Mary Anne Kenny

Battling Boatloads of Prejudice: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Activism with Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Australia

The arrival of asylum seekers in Australia during the 1980s through to the first decade of the twenty-first century caused much controversy. A number of prejudicial false beliefs have formed around this phenomenon. This chapter discusses and counters four common false beliefs: ‘most asylum seekers arrive by boat’, ‘seeking asylum without authorisation from Australian authorities is illegal under Australian law’, ‘refugees get all sorts of government handouts’ and ‘giving temporary protection visas will stop asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat’. We note these myths are often found in political rhetoric indicating the social nature of individual attitudes. We also examine refugee advocates’ public rhetoric in challenging common false beliefs by arguing that they are ‘just like us’. While this is a useful strategy to challenge dominant discourse, it can backfire in that it implies the impossibility of social harmony based on diversity. We also examine the need for community-based action to engage with and counter prejudice and its bases. We conclude with an argument for the value of an interdisciplinary approach and the need to address both micro and macro issues within the framework of peace psychology in order to effect social change.

'Marriage of convenience' or a 'match made in heaven': lawyers and social workers working with asylum seekers

Asylum seekers face many hurdles during the process of refugee status determination, particularly if they have experienced some form of trauma. By preparing cases as a team, lawyers and social workers can reduce the stress for asylum seekers while at the same time improve the quality of information made available to decision makers within the refugee determination process. This article presents a model which utilises the knowledge and skills that lawyers and social workers are able to bring to working with asylum seekers and assists asylum seekers to present a comprehensive case with a focus both on supporting their credibility and maximizing their ability to actively engage in the process.

Force-Feeding Asylum Seekers

In January this year over 200 detainees at the Woomera detention centre in South Australia went on a prolonged hunger strike. The protest was reportedly in response to delays in the processing of applications for asylum and the conditions under which asylum seekers are detained, During these protests a number of people were treated for dehydration. At the time there was debate about whether they would have to be force-fed.