Message
from the Director - Jorge Aroche
Welcome
to the 8th issue of Transitions, marking its second
year as a quarterly publication. True to its aims Transitions
has become a wonderful vehicle to highlight many issues that are
fundamental in our work with survivors of torture and trauma yet
receive little publicity elsewhere. It has also provided a medium
to disseminate the views and perspective of our clients and highlight
some of the forgotten issues and conflicts around the world.
We
have received lots of congratulatory and encouraging comments about
Transitions, its quality as a publication, and its growing
role at various levels. The area where we clearly need to make further
progress, however, is in widening and expanding our subscription
base. This is crucial to ensure that the message Transitions
carries reaches its potential audience. It is also crucial for the
very survival of this valuable initiative, yet we cannot do it alone.
Your help as a reader of this magazine is essential to assist us
expand its subscription base, which in turn is vital as a source
of revenue to fund the magazine. So, if you haven’t subscribed
yet, please do so, and either way, please encourage others to read
the magazine and subscribe.
This
issue of Transitions has some great articles that touch on
a variety of topics, ranging from a poignant first hand portrayal
of the detention experience at the Immigration Detention Centre,
to articles focusing on various aspects of the situation in Sri
Lanka, Burma and Manipur in India. Our "forgotten conflicts"
section explores the complex situation in Algeria. Closer to home
other articles discuss the impact of gambling in refugee communities,
counselling and supervision issues with torture and trauma survivors,
and the Bosnian Women’s Choir. All in all a great read!
It
has become a bit of a tradition to attempt to tell you something
in this message about the work of STARTTS in the intervening months.
The quarterly challenge of trying to summarize months of activity
into a couple of paragraphs is not any easier this time.
One
of the highlights in the last few months have been a new round of
community consultations carried out in conjunction with the NSW
Refugee Health Service (RHS). STARTTS has a long tradition of consulting
with refugee communities on a regular basis, and the outcomes of
these meetings have influenced the shape and direction of our services
in many ways. Including the RHS as a partner in this process not
only makes good sense, but will potentiate the benefit derived from
these consultations.
It
was a great pleasure to meet again with representatives from the
Tamil, Arabic, Afghan, Lao and Spanish Speaking Communities, and
benefit from their perspectives about our services and issues affecting
their communities. Plans for a consultation with the Serbian community
have now evolved into a full day event focusing on issues affecting
Serbian refugees, organized by the Serbian Orthodox Association
with the support of STARTTS and the RHS. This will take place on
23 November 2000.
In
other areas, our Early Intervention program has been through a painstaking
process of adapting our client information systems to the new structure
and reporting requirements of the DIMA Integrated Settlement Strategy.
A more difficult challenge to all aspects of the service, and of
particular importance for our early Intervention program continues
to be the provision of effective services for Temporary Protection
Visa holders. Having restricted access to other services and facilities,
and not being eligible for family reunion programs, this group faces
additional barriers in their settlement process.
Meanwhile,
the news from the PRADET project in East Timor continues to be quite
heartening. Four sessional clinics are now operating in Dili, the
Psychiatric Outreach program commenced with AUSaid and NSW Health
department funding has now been going strong for two months, and
is currently in the process of being extended to other districts
of East Timor. The second phase of the training and development
program for East Timorese mental health workers from six districts
outlying districts is also going well, with a substantial involvement
by STARTTS’ staff travelling to Dili to provide this training.
Friends
of STARTTS held its annual general meeting on 12 October. The meeting,
which featured speakers from STARTTS and UNHCR was well attended,
including the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Ms Meredith
Burgiss, representing the Premier. A new management Committee was
elected, bringing needed new energy to the committee. We look forward
to working with them.
Much,
much more could be said about the last three months at STARTTS,
and some of it has found its way into some of the articles in this
issue. So, I trust you will find reading this issue of Transitions
a most rewarding experience. My very best wishes for the festive
season, on behalf of STARTTS’ staff and management committee.
And remember, our ninth issue of Transitions will be coming
out in February next year. Please subscribe before then!
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