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 Refugee claimants , or asylum seekers, are people who, fearing persecution
in their country of origin, have managed to come to Australia and lodge an application
with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA or 'the Department') to
be recognised as a refugee in the hope of gaining protection from the Australian
Government. Refugee claimants in Australia are denied access to most mainstream social services including, employment assistance, income support, English language classes, health and education services. In addition, their ability to participate in community life is limited, as a result of long periods of uncertainty about their status and, in many cases, because they are denied permission to work - a policy designed to deter non-genuine refugee claimants. These policies have the effect of undermining the self-esteem of genuine refugee claimant. The imposed dependency challenges their dignity and sense of identity and considerably magnifies their suffering. Many refugee claimants already suffer the long term effects of surviving torture, famine, discrimination and persecution. Almost without exception, the refugee claimants with whom we work express the strongest yearning to return to their homeland to be reunited with loved ones and to contribute to the political, social and economic development of their country. However a genuine refugee claimant cannot return, and they have no choice but to lodge an application for protection. The fact that there is no choice is the most important issue to be borne in mind when considering the plight of genuine refugee applicants in Australia today. A genuine application for protection in Australia is usually the culmination of an agonising decision making process in which claimants are faced with terrible choices. For instance: claimants risk the loss of family whom they may never see again; they fear that family members will be made to suffer if they don't return; they worry about whether they will ever be able to go home; and these days many worry about how they will survive and provide for their families while they wait for a decision about their application.
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