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During these uncertain times, now more than ever we must come together as a united community to help and support each other through this crisis.

Long before COVID-19, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre existed to support people seeking asylum and refugees to survive, thrive and rebuild their lives through a range of aid and advocacy services. We did this hand in hand with our expert workforce (staff and a cohort of more than 1200 incredible volunteers), supported by a generous community of donors, funders, activists and community organisers.

And right now, this hasn’t changed. We’ll continue to support those seeking asylum in Australia, today, tomorrow and into the future.

That’s because people seeking asylum are some of the most vulnerable in our community – many do not have a safety net, access to Medicare, Centrelink or critical care services. Without support, they are exposed to the worst economic and health impacts of the pandemic and in the coming weeks and months ahead, will feel it the most.

We recognise that our ASRC members have lived experience of living in uncertain times and this may be retraumatizing for some of them. And that we are strongly committed to delivering programs and services that will help them cope for as long as we practically can so they too can come through stronger and more resilient.

The reality, however, is that it’s not business as usual and we’re acutely aware that our model of service delivery will undoubtedly change – in fact, it already has, as members of our community balance their personal and professional lives. That’s why we’re monitoring the situation daily and will make decisions for our ways of working in the best interests of all our people and to ensure they are supported.