ReDefiant and RISE (Refugees, Survivors and ex-detainees) are excited to announce their latest live performance at this year?s Fringe Festival,...
RISE Refugees Call on Politicians to ?Stop the Rot? on Asylum Seekers this Election – Exclusive Media release 30/08/2013
Melbourne-based welfare and advocacy?organisation, RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees), has just launched their 2013 federal election campaign entitled, Stop the Rot. ? The campaign aims to provide the Australian public with accurate research and information...
RISE ALERT 28/8/2013
STOP Mass deportation of Sri Lankan asylum seekers planned this week by Australia and SAVE LIVES: The Australian government is planning to deport scores of Sri Lankan asylum seekers to potential danger from Christmas Island over the next week WITHOUT allowing them to...
What is Australia’s answer to the Syrian refugee crisis?
The lives of the Syrian people are sacrificed and crushed between the geopolitical interests of industrialised countries who hold power in the UN. Australia is a member of the UN security council yet all Australian politicians including Foreign Minister Bob Carr talk...
The more things change, the more they stay the same – 21 August 2013
Many have been stunned by the Government and Opposition?s recent immigration announcements. The proposals ? forcing all boat arrivals to PNG, putting the military in charge of the ?crisis,? setting up tent cities on Nauru ? are...
Media Release 13th August 2013. Papuan Refugee setting sail back to Papua.
Amos Wainggai, a Papuan refugee who came by boat to Australia in 2006, will be making the return journey by boat to Papua in 5 days? time. While Rudd?s ?PNG Solution? threatens to deport all asylum seekers arriving by boat to Manus Detention Centre, Amos is making the...
Kevin Rudd’s Cruel Deceit – Australia Deceives The Pacific Again
02/08/2013 Kevin Rudd's ironic plan to banish asylum-seekers to PNG is a cruel deceit on its moral obligation as a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention. In 2011 the Australian government was quick to act on live export of cattle to Indonesia but the...
RISE Media Release: 22.07.2012 ?STOP THE ROT – Demand Kevin Rudd scraps his PNG deportation plan?
We at RISE (Refugees Survivors & Ex-Detainees) are dismayed and angered at the announcement by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that Australia will no longer accept asylum seekers for settlement in Australia. Rudd?s decision to settle all asylum seekers to Papua New...
at this federal election 2013 – STOP THE ROT –
?Seeking asylum is not a crime? - RISE Awareness campaign Who we are RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees is a not-for-profit incorporated association. RISE is the first refugee and asylum seeker welfare and advocacy organisation in Australia to be governed by...
Holding the Humanitarian sector and ourselves accountable-Diversity and inclusion on NGO boards and RISE’s model of self-empowerment
RISE (Refugees, survivors and ex-detainees) is the first refugee organisation in Australia and one of the few in the world that uses the model of self-empowerment for sustainable community development, where our organisation is not just run by members from the refugee...
Gift voucher appeal ? ?The RISE Pantry?
The RISE Pantry provides access to free dry food, fruits and vegetables at the RISE drop in centre which is open on weekdays from 9am-5pm and Sat from 10am-2pm. The aim of the RISE Pantry is to provide general access to any of our members emergency food assistance.As...
Performance Storytelling Workshops
RISE will deliver its first storytelling workshops this August, in partnership with Chicago?s 2nd Story who deliver unique storytelling experiences that provoke and challenge. The workshops are a facilitated introduction to performance storytelling, a movement...
Give Paris Aristotle a job in Quetta, Pakistan
"Mr Aristotle argues that one way of allaying ?pull factor? anxieties would be to commit to ?more places further up the line in Pakistan and Iran, before people have to depart and begin their journey?."...
Australia’s ‘border protection’ policies increasing danger-Tony Kevin-“Reluctant Rescuers”
As politicians and anti-refugee lobby groups capitalise on the latest tragedy at Christmas island to hysterically ask for tighter border control to purportedly prevent ?deaths at sea? we would like to bring to your attention this reference to ?Reluctant Rescuers? a...
The Gillard government’s “No Advantage” policy and stopping families of refugees being reunited under the split family humanitarian visa category:
The government has implemented this policy after the Houston panel report (http://riserefugee.org/post/44741347237/exposed-refugee-expert-panel-recommendations) recommended that refugees who came by boat should not be allowed to apply to bring their immediate family...
Inquest into the death of a deported asylum seeker in the hands of G4S guards in the UK:RISE (24 May 2013)
Sixty five racist jokes were found on the mobile phone of one of the G4S security guards who was restraining an Angolan asylum seeker Jimmy Mubenga who died in their hands during deportation from the UK in 2010. In a police interview given shortly after Mubenga?s...
Urgent alert from Australia (22 May 2013):
Stop the refoulement of 14 Sri Lankan Tamil Asylum Seekers! The Australian government has separated 14 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers, 4 men, 3 women and 6 children (including a 6 month old baby), who arrived by boat and were detained in a remote immigration...
RISE Foodbank Appeal
Food insecurity and hunger are very real problems facing refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. The FoodBank service at RISE has been running since 2011, and the number of people who have accessed this service has increased much faster than anticipated. At present...
RISE WINTER CLOTHING APPEAL
Winter is fast approaching and we?re all feeling the chill. Unfortunately, many of our members endure the cold winter months without heating or even adequate clothing to keep them warm.? At present there are over 9000 asylum seekers on bridging visas and around 4000...
RISE Alert: Attempt by UNHCR to expel refugees recognised and registered by UNHCR from Choucha refugee camp in Tunisia and cancel their resettlement options
06/05/2013 Last week UNHCR and other ?humanitarian? agencies attempted to expel refugees out of Choucha refugee camp in Tunisia and close it down. http://chouchaprotest.noblogs.org/ 228 refugees in this camp who are victims of the Libyan crisis and recognised as...
“For the community, by the community – what does this mean for RISE and our members?”
RISE is an organisation not just run by people of asylum seeker and refugee background but also governed by people from our communities. This means that members of the community are also the decision makers. RISE also made the difficult choice of not taking funding...
RISE call for action: Third day of mass hunger strike continues by refugees in Melbourne detention centre. (9/14/2013)
Today is day three of a mass hunger strike by 28 refugees in Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) in a Melbourne suburb called Broadmeadows.? These refugees, have been given refugee status and then assessed by ASIO (Australian Security intelligence...
RISE (2 April 2013) Call for Action from Australian Refugee advocates
RISE asks other refugee advocacy groups to come out of the closet and CALL OUT Paris Aristotle who has built his career as a self-proclaimed refugee advocate as shown in this article in the Sydney Morning Herald...
RISE – Upcoming Fundraising Events
Support one of the events by being part of it or make a donation 1. RUN MELBOURNE 2013 Would you like to be a PROUD RUNNER for the first refugee and asylum seeker welfare and advocacy organisation in Australia to be run largely by refugees, asylum seekers, and...
Iraq: Still paying a high price after a decade of abuses
Iraq: Still paying a high price after a decade of abuses- ?Neither the Iraqi government nor the former occupying powers have adhered to the standards required of them under international law and the people of Iraq are still paying a heavy price for their failure.?...
EXPOSED ” Refugee Expert Panel” recommendations.
EXPOSED ? Refugee Expert Panel? recommendations by Melbourne Anti-Deportation. The expert panel was set up by the Government in an attempt to stop the ?BOATS? Who are the people behind this recommendation? Paris Aristotle - Director of Foundation House Michael...
RISE statement at Macquarie University in Sydney
Last week The Age reported that an “asylum seeker ha[s] been charged over the sexual assault of a Macquarie University student”. We at RISE write this statement to condemn all acts of gendered violence. With many of our members having endured gendered and...
RISE Exclusive Media release: Calls for urgent Intervention into Rohingya refugees detained in Thailand (27/2/2012)
RISE: Refugees, survivors and ex-detainees is the first organisation in Australia governed and run by members of the refugee and asylum seeker community in Australia. Our organisation consists of more than 200 members from over 30 communities in Australia. Among them...
The new Australian Minister for Immigration Brendan O’Connor
The new Australian Minister for Immigration Brendan O?Connor is likely to fit quite smoothly into the new role of being Minister for Border Security aka ?Immigration?. In 2009, as the Minister of Home affairs, Brendan O?Connor attended an interpol meeting in Singapore...
At present large number of Sinhalese (and Tamils) fishermen are coming to Australia from North West Sri Lanka.
It is a concern that the Australian media, as well as a number of Australian human rights activists, are not aware of the political context surrounding the economic crisis these fishermen are facing. The news reports written by journalists such as Ben Doherty from The...
Report submitted to RISE on “Thailand?s Rohingya Issues” by Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR) in Thailand.
Thailand?s Rohingya Issues need Domestic and International Mechanisms Early in January, issues about the Rohingya coming to Thailand once again became a hot topic as news about the interception of Rohingya boats off a tourist island and reports of police raids on...
RISE Alert Manus Island:
The Australian Government?s ?humanitarian? solution Manus Island in Papua New Guinea is now the latest offshore camp being used by the Australian government to forcibly transport and indefinitely detain asylum seekers, men, women and children, who arrive in Australia...
Hazara community mourns deaths in Quetta
As the Hazara community mourns deaths in Quetta, please keep in mind that the Australian government is working with Pakistani intelligence to stop Hazara people from fleeing Pakistan to safety in Australia. Take action and express your concerns to Bob Carr, Julia...
First week of 2013, asylum seeker committed suicide
A young Tamil man from Sri Lanka has committed suicide on 4th of Friday in Perth. He was on a bridging visa and was told by some that he would be deported to Sri Lanka. RISE is not surprised by this suicide and is particularly concerned about the safety and wellbeing...
UPCOMING RISE FUNDRAISER: Local Implications of Global Conflicts
Key note address by members of RISE: Refugees, Survivors & Ex-Detainees Performances by Liza Garza (USA - Spoken Word Poet) and Nour Abouzeid (Spoken Word Poet) 6pm, Monday 17 December 2012: Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, 761 Swanston Street,...
RISE Letter to the UN Human rights commissioner : Omid-Nauru Asylum seeker left in tent after 46 day Hunger Strike
Alert:Omid-Nauru Asylum seeker left in tent after 46 day Hunger Strike Dear Ms. Navaneetham Pillay, I am emailing on behalf of RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees) a not-for-profit incorporated organisation founded and overseen by refugees, asylum seekers and...
RISE URGENT DEPORTATION ALERT – 50 or more Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Christmas Island and possibly Darwin will be deported by the Australian government TODAY (23.11.2012)
Please circulate this alert widely amongst your networks! These asylum seekers are detained in the remote island of Christmas Island and have been denied access to legal representation or any other independent support groups. This isolation makes it easier for the...
Who is making money out of human misery
Say NO to The Detention Industry and making money out of human misery. RISE is aware of a number of members from the refugee and immigrant community as well as the wider community being approached by detention service providers such as SERCO, AMES, IHMS and DIAC...
Urgent Call for Intervention-Rohingyas death toll 10 000
Australia?s refugee community includes Rohingya individuals from Myanmar. As reported by the UNHCR, the Rohingya in Myanmar are one of the most oppressed communities in the world. With the refugee issue being a global issue, RISE (Refugees, Survivors, Ex-detainees)...
RISE Statement in Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Nauru
27.10.2012 RISE: Refugees, Survivors & Ex-Detainees, the first refugee and asylum seeker support and advocacy organisation in Australia to by run by people of asylum seeker and refugee background, offers its full support and solidarity with those being held in...
Professional Anti-Racism Training
Starting in January 2013, RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees will be running? professional anti-racism training for the staff and/or volunteers of organisations that regularly interact with individuals who experience racism. We aim to provide participants with...
The RISE Cypher Project Media Release
16/10/2012 RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-detainees) is excited to announce launch of a community based recording studio in November as part of the RISE Cypher Project. The RISE music studio will give opportunities to aspiring young artists to positively express...
RISE Refugees announces its 3rd annual music and art festival
RISE Refugees is excited to announce its 3rd annual Music and Arts Festival, celebrating the creative talent of our refugee and asylum seeker members. Date: 15 December 2012 Time: 1pm to 7pm Location: Main Stage, Federation Square Hosted by award-winning comedy duo...
OPEN LETTER ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director General of Security [2012] HCA 46
RISE?s open letter to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on the implications for our community of last week?s High Court decision - Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director General of Security [2012] HCA 46. We encourage all concerned organisations and individuals to:...
RUN4RISE
RISE?s tutoring program for refugees and asylum seekers fills a gap in the community - it is a free pre-intermediate program, run by volunteers and qualified teachers, targeting students with some English language skills so that they will be able to improve to the...
Computer Classes Orientation Day ? 24th of September 2012, 247 Flinders Lane @ 3pm
RISE Computer Classes are set to produce opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers to meet their educational needs by offering a space to study and setting up educational components as well as provide advice and personalised guidance about the various computer...
Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers puts forward Government-desired solutions
Once again, the Australian Government has used hand-picked “experts” to say yes to ?offshore processing?. None of the three individuals on the Houston Panel have been appointed by refugee community groups or advocates, and therefore it comes as no surprise...
Offshore Processing: Deadly And Incoherent
Asylum seekers who have endured hardships, to cross many borders and reach the open seas with barely $2 left in their pockets, are being punished and politicised as queue jumpers. The general public are asking, ?Why don?t they come the ?right? way? But if you are an...
RISE Tutoring
RISE supports refugee and asylum seeker communities to meet their educational needs by offering advice and personalised guidance about the various educational pathways available. RISE has developed a tutoring project that fills a gap in the community and complements...
The charade of Australian-Sri Lankan relations
30/07/2012 After the forcible return in the face of desperate pleas, and 16 hours of continuous interrogation by Sri Lanka?s notorious Criminal Investigations Department in the presence of Australian authorities, returned Tamil asylum seeker Mr X has become an emblem...
RISE Exclusive Media Release – 26/07/2012
United Nations Committee Against Torture appeals to the Australian Government to prevent deportation of tamil torture survivor 26/07/2012 The United Nations Committee Against Torture has today sought to intervene in the case of ?Mr X?, a Tamil asylum seeker who was...
Snap Action @ Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne to Stop The Deportation of Mr. X
IF YOU ARE FREE, PLEASE GO TO TULLAMARINE AIRPORT! Mr X is likely to be put on Thai Airways Flight 466, departing at 1:55pm for Bangkok. Please meet at Thai Airways check-in counter at International Departures, Terminal 2 - 1st Floor.
URGENT: Mr X is being transported to Tullamarine Airport
Mr X has just contacted RISE to let us know that he is being taken to Tullamarine Airport to be forcibly deported from Australia to Sri Lanka.
Update on Mr X’s Status In Detention ? 25.07.2012
Security firewalls in detention have become incredibly strict for Mr X. He has been attempting to fax documents to RISE for the last two days and has been repeatedly told “the fax machine is not working” by SERCO guards at the Maribyrnong Immigration...
After Every Application, Request, Please ? A Call to Action: RISE Calls Action at Maribyrnong IDC, 22 July 2012
Saturday, 21 July 2012 (Melbourne):?? On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 17, the ALP federal government seized a Tamil refugee, a survivor of torture at the hands of the notorious Sri Lankan security forces, and locked him in a detention centre. They did this to make...
Stop the Deportation of Torture Survivor – 20/07/2012
A crime is happening, now. On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 17, the department of immigration seized a Tamil refugee, a survivor of torture at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces, and locked him in a detention centre. They did this to make it easier for them to...
Update on Deportation of Sri Lankan asylum seeker (Mr X) currently being detained in Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre
18/07/2012 Since being detained yesterday, Tuesday 17 July by the department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Mr X continues to face roadblocks in accessing his family, legal team and support workers. SERCO staff at Maribyrnong IDC have repeatedly told Mr X that...
URGENT?CALL FOR ACTION Deportation of Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker with pending UN Torture Investigation
URGENT?CALL FOR ACTION Deportation of Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker with pending UN Torture Investigation 17/07/2012 This afternoon, a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker who was tortured in Sri Lanka and is currently the victim in a pending investigation by the UN Special...
Raid at Villawood IDC on 10.07.2012
The ?Family Compound? (also called Sydney Residential Housing Centre-SRHC) in Villawood IDC has been searched and mobile phones confiscated by SERCO yesterday. One of the refugees has also been transferred to the high security Fowler camp in Villawood IDC. About a...
A globally responsible solution for displaced refugees
Australia?s policy on refugees continues to be driven by the personal ambitions of politicians in government and opposition who have demonstrated a lack of respect for Australia?s stature as a standard bearer of international laws in the Asia pacific region and a lack...
Our condolences for those families who have lost their loved ones in the boat tragedy off Christmas Island
RISE is highly critical of AMSA’s rescue centre not taking immediate response despite receiving calls from the vessel indicating it was experiencing difficulties on Tuesday 19th of June 2012. It took over 40 hours, since receiving the call, until the Customs and...
RISE Review: Hope in Settlement?Emerge Festival 2012
Dominic Golding (ONE STAR): The theme for this year?s Refugee Week is Restoring Hope. In this vein, the Ethnic Community Council of Victoria (ECCV), Multicultural Arts Victor (MAV) and Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) got the Playback Theatre Company to...
Criminalising smuggling does not prevent the free movement of people
RISE is highly critical of ABC?s Four Corners report on people smuggling which aired on Monday 4 June, 2012 in its failure to address the most pressing aspects of the issue of refugees and asylum seekers. We condemn ABC?s obvious descent into the fear-mongering and...
Appalling Medical Services for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Community
RISE is extremely concerned about the current, appalling medical situation that refugees and asylum seekers are facing while they are settling in Australia. There are a number of medical cases that have not been properly reviewed or given high priority, as they should...
The deteriorating situation at MITA
Asylum seekers and refugees held in MITA (Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation): A man attempted to hang himself this week. Last week a teenager cut his neck. About a week before that a man was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after he was found speaking to...
Minister Scott Morrison’s fear tactics
RISE is concerned by the comments of Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, who on 27 February 2012 said ?when illegal boats turn up in our waters there will always be the risk that people on these boats will carry serious communicable...
Where are you from?
Two days ago I was walking on my way to work and, as always, I have my coffee on Flinders Lane in central Melbourne. While waiting for my coffee, a well-meaning Australian came up to me and asked me what my ethnicity was. I had no idea who he was nor did I know what...
Our views on offshore processing
RISE is extremely concerned about the continued raising of an asylum seeker deal between regional and Australian governments, recently rehashed by Independent MP, Rob Oakeshott. Minister for Immigration and Labor MP, Chris Bowen has recently announced his support for...
Protests are democratic actions
Both Liberal and Labour parties have cited last year?s protests as ?criminal actions?, but Australian detention centres are being used as crypts to bury the voices and narratives of oppressed men, women and children who are seeking freedom. What democratic options do...
Xenophobia or racial discrimination?
Is this a form of xenophobia or racial discrimination? Seeking asylum is not a crime and it is a right that is upheld by the laws of this land as well as the UN Refugee Convention that our country has pledged to support. Yet in recent times, successive Australian...
Refugee with psychiatric illness bashed by drunken men
A refugee with a psychiatric illness who was granted a protection visa more than a year ago has still not been assisted by government subcontracted settlement service providers to apply for a carer visa to bring a family member over to be with him. He wandered into a...
Asylum seekers at Scherger detention centre
Two asylum seekers from Scherger detention centre in QLD have to go to court this week without a lawyer and are likely to lose their case because of this. Immigration detention is supposed to be for ?administrative purposes?-does this mean ?doing everything unfair to...
ALERT from Curtin IDC
Asylum seeker (wife and two preschool aged children living in conflict zone) detained 1 year and 11 months, attempted to hang himself on Friday. He has been discharged from hospital today and back taken back to Curtin. He slept in a tent for 9 months when he was in...