ARA eNews - September 2015

How to register for the Amble for ARA City to Bay Fun Run Team

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The Australian Refugee Association commends the Australian Government for deciding to save the lives of 12,000 more people escaping the conflict in Syria. While this is just the first step needed to address the worst refugee crisis since WWII, we are so happy that 12,000 Syrian refugees will soon have safety in our community. This decision to accept 12,000 refugees on top of the existing 13,750 humanitarian intake is warmly welcomed.

ARA plans to support the increase of refugees coming to South Australia. We will work closely with organisations across the community to provide the very best support, to help integrate our new arrivals into the community and ensure they have access to all that they need for their new life. We will do this while continuing to provide settlement services to the refugees from the UNHCR program that South Australia welcomes each year.

It has not been announced when the first refugees from Syria will arrive in Australia, where and how they will be settled, although it is expected some will arrive before Christmas. We will continue to liaise with the Government and our partner organisations to ensure we can act immediately.

We have been overwhelmed with offers of assistance. We have listed some of the questions we have been asked on ways people can help.

I would like to donate money
http://www.givenow.com.au/ausrefdonations

I have clothes / books / toys / etc that I want to donate
ARA, like many charities, has been inundated with generous offers of donated goods from members of the public. Because of the logistical challenges in storing and transporting donated items we are unable to take these donations. You could try donating to the many charity op shops around the state. The items may not go directly to refugees but the money raised helps organisations to support them.

I want to donate furniture
Contact our Furniture Donation Centre on furnituredonation@ausref.net

I have a property that could be used to house refugees or a room I would like to offer
Due to the incredible surge of interest in people offering their homes to host a refugee, Alyanâ€™s List organisation has been developed in partnership with Australian Homestay Network to implement a placement program. You can register your interest on this link: http://www.aylanslist.com/

Volunteering SA & NT are also coordinating these offers. You can contact them on reception@volunteeringsa-nt.org.au or via phone on 08 8221 7177 (country callers phone 1300 135 545).

I want to volunteer to help refugees
You can visit ARAâ€™s volunteer section on our website at the following link
http://www.australianrefugee.org/volunteer/

You can also register with Volunteering SA/NT
http://www.volunteeringsa.org.au/

I want to help refugees overseas
You can support Save the Childrenâ€™s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal. Their teams are working across Europe and in the countries refugees are fleeing from to provide aid and support.

You can support UNHCRâ€™s emergency appeal for the refugee crisis in Europe. UNHCR is on the ground providing life-saving support to refugees arriving in Europe.

I want to foster or adopt a child
Contact the Australian Government Department on Adoptions on: http://www.intercountryadoption.gov.au/
For fostering you can contact the many agencies in the community. The peak body's website is: http://www.fostercare.org.au/

We thank you all deeply for your support and offers of assistance and we will continue to happily point you in the right direction.

Kind regards

Kirsten Bickendorf
Chief Executive Officer

Our City to Bay team will be Ambling for ARA this Sunday the 20th of September. We have joined with EVERYDAY HERO to allow our team members to create their own fundraising page!

See who's in our team and make a donation here

The People's Choice Community Lottery is in its last week! GET YOUR TICKETS NO W and be in the running for one of hundreds of fantastic prizes! 100% of the funds from tickets sold through ARA come back to the organisation, so please, dig deep.

And GOOD LUCK!

We have registered with Shopnate, a fundraising platform which allows you to help us without spending any extra! By shopping online with some of the most popular retailers, a percentage of your purchase will be directed to us, at no extra cost to you! This provides an easy way for you to support us - simply install the ap to your browser following the steps below, and when you visit a registered retailer your browser will know what to do!

It doesn't get much easier than that!

Help ARA to #UpgradeYourWorldAU and do more to help refugees settle in Australia with independence and dignity. We have the chance to win $50,000 USD plus technology and support from Microsoft. Public voting will determine the winner so please vote for us each day on social media by posting or tweeting: I vote for @ausrefugee (or tag us on Facebook!) to #UpgradeYourWorldAU with my #Vote.
For more information, visit www.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/UpgradeYourWorld/.

Sales of the Entertainment Book will close soon. Get yours today and save yourself hundreds of dollars on dining, travel, shopping, activities and fun for your family.

Diary Dates

Amble for ARA
City to Bay
Sunday 20th September
Contact Carly

Tea Party
for girls 15-25
Tuesday 6th October
Contact Natalia or Dijana

WalkTogether
with Welcome to Australia
Saturday 31st October
more detail to follow

Our Table
40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Saturday 7th November
Contact Cassie

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