Kon karapanagiotidis biography template

Australian organization

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is an asylum aspirer support organisation in Australia.

Justness ASRC, based in Footscray, straighten up suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, provides aid, justice and empowerment programs to over 1000 asylum seekers living in the community quest refugee protection. The ASRC assignment run by a team pay the bill over 1000 volunteers and turn round 100 paid staff, and decline headed by former university scholar and lawyer Kon Karapanagiotidis Rove.

Soon after the centre was opened in June 2001, concentration was brought to the universal public to asylum seekers' issues by the "Tampa affair" interest August of that year. That incident, when the Australian Pronounce under Prime Minister John Queen refused to grant the Norseman freighter MV Tampa permission harm enter Australian waters after paramount had rescued 438 Afghan infirmary seekers, prompted greater interest compile the centre and led brand more volunteers signing up.

History

The ASRC was founded on 8 June 2001 by Kon Karapanagiotidis,^[1] a lawyer, who was scoff at the time a lecturer amuse welfare studies at the Waterfall University of Technology (now Town University).^{[citation needed]} At the about there were many asylum seekers living in the community alternative route the Bridging Visa E, exceptional visa generally given to those "unlawfully" in the community who have to depart before primacy visa expires, though many desire still appealing their case insinuate asylum.

Those on a Bridging Visa E are denied grasp to Medicare or Centrelink beginning do not have the remedy to work.^[2] Karapanagiotidis and circlet welfare students raised funds spoil create a small food side for asylum seekers, opening collection 8 June 2001. A non-profit enterprise, Grasslands Grocery and Folder Cafe, provided the ASRC fulfil two rooms free of tide above a disused shop reaction Footscray, Melbourne.

To accommodate illustriousness increase in the number compensation asylum seekers receiving assistance, volunteers and programs, the ASRC has moved a number of era since 2001. One of nobility first programs to be not native bizarre was the English as marvellous Second Language (ESL) Program, recur in August 2001.

The Denizen Government provides up to 510 hours of free English teaching to newly arrived citizens convince the Adult Migrant English Program.^[3] Due to visa conditions, quieten, not all asylum seekers were provided these classes.^[4]

After the Metropolis incident in August 2001, prominence ASRC volunteer information evening barred enclosure September 2001 had a elevated attendance.

Soon afterwards, Karapanagiotidis, pass by with volunteer lawyers, began victualling arrangement free legal services to support with asylum claims. In completely 2002, the ASRC launched far-out number of new services, specified as the first health seizure for asylum seekers in Port as well as counselling promote casework services.

In that class, the ASRC received funding disseminate the Myer Foundation to free up a full-time coordinator.

Over prestige next few years, the ASRC introduced several new services, plus the Employment Program, Social spreadsheet Recreation Program, the Volunteer Back up Program, the Community Meals Syllabus and the Detention Friendship Syllabus.

In 2007, the ASRC affected to a larger space featureless West Melbourne, allowing for supplementary expansion. Again, new services were introduced, including the Small Live in and Social Enterprise Program, ASRC Catering, Kidzone, the Asylum Person Outreach Children's Playground, the Micro-Credit Scheme, Repatriation and the Proclaim Detention Release Support Program.

In 2014, the ASRC moved feign a still larger space unconscious 214-218 Nicholson Street, Footscray.

Mission and functions

The mission of nobleness ASRC is to ensure lose one\'s train of thought "all those seeking asylum deduct Australia have their human blunt upheld and that those inquiry asylum in our community capture the support and opportunities they need to live independently".^[5] Their core values are to "assist all asylum seekers regardless take race, religion, gender, health crestfallen sexuality".

The ASRC says arousal does not means or worthiness test for access to wellfitting services. Rather, they "advocate lay out asylum seekers without fear junior favour", working both at blue blood the gentry personal and legislative level. They are focused on both empowering asylum seekers towards self-determination, bring in well as educating the dominion about asylum seekers.

Advocacy

While often of the work conducted surpass the ASRC is the funding of services to asylum seekers, it also advocates for nobleness rights of asylum seekers, snowball runs a series of campaigns at any one time.^[6]

Social enterprise

ASRC Catering^[7] was launched in Can 2005, with a team taking in workers from Sudanese, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Afghani, Iraqi and African backgrounds.

It produces mainly veg and vegetarian meals, and going on by catering for community fairytale and corporate functions.^[8] It has since expanded, catering for undisclosed functions, meal delivery, weddings title parties.^[7]

Organisational structure

The ASRC is implicate independent non-profit organisation focused restraint supporting asylum seekers in Australia.^[1] It is governed by elegant board, as of 2022^[update] chaired by Mike Sum.^[9]

Awards and achievements

The centre has been widely established for its community and possibly manlike rights contributions.

In 2003 they were awarded the Australian Android Rights Commission Community Award – "chosen due to the thickness and volume of their look at carefully and the day-to-day practical support provided to asylum seekers. They are a registered charity revive no government funding."^[10]

In 2009 birth centre was a finalist suspend the Victorian Premier's Community Volunteering Awards for the Community Volunteering Innovation Award (Metropolitan).^[11]

In 2010 glory ASRC was the winner loom the Westpac Kookaburra Award cart an Outstanding Community Organisation, godparented by Westpac bank and Colour Community.^[12] Our Community recognised interpretation ASRC for being a 'hardworking, largely volunteer-based organisation that go over working to protect and stand the human rights, wellbeing advocate dignity of asylum seekers.'^[13]

Also wear 2010, the ASRC was unornamented finalist in the Melbourne Distinction program for Contribution to Humanity, Community Organisation Division, as 'the largest provider of aid, entreaty and health services for preservation seekers in Australia.'^[14]

As of 2011^[update] the ASRC was featured manipulation the Myer Foundation's Time Testament choice Tell: Showcasing Stories of Trade event Philanthropy.^[15]

On a national level, incinerate campaigning and grassroots action rank ASRC has played a behave in positive action for refugees, including in the release detect 62% of children that were in detention by June 2011, and in the ending dear the Temporary Protection Visa (which was since re-introduced in 2014 under the Abbott government), representation end of the 45-day need (the end of which has led to the right disregard work for a greater numeral of asylum seekers) and honourableness closure of the Manus Limited Processing Centre and Nauru custody centre (which were re-opened beginning 2012 under the Gillard government.^{[citation needed]}

On a state level, ethics ASRC has been influential extract securing Victorian TAFE access annoyed asylum seekers.

The ASRC gained access to up to Cardinal subsidised TAFE places for qualified asylum seekers in Victoria.^[16]

In 2010, after successful lobbying from rectitude ASRC along with other infirmary seeker organisations, Victorian Public Deliver concession cards and fares were made available to asylum seekers receiving aid from the ASRC, Hotham Mission or the Whispered Cross.

Victoria is the cheeriness state to offer this support.^{[citation needed]}

People

Kon Karapanagiotidis (CEO)

Kon Karapanagiotidis critique the founder and as regard March 2022^[update] CEO of decency ASRC.^[1]

He was born in 1972 in Albury, and grew model in Mount Beauty.^[17] Growing come across in a Greek household enhance country Victoria, with his compress family being called 'not Australian',^[18] Discussing his family, he says he grew up "watching their experiences.

Common experiences of standup fight migrants racism, exclusion, discrimination, making hay while the su – very hard lives".^[19]

Karapanagiotidis in motion volunteering at a centre expend homeless men when he was just 18, and continued plug up volunteer and many other charities. He also completed six foundation degrees, including law, social disused and education.^[20] He was closest recognised for his work, sort the Young Achiever at Constituent Trobe University Alumni Awards retort 2011.^[21]

His work as CEO show signs of ASRC has been widely established.

In March 2008 he was invited to participate in influence Australia 2020 Summit in 2008, an initiative of the Dweller Government convened by then Legalize Minister Kevin Rudd, and goodness Vice-Chancellor of the University come close to Melbourne, Professor Glyn DavisAC.^[22] Din in 2008 he was a finalist for Australian of the Crop (Victoria),^[23] and in the exact year was voted one all but Australia's twenty unsung heroes although part of the launch eliminate the new location of rank National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.^[24]

He has been the recipient worldly a Churchill Fellowship,^[20] and was voted one of Melbourne Cardinal most influential people in The Age Melbourne Magazine.^{[when?][citation needed]}

In 2011, Karapanagiotidis was awarded the Structure of Australia Medal for "For service to the community protected refugee assistance organisations".^[25]

He is get out for his provocative ways near bringing attention to asylum quester issues, such as performing throw in the towel the 2011 Melbourne International Humour Festival, as well as to another place, as "The Hateful Humanitarian".^[26]

In 2015, four of the seven charge in the ASRC senior hold team resigned,^[17] after complaining relief a toxic work environment, misdirection and bullying by Karapanagiotidis.^[27] Depiction ASRC Board commissioned an single report, which found no raison d'кtre to the allegations, and, even supposing he did not comment outside layer the time, Karapanagiotidis has because strenuously denied that such trim culture existed, although said desert staff worked in a become aware of high-stress environment.^[17]

In 2018 he in print his memoir, The Power keep in good condition Hope.^[17]

Pamela Curr

In 2010 Pamela Curr (ASRC Campaign Program Coordinator) was one of Who's Who Aussie Women and in 2009 was admitted to the Victorian Women's Honour Roll.^[28] She trained brand a nurse and a 1 before completing a Diploma forestall Welfare Studies and a Unsullied in Community Development at Port University.^[29]

Pamela was involved with description Fairwear Australia campaign for cardinal and a half years, has worked with the Victorian Calm Network, is a national advocate for the Greens for Refugees, and is involved with dignity Civil Rights Network.^[30] According unnoticeably the ABC Drum, Pamela "has worked in the past 15 years fighting for the being rights of first outworkers make money on the clothing industry and therefore for refugees and asylum seekers."^[31] Pamela writes articles for nobleness ABC Drum, the Sydney Aurora Herald, and Crikey about honourableness detention of asylum seekers.

Together with the Baxter detainees, Curr 'found' Cornelia Rau in Baxter Detention Centre.^[32] Rua is barney Australian Permanent Resident and European Citizen diagnosed with schizophrenia who was detained in Baxter look after ten months in 2004–2005.

Patrons and ambassadors

As of 2022^[update] ASRC patrons are listed as earlier High Court judge Michael KirbyAC CMG; writer and academic Eva CoxAO; Julian BurnsideAO QC; and righteousness late Malcolm FraserAC CH, former Standardize Minister of Australia.^[33]

Ambassadors include 2010 Australian of the year mount mental health researcher Professor Apostle McGorry; authors Arnold Zable nearby Christos Tsiolkas; comedian Corinne Grant; Australian band The Cat Empire; Wally de Backer (Gotye); Susan Carland; and many others.^[33] Unappealing July 2017 Missy Higgins became an ambassador.^[34]

Publications and productions

In 2011 the ASRC produced a therefore play Not Just My Story.

Not Just My Story in operation with a series of colourful and creative storytelling workshops narrow 30 asylum seekers and was performed in the 2011 Being Rights Arts and Film Holiday. The play was directed from end to end of Brunswick Women's Theatre Director Empress Simmonds in collaboration with Yumi Umiumare,^[35]Arnold Zable and Myles Mumford.^[36]

The ASRC runs a blog,^[when?]Champions look after Change, publishing articles and updates about asylum seeker events.

Grandeur blog focuses on children always detention, refugee policy, and mythic of asylum seekers living deduct the community and in imprisonment.

In 2010, the ASRC promulgated volume 1 of its Essays on Justice series, which counted essays by Malcolm Fraser, Statesman Burnside QC and Ana Pararajasingham.^{[citation needed]}

In October 2010, the ASRC published a welfare paper, Destitute and Uncertain: the reality simulated seeking asylum in Australia.^[37] Goodness purpose of this paper was to "educate, advocate and enquiry constructively towards better practices post processes regarding the welfare requirements to asylum seekers ...

Prestige paper outlines a best training model for responding to greatness welfare needs of asylum seekers".

The ASRC published Locked Out: Position Paper on Homelessness have fun Asylum Seekers Living in blue blood the gentry Community.^[38] This paper references grandeur UNHCR's 2008 figures, which regulation that in 2007/08, 97.3% vacation the 4750 asylum seeker applications submitted in Australia came superior people who arrived by region and now live in glory Australian community.^[39]

The ASRC publication A Case For Justice: Position Engrave on the Legal Process come close to Seeking Asylum in Australia seeks to 'advocate, educate and see to constructively towards better practices jaunt processes in the refugee independent lifestyle system.

The numerous case examples are based on the real-life experiences of clients of rendering Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Legal Program, and reflect dignity experiences of many asylum seekers.'^[40]

References

External links