STARTTS Community Consultations with Assyrian and Chaldan Communities

11/11/01

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSYRIAN AND CHALDEAN COMMUNITIES

History of Assyrian and Chaldean people

The following information was collected from the Assyrian Human Rights Report (1997) and Assyrians in Australia report (1993).  The Assyrian people are the indigenous people of the Mesopotamia and have a history spanning over 6700 years.  The Assyrians belong to an ancient people whose kingdom, 5000 years ago, lay to the north of Baghdad, Iraq.  The Assyrian kingdom fell in 612 BC and many people migrated to the mountains of Kurdistan, north of Mosul, to a district known as Hakkiari were they were based for 2000 years.  Hakkiari, was under Turkish rule but the Assyrians had a quiet existence.  During the first century AD, they adopted Christianity as their national religion.  All religious services are written and conducted in Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ, and their liturgy and services are those handed down from the time of the Apostles.  The Church was known as the Apostolic Church of the East which had the dual role of attending to the people's spiritual needs as well as being recognised as the holder of temporal power and leadership over the Assyrian people.

In 1916 and 1917 Great Britain approached the Assyrians to be their allies against the Ottoman Empire which they agreed to do.  The British promised that should they be dispossessed of their land then new territory would be found for them.  During this war the Turkish Army devastated their country and many people died of hunger and disease.  This period has been called the Assyrian Holocaust.  The remnants of the Assyrian people gathered together to be placed in a temporary camp in Baqubah in Iraq where Britain held the mandate.  Soon villages were created.

In 1932 the British relinquished the mandate of these areas over to Iraq.  The Iraq government promised that minorities under their care would receive the same treatment as they had received under British rule but after six months the Iraqi army massacred 3000 Assyrian and destroyed many farms, houses and animals.

Prior to the Gulf War more than 400 Assyrian villages were obliterated by the Iraqi government and much of the Assyrian population in the north of Iraq were transferred to the larger cities such as Baghdad.  In 1991 the Gulf War further aggravated the situation and more than 250 000 Assyrians fled Iraq.  Since 1996 internal fighting between two parties of Kurds, the patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has led to unrest in the region.  The people who are not aligned with either party suffered persecution in Assyrian villages.

The Chaldeans (DIMA,2001) come from the region once named Assyria and which now comprises eastern Iraq and western Iran.  Adherents of the Chaldean Church prefer not to be labelled as Assyrians, as they are not associated with the Church of the east.  The name "Chaldean" was first used by Pope Eugenius IV in 1445 at the Council of Ferrara-Florence.  The term came into popular use following the profession of faith to Rome by John Sulaka, appointed patriarch of the "Catholic Nestorians" by Pope Julius III in 1551.  From this period on, those Nestorians who became Catholics were referred to as Chaldeans, while the original Nestorians were also termed Assyrians.  Today, the Chaldean Patriarch resides in Baghdad in Iraq (DIMA, 2001)

Assyrians/Chaldeans in Australia

According to the 1996 Census, there were 11 931 persons who spoke Assyrian or Aramaic at home in Australia, of whom 9 595 were in NSW, 2177 in Victoria and the rest (159) elsewhere. The majority of Assyrian Australians are from Iraq (7500) and Iran (4000); the rest are from Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. The majority of Assyrians in Sydney Assyrian community live in and around the Fairfield area, which is the centre of social and church activities. It is estimated that in excess of 10% of the 185 000 residents in the Fairfield City Council area claim Assyrian ancestry. (DIMA, 2001)

Since there was no question on ancestry in the 1991 or 1996 Census, no official statistics are available on the number of Assyrians and their descendants living in Australia. (Birthplace, religion and language statistics are not adequate to identify all Assyrians, especially the Australia-born, those who do not speak Assyrian, and those who are not members of Assyrian religious congregations). (DIMA, 2001)

By far, the most interesting aspect of the above information is the predominance of Assyrians in New South Wales. A web search indicates a major concentration of Assyrian/Chaldean community in New South Wales.  The Assyrian community would appear to be under-represented in Victoria (only 12 per cent) compared to the proportion of that state in the national population (26 per cent).

No information was available from the 1996 Census on the Chaldean Community. Nor will there be in any future Census as, in June 2000, the ABS adopted a new Classification (or definitional framework) for cultural and ethnic groups (the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG) who combine Assyrians and Chaldeans into one group ie. Group 4901 Assyrian/Chaldean.

The world's 4.5 millions Assyrians are currently dispersed throughout the world.  The first Assyrians arrived to Australia in 1951.  After this a small number of Assyrians continued to migrate until the 1980s when many Assyrians migrated to Australia under the Special Humanitarian Program or Family Reunion Program.  Assyrians from Iraq suffered persecution on political, ethnic and religious grounds and Assyrians from Iran are persecuted mainly on religious grounds.

In a comparatively short time that Assyrians have lived in Australia they have developed from a handful of families to full scale community with its own cultural programs including Assyrian language schools, churches, social clubs, youth groups, radio station programs, sports team and scholarships for university students.

The majority of Chaldeans have arrived in Australia from Iraq, but some migrated from Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Turkey. In 1983 it was estimated that 350 Chaldean families were living in Sydney, some 200 of those were Iraqi-born and 150 were Iranian-born. According to the 1996 census 27 per cent of the Assyrian-speaking people in New South Wales belonged to the Chaldean Catholic Church. The main association in Sydney is the Chaldean Cultural Society of New South Wales.

Population estimates (Babakhan et al, 1997) that there are approximately 25,000 Assyrians in New South Wales.  The majority appears to come from Iraq.  There has been a big influx of refugees from Iraq in the last few years and with the current crisis it is likely that Assyrians will continue to seek refuge in Australia.

Written by Holly Smith, 4^th Year BSW Student, Charles Sturt University

THE CONSULTATION

The consultation was jointly organised by a number of organisations including Assyrian Australian Association, Fairfield City Council, Cabramatta Community Health Centre, Fairfield-Liverpool Youth Health Team (FLYHT) and STARTTS,. It was held on the 11^th of October 2001 at the Fairfield Community Hall. Approximately 60 community members attended, and some of them were STARTTS clients.

The aims of the consultation were to:

Ø      Hear the views of Assyrian and Chaldean community members and   workers about the needs/ issues and concerns of these communities

Ø      Receive feedback on STARTTS services from community members and workers

Ø      Introduce and discuss the concept of counselling

Ø      Provide information about STARTTS

The program included update on STARTTS, information about the Early Intervention Program (EIP), STARTTS services to Assyrian and Chaldean communities and a welcome on behalf of the Fairfield City Council.

Questions raised during the presentations mainly focused on the low referral rates of Assyrian and Chaldean clients to STARTTS and the need for increased community education and liaison between STARTTS and these communities. There were also questions about the Families in Cultural Transition (FICT) Program and a STARTTS client came forward and gave his account of having received STARTTS assistance.

Following the presentations, there were small-group discussions focusing on a variety of topics including:

1.      Feedback on STARTTS Services

2.      Suggestions for STARTTS to enhance its work with Assyrian and Chaldean communities

3.      Community’s understanding of the concept of counselling

4.      General settlement issues

STARTTS AND ASSYRIAN/CHALDEAN COMMUNITIES

Apart from one-to-one counseling and group work, STARTTS also provides a Youth Program, a Special Migrant Placement Officer to assist clients from a professional background in employment and training, an Early Intervention Program for newly arrived refugees and a Families in Cultural Transition Program.

STARTTS (Early Intervention Program and General Services) has had 60 Assyrian and Chaldean clients since 1992 when the first referrals from these communities were received. 38% were female and 62% male across a range of ages. There are currently 2 Assyrian/Chaldean clients waiting for counselling services. 44 clients of 60 clients have been discharged to date.

Table 1: Gender of Assyrian/Chaldean Clients at STARTTS from 1992-2001

Encouraging those in need to use STARTTS has been a constant challenge. Number of referrals remained reasonably low until the establishment of the Early Intervention Program (EIP). However anecdotal evidence from Assyrian and Chaldean workers suggests that there are many people in their communities who would require STARTTS assistance, referrals to STARTTS have always been low relative to other refugee groups despite the community development efforts of the Arabic speaking counsellor at STARTTS.

One explanation for the low number of referrals is that counseling is a new concept to the community. People tend to keep serious personal problems to themselves or discuss them with close friends or to the elder member of the family. Comments made during the consultation indicated that this explanation is likely to be valid. Developing trust with the service and building an awareness of trauma counseling in the community is a constant challenge. Another explanation is that at the time of referral many clients would identify themselves as Iraqi rather than Assyrian or Chaldean. Consequently, in the STARTTS database they are recorded as Iraqi. This suggests that STARTTS should increase its efforts to collect ethnicity-related data provided that the clients are prepared to volunteer this information.

Table 2: Referral Patterns of Assyrian/Chaldean Clients to STARTTS from 1992-2001

The majority of referrals to STARTTS are referrals from Government and health service providers, while there is a low rate of self-referrals and referrals from Assyrian and Chaldean community organisations (see Table 3). This indicates a need for an increase in community liaison and networking activities by STARTTS.

In addition to counselling, Assyrian/Chaldean clients have accessed the following STARTTS services:

¨      Specialist Migrant Placement Officer – Employment and Education program

¨      Families in Cultural Transition (FICT) Program – a women’s FICT group was run recently (July/August 2001) and approximately 15 women participated. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and there were demands to continue running FICT groups for Assyrian and Chaldean clients.

¨      Youth Program – through groups STARTTS Youth Worker runs regularly at Fairfield Intensive English Centre, Youth Camps and the Middle-Eastern Video Project.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STARTTS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

ISSUES RAISED IN THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

There were five issues that appeared the most frequently.  These included discrimination, health issues, access issues, young people and migration.

Discrimination

“My friend was turned away from a job recently because the boss said he looked too Middle Eastern”

“We were victims in Iraq and now we come here and are victims in Australia as well”.

The community appears to be experiencing racism on various levels.  Some people expressed their fear or the discrimination and violence in the streets and felt that if the racism on the streets continues then they would have to stay at home and not send the children to school.

“After attack on USA, the treatment of people is different”.

Discrimination is an issue suffered by many communities in Australia. According to STARTTS discussions with other refugee communities, racist attacks have increased in the Southwest area of Sydney.  During the consultation, a number of specific incidents were mentioned. Discrimination also seems to exist within the community, which was identified in discussion on Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) Holders.

Health issues

The health issues raised encompassed physical and mental health issues.  Many people mentioned that they felt that they suffered depression, isolation, difficulties accessing doctors and difficulties getting information about health in their language. 

“Groups are useful . . .  I felt very isolated after I had my operation . . . I needed support”

“STARTTS could help the Assyrian community to expand social contacts with other communities in  Australia”.

According to the community members, stress and anxiety were caused by many factors such as the inability to sponsor relatives, feeling isolated in the Australian community and the effects of a long-term exposure to torture and war trauma.

"I have experienced torture and have been detained for no crimes, this is still affecting my life after 30 - 40 years - How can this be helped?"

Mental and emotional health issues were of a particular concern for newly arrived refugees. Issues such as anxiety, depression, family conflict and sleep disorders were discussed.  Another comment was made that very little information about mental or physical health issues are translated into their language. 

"There is a lack of information in the Assyrian community relating to health services".

One person said that they visit an Assyrian doctor who doesn’t refer them but gives them medication to treat emotional issues.

" I mostly rely on doctors/GP for help and I don't use counsellors"

In small groups discussions there appeared to be some confusion of the role of the counsellor and the services they can offer.

“ You need to explain to people that STARTTS has no connection with mental illness”

“Some people have their own way of dealing with depression, they talk to friends who they know will keep things confidential”.

“Counselling is feeling comfortable, getting help, good for someone who has been feeling a heartbreak to keep them feeling better”.

Access issues

“Difficulties with access are language, transport and lack of information about how to access the services”.

Access issues were discussed such as difficulties with language, public transport difficulties in getting to the STARTTS Carramar office and lack of information in the community about STARTTS services.

“I am very pleased to find out about this service today, and happy to know that there is a counsellor at STARTTS who speaks my language”.

Some people in the community mentioned that they had concerns about confidentiality and preferred to speak to a friend about their issues rather than speak to a counsellor who might not understand their language or culture.  Many people expressed their pleasure of learning about STARTTS.  Suggestions were made on how STARTTS can better promote service to reach the community.

“Target Assyrian doctors, Radio, Assyrian/Chaldean church, Assyrian Australian Association”.

“More promotion of STARTTS needs to happen – pamphlets, SBS radio, Arabic radio, community centres”

Young people

"We need help for children and young people, lots of people are dropping out of school and they have no one to talk about this".

There appears to be low retention rates in schools of young Assyrians.  It was identified by Babakhan et al (1997) that many young people experience difficulties in managing their studies, especially if they have poor English skills.  This can lead to serious disadvantage over time.  Those most likely to experience disadvantage are Refugee and Special Humanitarian Entrants as they typically experience disrupted educational histories before arriving in Australia.  They may have spent time in a refugee camp where there was a substandard educational facility or they may have led a transitory existence in various countries and were therefore unable to gain comprehensive educational instruction.  Workers believe that early identification of students that are experiencing difficulties and a provision of study assistance can help maintain young Assyrians at schools.  A variety of reasons have been attributed to this trend but further research needs to be conducted to understand this situation.

Migration

"The psychological problems of TPV holders are big, financial problems, we can't travel, we can't sponsor our families and we are, uncertain of our permanency in Australia.” 

“They wouldn't leave their country unless they had a good reason.  The media is causing more damage because they are not telling the truth".

There were mixed opinions about this in all the groups.  Other people spoke about the concern that they had for relatives in Iraq and Jordan during the conflict currently occurring in Afghanistan.  They also spoke about the frustration of sponsoring relatives.

“I think TPV holders are queue jumpers, I have a relative in Iraq who has been waiting a very long time to come to Australia”

Migration status is of a significant concern for many refugees in Australia.  This uncertainty for Temporary Protection Visa holders and for the relatives of refugees settled in Australia further increase their distress and anxiety. 

“Issues relating to immigration as families are still left behind, which creates more depression”.

“I am waiting for my children, they have been sent from Iraq to Jordan to a prison”.

Small groups – Transcript

Group 1

STARTTS Services

¨      Experiencing torture and being detained for no crimes - still affecting life after 30 -40 years (How can this be helped).

¨      Persecution experiences led to fleeing Iraq - arrival in Australia saw many illnesses (diabetes, cholesterol), probably as a result of trauma of having lives in their children threatened.

¨      Have seen doctors about experiences and illness arising where I have been helped for diagnoses of illness and know that some can be a result of aging aswell.

¨      Huge fears because of attacks on Iraq still affecting life, very thankful for groups and going on outings to socialise with others.

¨      Being able to come together with others is very important to reduce isolation and making friends.

¨      Very thankful to come to Australia to live in a peaceful country and enjoy life.  I experienced depression in Iraq as son was killed and was asked not to speak of this.

¨      Mostly rely on doctors/GP's for help, don't use counsellors.  Ask for information for where these services are.

¨      Issues relating to immigration as families are still left behind, which creates more depression.

¨      Are worried about confidentiality, don't think they have psychological problems and don't use counsellors because of this.

¨      Some newly arrived migrants cannot access services e.g. denied Medicare access as their cases are taking so long to process, cannot pay for health services, unsure of what they can access without Medicare.

¨      Can STARTTS arrange a general medical health service for those who cannot access Medicare?

¨      Want an opportunity to speak about experiences on an individual level, not in a group setting.  They do feel better to talk about how they feel.

Group 2

¨      Found out about the service this morning and are very happy that the service exists where someone speaks their language.

¨      Health issues to pass on: long waiting list for surgery, long wait time at emergency in hospitals, problems with hospital administration e.g. a delay in referral letter from doctor causes a long wait for surgery.

¨      Didn't know about service before and does not feel that she would personally benefit from service.

¨      Psychological problems from trying to sponsor relative to come to Australia.

¨      Difficulties to access: language, transport, need to address/telephone number.

¨      Worried about relatives overseas.

¨      TPV status causes a lot of psychological stress for families.

¨      TPV: their psychological problems are big: financial problems, can't travel, can't sponsor, uncertainty of permanency in Australia.  They would leave their country unless they had a very good reason.  Media is causing more damage because they are not telling the truth e.g., throwing children overboard.

¨      After attack on USA: treatment of people is different.  Discrimination in job because he looked Middle Eastern.  People shouldn't put all people together.

¨      If the discrimination continues then we are going o have to stay home and not send children to school.

¨      Discrimination at the workplace: e.g. from the teacher to the students.

¨      Think the government should raise awareness of the issues of discrimination.

¨      More promotion about STARTTS needs to happen.  Pamphlets, SBS radio, Arabic radio, all media, community centres etc.

¨      Very happy to know about Service of STARTTS.

¨      Glad that STARTTS is a free service because often you have to pay money for a specialist.

Group 3

What is STARTTS

¨      Offer help to newly arrived refugees.

¨      Intervene with people who have had T&T

¨      Don't know what it is exactly.

¨      Majority don't know about this service.

¨      Is service for the elderly?

How can we make it more accessible

¨      Target Assyrian doctors.

¨      Radio 2ME, SBS.

¨      Assyrian Church, 2000 FM.

¨      Assyrian Australian Association.

¨      STARTTS co-ordinate with DIMA - identify new Visa holders and connect them to STARTTS.

What additional services can STARTTS offer?

¨      STARTTS to try to support people gain Visas.

¨      Waiting for children - send to Iraq from Jordan to prison.

¨      Help for children and young adult groups (they have no one else).

¨      Lots of people are dropping out of schools (ACL, Fairfield, High Schools)

What is counselling?

¨      Feeling comfortable, getting help, good for someone who has been feeling a heartbreak to keep them feeling better.

What is useful?

¨      Post natal depression, refugees, depressed people, kids, good for everyone as anyone an have problems.  Especially those who have been in war for 20 years - most of the Iraqi people.  In the war all do counselling to each other.

¨      Someone can give them professional help.

¨      Doctors prescribe sleeping pills but, don't refer them on.

¨      Don't go to counselling but talk to friends, meet people at picnics.

¨      Group is useful - some people prefer groups.

¨      Some people have their own way of dealing with depression, talk to friends who know will keep what she says confidential.

¨      Outings are a good way to help.

¨      STARTTS could help Assyrian community to expand social contacts with other communities.

¨      Need to explain to people that STARTTS has no connection with mental illness.

Health Issues

¨      Isolation, alone after operation need support.

¨      STARTTS puts people in touch with ethnic specific health service.

¨      Lack of information about health issues to Assyrian communities especially relating to services.

Group 4

¨      Racism in Australia.

¨      Violence in Australia against me.

¨      We were victims of Arabs in Iraq and we are victims in Australia.

¨      Difficulties with qualification recognition and finding employment