Village Support for Seasonal Workers

Carla Chung believes it takes a village to welcome seasonal workers and she’s keen to hear from ‘village leaders’, particularly people active in Catholic parishes in key agriculture areas of Australia. “Isolation can lead to exploitation and that’s what we want to try and stop happening,” Carla said. Developing networks to support seasonal workers is…

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ACMRO National Conference

Registration is now open for the 7th Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) National Conference to be held on 18-19 July 2024 at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Melbourne Campus. This conference will encourage people across the country to actively support seasonal and migrant workers, particularly those from the Pacific islands and Timor-Leste. Moreover,…

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Welcoming Seasonal Workers in Australia

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) has been collaborating with Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) in supporting a network of parishes and ministries doing pastoral care with seasonal workers under the Australian Government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme (the scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine…

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Migrant Workers Facing Separation

The challenges facing seasonal workers, particularly women migrant workers, can be life-changing. Many families are separated because a mother or father in the family has to leave home to secure better pay and greater security for their family. In the case of mirgant workers the separation can last for years. Sr Jean Quinn DW, Executive…

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A Better Deal for Seasonal Workers

New guidelines have been established to try and ensure better outcomes for seasonal workers coming to Australia from the Pacific and Timor Leste. Fr Peter O’Neill, Columban Regional Director of Oceania, is ACRATH’s representative on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme Agriculture Committee. In this Q & A Peter explains how one change relating to…

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Challenges for seasonal workers

Good Samaritan Sister Taabeia Ibouri sgs has become an important link for seasonal workers coming to Australia from Kiribati, her homeland. Whether it’s through the High Commission or at the airport where when she spots familiar faces leaving, she shares words of wisdom. It’s not the sort of information that the seasonal workers receive from…

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Hearts Stirred to Action

Hearts Stirred to Action: The Call of the Human Face of trafficking ACRATH warmly invites you to join us as together we learn and explore causes and impact of human trafficking. This online event will take place on Wednesday 3 May 2023, online via Zoom Please register to attend this event via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/CGYNM

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The Power of Story

ACRATH wants to find out more about the day-to-day experiences and challenges of seasonal workers who come to Australia, in a bid to inform policy makers and to assist in the development of orientation resources. Importantly, the stories could help others avoid exploitation as they settle into their working life in Australia. Each year thousands…

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Seasonal Worker Picnic

ACRATH has long been concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on migrant workers and the risk of them being exploited. In partnership with ACMRO (Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office) ACRATH has been involved in a project aimed at providing support for migrant workers. The following good news story was printed in the July ACMRO…

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Supporting Seasonal Workers

Congratulations to Fr Peter O’Neill following his appointment as ACRATH’s representative on the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) Advisory Group. While the position involves meetings and reviewing documents from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE), Peter will continue his work on the ground, meeting seasonal workers and finding out what issues concern them. “I…

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ACRATH Newsletter

Want to find out more about the work of ACRATH? Download the latest edition of ACRATH News here. Articles in this edition include: Where to take stories of slavery then and now? ACRATH ‘handpicked’ to join workplace giving program Time to speak up for exploited workers Peter goes to work for seasonal workers Slavery-free tea…

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ACRATH Member Visits Seasonal Workers

ACRATH Member, Fr Peter O’Neill ssc, has been working tirelessly to ensure Seasonal Workers in Australia are aware of their rights. Part of his work has involved advocating on behalf of 22 men from Vanuatu who were exploited while working on Australia farms some years ago. He recently wrote and article that was published in…

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