Yesterday, I opened my email to find my regular campaign update from GetUp, which is a group which aims to raise awareness for various injustices that are happening in Australia, and provide people with information on how to end social marginalisation, environmental destruction and various other causes. GetUp has always been a campaigner for refugees rights, and now they have come out with a campaign to promote the new program for Australians to open their homes up to refugees. Under the government approved program, the Red Cross is calling for people who have a spare room or granny flat to open their home up to a refugee for any amount of time for 6 weeks. They will be paid money for hosting a refugee and there are no requirements apart from not having a criminal record. The refugees would be those who have been processed and granted a bridging visa.
In theory it all sounds lovely and nice, until you put a bit of thought into just how arrogant, misguided and plain poor this idea is.
1. The refugees
Everybody knows (except perhaps conservative deniers) that these refugees have fled from war-ravished countries and have faced an extraordinary journey to arrive here. They do not speak English, they do not understand the culture and the only thing more traumatic than being in that situation, is coming out of detention and placed into a house, on their own, of a family or group of people with whom they can't understand nor relate to. Is there any reason why they can't live with or be around people from their own culture? At least until they overcome the severe shock and trauma of the ordeal that they have been through? There is no guarantee that refugees will be placed with people they know, or even any other refugee in a similar situation.
Actually, in hindsight I was probably wrong about this. If the refugees were happy to stay somewhere (and with free rent and food, who wouldn't!), then why shouldn't they? I'm no mental health expert, and the only people who know what's best for them and what they want, are the refugees themselves.
2. Cultural Assimilation
One argument for this ridiculous scheme is that it allows refugees the opportunity to learn more about Australia, meet locals, practice their language skills and learn to 'integrate' into Australian society. This is probably the most sickening of all the arguments, as it suggests that there is a necessity for refugees to change in some way in order to fit into the prototype of an Australian. This ethnocentric arrogance that people should want to integrate is the reason there are so many racists running around the place. Rather than trying to force refugees to fit in, why isn't more being done to celebrate and appreciate the ethnic diversity that they bring to the country. If, over time, they come to love Australia and want to be part of it then that is fantastic, however encouraging them to be less 'them' and more like 'us' reeks of Stolen Generation type bullshit. Who says we are right anyway?
3. The potential for a whole lot to go wrong
Considering that there are very few criteria for homestay hosts, the potential for abuse of the system is very high. I am not suggesting at all that the refugees themselves would be a problem, rather the people who are agreeing to host them. In the same way that foster care attracts some of the nastiest degenerates that ever came across a child, there is nothing to say that only good people will come forth for this program. The offer of money is an even bigger enticement for greedy, opportunistic fiends to exploit traumatised victims who are new to the country. I am imagining an influx of 'black maids' and gardeners for those who are willing to take advantage of the vulnerability of these people. Rape, slave labour, isolation etc are all very real issues. It's easy to assume that everyone is good when you are surrounded by them all day, but scratch the surface and you'll see that there are some horrid people lurking around and preying on an opportunity like this one.
This seems a bit far fetched actually. And even if the hosts do throw a few pennies to the refugees for a bit of cleaning and gardening work, who cares!? I'm sure the Red Cross are doing routine checks, and most of them are consenting adults, not young kids in foster care.
4. Lack of attachment
Nowhere does the program suggest that it is necessary to love, support and provide for a refugee staying in one's house, the only requirement, as it states, is to provide a safe shelter for them. Additionally, the homestay program placements only run for 6 weeks at a time, after which the time may be extended, or the refugee may simply move on to the next home for another 6 weeks. Any person who is shifted around every 6 weeks is denied of the chance of having any real meaningful relationships or connections with people, which is likely to cause them to feel even more socially isolated. Much like the case of foster children, those people who feel as if they have no attachment to a home, community or stability experience much more stress, anxiety and depression than those who do. All that it does, is exacerbate the trauma of detention and their journey.
As you can see, there is far too much wrong with this system in order for it to work. While it is crucial for the community to reach out and support new arrivals to Australia, by giving a refugee a room for 6 weeks, no real help is being provided. However, as I am no armchair bitch who barks and yet fails to suggest any other solutions, there are a number of ways in which refugees can be helped to transition into daily life in Australia. Presently, I have a number of amazing friends who tutor refugees in English. They are committed to assisting refugee families in their homes once a week (or sometimes more) and to reach out. This is ideal as it provides continuity for families, as well as helps them to learn the language and to meet people from the community. Another thing that could be done is to engage migrants who have become relatively settled in Australia, from the same cultural background, in somewhat of a mentoring role, in order to share the language and customs and provide familiarity and comfort for the new arrivals, as well as to help them engage more in the community. It is not about forming ghettos, it is about culturally relevant assistance. The key here is to promote acceptance, involvement and continuity, rather than forcing cultural immersion. After all, the best way to make somebody hate your culture is to shove it down their throats.
Well, perhaps the programme worked, perhaps it didn't. Luckily there is a great civil society there to help refugees and be supportive. Now that the refugee debate has fired up yet again at the end of 2015, the question isn't so much "what can we give them," as much as the most important issue of LET THEM IN!! Refugees need a safe place, and whether that is on somebody's couch, or just in a country where they won't be killed, this is still as topical as ever.
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