Befriend a Child in Detention

Befriend a Child in Detention is a community project committed to seeing an end to the detention of child asylum seekers. We aim to inspire and support compassionate Australians to make a positive connection with the children and families living in detention: to ameliorate their experience, to raise awareness of their circumstances, and to advocate for positive change.

There are currently 149 refugee and asylum seeker children living on Nauru.

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Latest News

Action: Calling for donations for our upcoming despatch of materials to children on Nauru

04.2018

At last count, there were 148 refugee and asylum seeker children marooned on the island of Nauru by the Australian government. We send the children gifts to help alleviate their situation and to assure them and their parents that they are not forgotten. If you wish to contribute, we welcome beautiful new children’s books, educational material, drawing and writing material, and playthings. Please send your gift to P.O. BOX 1282, CARLTON, VIC. 3053.

If you wish to make a financial contribution, please follow this link.

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News: Experts look to community to help refugees

03.2018

Humanitarian groups insist “Canada doesn’t have a monopoly on generosity” as they urge Australia to adopt a more community-based approach to taking in refugees. Australian law makers are now being “urged to follow Canada’s lead and adopt a much more community-driven approach to resettling refugees”. Read the full article here.

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News: Dutton’s Casualties

03.2018

“It is worth considering who else is dead to Peter Dutton. Their names are a reminder of the worth of that criticism.” Read more here.

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News: Ged Kearney wants more ‘humane’ policies: ‘Getting people off Manus and Nauru needs to be a priority’

03.2018

Labour MP Ged Kearney has spoken up about wanting a more “humane” policy on asylum seekers and offshore processing. Read more here.

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News: Being cruel to refugees doesn’t strengthen multiculturalism

03.2018

Australia’s refugee policies have been decried as being ‘harsh, inhumane and detrimental to the health and safety of the refugees’. “Read one reason for this here.

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News: Migrants and refugees stem population decline in regional areas

03.2018

“When we heard we were to be settled in Australia, everyone was so excited, compared to the life we had been living; we all thought maybe our life was going to change. “Read more here.

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News: Do not be the person who looks away 

03.2018

Why are human beings like Priya, Nadesalingam and their two small daughters being treated like a virus that needs to be eradicated? Read their story here.

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News: ‘It’s about human dignity’

03.2018

Ahead of Sydney’s 21st Biennale, world most famous artist and Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei has a message for Australia when it comes to the treatment of asylum seekers.. Read the full article here.

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News: National Gallery of Victoria responds to artists’ protests 

03.2018

“The National Gallery of Victoria has ended its contract with Wilson Security following a series of protests by artists over the firm’s offshore detention links…Wilson Security is the former provider of security services at Australia’s offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, where several asylum seekers have died.”

Read more here.

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News: Nauru mould problem was of ‘epic proportions’, microbiologist says

02.2018

Microbiologist Dr Cameron Jones has warned that the issue of mould in the Nauru immigration centre presents a severe health hazard to those forced to live and work within the centre. He described this problem as “10 out of 10” stating that it “couldn’t be any worse”. Read the full article here. 

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News: Humanitarian crisis looms as Government collapses lifesaving support services for people seeking asylum

02.2018

Around 12,000 people seeking asylum living in Australia are at risk of losing lifesaving services due to Government changes. Read the full article here.

 

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News: Judge orders Nauru refugee girl’s transfer to Australia over suicide risk 

02.2018

Costs to Australian government are outweighed by need to protect a vulnerable girl, court rules. Read more here.

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