DASSAN MONTHLY WORKSHOPS
DASSAN has decided to trial something new. Every month rather than holding a meeting we will be running workshops. The workshops will be focused on making things happen then and there. This could mean organising a campaign, a rally, a fundraiser or any other event. It could also include letter writing, creating art, developing informative materials or collecting material support. We would love to hear your project ideas!
DASSAN currently needs urgent funds to support people seeking asylum in Darwin to navigate complex legal systems. There is no funded legal support for people seeking asylum up here and those who do not submit applications are at risk of losing their work rights, Medicare and Centrelink access and ultimately risk being re-detained.
Therefore, our first workshop will be an event organising workshop. We will be focusing on the organisation of the DASSAN Deckchair fundraiser and the Seniors Day stall but we are also looking for creative and interesting ways to raise money to support and advocate for people seeking asylum.
We need your help! So please come along to our first workshop on Monday the 15th of May at 6pm. It will be held at the Uniting Church in Rapid Creek.
MAURICE BLACKBURN CLASS ACTION
As some of you may know, in 2014 Maurice Blackburn commenced a pro bono class action for people who didn’t receive adequate care while in immigration detention on Christmas Island.
Maurice Blackburn commenced this class action in order to assist a wide number of asylum seekers who suffered harm in detention, and to hold the Australian government accountable for failing to provide adequate care to these people.
On 27 March 2017 the Supreme Court of Victoria ordered that the proceeding no longer continue as a class action.
Individuals who were group members in the class action have the right to appeal the Court’s decision that the proceeding not continue as a class action. However, the time for commencing any such appeal expires on 24 May 2017 so there is not much time. For more information regarding this please click here.
If you know of anyone who could be included in this group please contact our Coordinator Sandra on 0477 005 610 or advocacy@dassan.org.
PALM SUNDAY
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and wind to come out for Palm Sunday this year.
A special thank you to the other organisizers CAPSA, Uniting Church, Unions NT, Don’t Frack the Territory and the Environment Centre NT.
And a huge thank you to Walid Zazai. Walid is a young Afghan man currently detained on Manus Island. Walid gave DASSAN Coordinator Sandra Bartlett permission to read his powerful and heart-wrenching speech. The speech was read at Palm Sunday events across the country. Click here for a copy. Please share it widely so that more people hear the voices of the people forcibly held on Manus Island and Nauru.
NAURU SENATE INQUIRY REPORT
The recent senate inquiry into allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect on Nauru has released a scathing report stating that Australia must end the fiction that it does not control Nauru and Manus Island centres. For a copy of the report click here.
DASSAN’s Coordinator, Sandra Bartlett, wrote a submission to the inquiry based on diary entries she kept during her time on Nauru. The submission describes assaults, suicide attempts and medical care inadequacies that occurred on the island. To read an article written by Helen Davidson of the Guardian about Sandra’s submission click here.
DASSAN VIGILS
DASSAN has been holding our vigil for more than 5 years. Over the years we stood in witness and solidarity outside the Darwin Airport Lodge and then Wickham Point detention centre. Since the detention centres closed in Darwin we continue to hold a vigil outside the Department of Immigration, 40 Cavanagh St, Darwin, every Monday and Friday from 12 to 1pm. We will continue to hold our vigils until justice is done – for all of our friends behind the fences, here in Australia and in Nauru and Manus Island.
Until we are all free, none of us are free.
A huge thanks to Richard, the keeper of the vigil – as one friend who was locked up in Wickham Point said “Say thank you to the grandfather, always there for us” and from all of us outside too – thank you for standing, on behalf of all us, in solidarity.
The vigil is held outside Immigration on Mondays and Fridays at 12pm
BOARD VACANCY
DASSAN is seeking a Board member with financial management and / or business management skills and experience, together with an interest in supporting justice for asylum seekers. Contact Diane by emailing president@dassan.org if you are interested in finding out more
From,
The DASSAN Team
until we are all free none of us are free
Events Coming Up
SEABREEZE FESTIVAL
Saturday the 6th of May, 1pm to 6pm, Stall number 31
Come along to the annual Seabreeze Festival this Saturday. Grab some DASSAN merchandise and have a chat to us about what is happening for asylum seekers in Darwin, Australia wide and those who continue to be held offshore on Manus Island and Nauru. Get involved in DASSAN’s ongoing campaign for freedom and justice.
Sunday the 6th of May, 3:30pm-5:30pm, Charles Darwin Universtity – Blue Building
Join the Darwin Amnesty Group for a screening of uplifting documentary Cast from the Storm. After desperately fleeing war and persecution, an extraordinary bunch of teenagers are brought together through a life-changing theatre program. At a Sydney high school, under the guidance of three passionate teachers, they share their ‘Storm Stories’ – the stories that made them refugees – in front of Australian audiences. The cost is a gold coin donation. DASSAN will be giving a brief presentation at the start of the screening and answering questions about people seeking asylum.
DASSAN WORKSHOP
Monday 15th May, Nightcliff Uniting Church, Cummins St, Rapid Creek at 6-7pm
Come along to our first DASSAN workshop. Details above.
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION VIGIL
Monday and Friday 12pm, 40 Cavenagh St, Darwin
Please join us in standing for justice in solidarity with our friends behind the fences, Department of Immigration, 40 Cavenagh St, Darwin, every Monday and Friday 12 – 1 pm. Click here for next Monday’s Facebook event and here for Next Fridays.
Can You Help?
HELPING OUR ADVOCACY WORK
Here in Darwin the DASSAN advocacy team is working constantly to assist asylum seekers in the Darwin community and in detention. Thank you to the many generous supporters who enable us to do this work. To support our advocacy work you can donate to the advocacy fund by direct deposit to:
Bendigo Bank: DASSAN account
BSB: 633-000
Account Number :143875664
Please write ‘advocacy’ in the donation details.
All Donations Now Tax Deductible