August 19, 2005

Day of Courage: Australians show support for refugees and asylum seekers

Day of Courage, an opportunity for Australians to show support for refugees and asylum seekers, will be held on Sunday August 28, coinciding with the National Council of Churches' Refugee and Migrant Sunday.

In a nationwide event, dozens of church groups, Islamic communities, Jewish leaders and other concerned Australians will screen Punished not Protected, a film examining the history of Government policy and its effects on those fleeing war, torture and persecution.

In many locations powerful guest speakers will introduce the film and call for continuing reform of Government policy. Refugees and former asylum seekers have also been invited to attend many of the screenings and some will speak of their experiences.

Punished not Protected features interviews with refugees, concerned citizens and leading Australians - all of whom are committed to seeking more just treatment of all asylum seekers. The film was made by Rymer Bayly Watson, one of Australia's leading independent documentary production companies.

Participants in the film include:

• The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser;
• Robert Manne, Professor Politics, La Trobe University;
  
• The Rev. Tim Costello;
• Dr Mary Crock, Professor in Law, University of Sydney;
  
• Dr John Yu, Chancellor, University of NSW;
• Julian Burnside, QC, refugee rights advocate;
  
• Dr Louise Newman, Director, NSW Institute of Psychiatry, RANZCP;
• plus activists and former refugees.

Church communities throughout Australia are being invited to participate in The Day of Courage. The enormous strength found in church, mosque and synagogue communities around the country will ensure the commitment and participation of potentially hundreds of thousands of Australians in The Day of Courage.

It is hoped this will create a ripple effect of awareness as religious communities invite Australians to participate.

The simultaneous screening of Punished not Protected is a simple, cost effective and cohesive demonstration of support for continuing reform to Australia's policy for all asylum seekers.

There will be Day of Courage events held in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Darwin and in regional communities across the country on August 28.

Some of the largest gatherings will be:

Sydney

Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences & Human Development will host an event at 52 Park Road, Auburn, 12.30pm Sunday August 28.
Speakers to include Al-Ghazzali Centre President Afroz Ali, Zachary Steele, a psychologist who works in detention centres, lawyer George Newhouse representing Jewish Labor Forum, and Father Noel Connelly.

Canberra

Canberra Islamic Centre, 221 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash, 7.30pm Saturday August 27.
Speakers to include President of Canberra Islamic Centre Ahmed Youseff; Professor William Maley from ANU, and refugee advocate Claire Bruhns

Melbourne

Melbourne Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and the Justice & International Mission Unit, Uniting Church of Australia, Knox Lecture Theatre, Cardinal Knox Centre, Albert Street, East Melbourne, 2pm, Sunday August 28.

Gold Coast

Robina Surfers Paradise Uniting Church, 4 Greenwich Court, Robina
2pm, Sunday August 28, Speakers to include Senator Andrew Bartlett from the Australian Democrats, refugee advocate Yvette Dempsey.

Brisbane

St Andrews Anglican Church (Club Room beneath the church), 160 Vulture Street, South Brisbane, 12.30pm, Sunday August 28.

and

St Mary's Catholic Church, 20 Merivale Street, South Brisbane.

Regional communities holding events include Toowoomba (Qld), Bathurst (NSW), Mirboo North (Vic), Lismore (NSW), Queenscliff (Victoria), Armidale (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), Darwin (NT), Warnambool (Vic), Birkdale (Qld), Yass (NSW).

For further information please contact Tracey Mair, 0419 221 493.

Distribution rights to Punished not Protected are owned by Ronin Films. The company has generously waived the usual exhibition fee of $120 and instead has made DVD or VHS copies available for sale at $30 for this event.

The organisers hope that individual churches and organisations will seek donations from within their communities to cover the cost of the film and also screening equipment (DVD player and screen, or VHS and television).

DVD or VHS should be obtained from Ronin Films
Ph: 02 6248 0851
Fax: 02 6248 1640

The organisers may be able to assist with guest speakers for screenings and would appreciate being notified by those church communities who plan to screen Punished not Protected. Please email.

Download the Punished not Protected study guide (pdf).

To download a kit, get extra resources or find out about the Media Competition, what’s happening in your state, or the film Punished Not Protected, go here.