Flinders University a Refugee Sanctuary

Yesterday (23 October), at the initiative of Flinders Chilout, hundreds of Flinders students gathered on the Plaza to listen to speakers and then voted to make Flinders University a Refugee Sanctuary --

Declaring that Flinders University is a place of humanity and compassion towards refugees;
Calling for the end of mandatory detention of women, men and child refugees;
Declaring that they were willing to support refugees released on temporary protection visas in our capacity and resourcefulness as a student body.

The meeting was addressed by national speakers and by Hazara refugees living in Adelaide.

Members of Flinders Chilout are helping the University's Foundation Course to recruit refugees on TPVs who will be prepared for admission to undergraduate degree courses. We are also raising money to pay their fees (since the government refuses to allow federal funds to be used for this purpose).

Flinders University sets aside places for TPV Holders

"At the request of Flinders Chilout Society, the Vice Chancellor of Flinders University has agreed to make a sub quota of 10 places, on the university's Foundation Course, available for refugees on Temporary Protection Visas.

The Foundation Course has been operating for many years as a preparation and qualification for Flinders university entry for people who do not meet the normal university entrance requirements (including Aboriginal students, recent migrants, those on low incomes who left school early etc). Until now, however, it has been reserved for citizens or permanent residents.

The course runs for a year, for one or two evenings a week. Because TPV holders cannot receive  government funded education, we will need to get scholarships established, to cover the Foundation Course fees as well as the later undergraduate fees of successful students."

Well done Constance Lever-Tracy and the team at Flinders ChilOut!

For others of us at other universities, perhaps we can take their lead and lobby for the same.  Also, let your refugee friends know about the availability of these places at Flinders University.

Junie
for ChilOut
October 2002