Mariella Totaro-Genevois Our group is now eleven years old. While most of its members have been active since the beginning of our project, not only have other people joined as needed, but somebody new has popped up offering help to the team when required. In other words, the group is healthy and flexible and thriving.…

Charity Haynes VDSA’s work with refugees continues as usual in 2022-23 despite a reduced number of volunteers due to ill health. Nevertheless, a lot of good work has been done with the following individuals/families: During the year VDSA volunteers organised several successful picnics with refugee families, around Coogee. Kids swam and delicious food was prepared…

On Sunday, June 18, VDSA celebrated the grant of a permanent Visa to longstanding client and friend Nathan with a picnic at Bronte Park. Clear skies and bright sunshine made the day even more special.

This year the VDSA Lunch Project Group, nicknamed The Foodies, celebrates its 10th birthday. The team includes approximately twenty people, and while there are members who had to leave because of life circumstances, the core of the group has remained untouched in time. Equally untouched has remained their generosity, enthusiasm, and steady collaboration in providing…

By Charity Haynes Visiting refugees in their homes has continued in 2021-2022 but we no longer visit the Villawood Detention Centre. Families have been helped in many ways, including rent assistance, paying for doctors bills & electricity accounts. Highlights of visits include delicious lunches, seeing the progress of the children, several starting school for the…

By Mariella Totaro-Genevois In 2022 the VDSA Lunch Project Group for the ASC in Newtown will celebrate its 10th birthday, and notwithstanding the disruption and distress provoked by COVID-19, as I will illustrate later, there is definitely cause for being proud of its work and achievements during very difficult times.So far, the VDSA Lunch Group…

Visiting refugees has continued this past year despite the Omicron variant of Covid being present. The first event in 2021 was a picnic for a group living in the Auburn area, which was dominated by the youngest taking his first steps! A feature of our visits is seeing the progress of the children and the…

By MarielIa Totaro-Genevois In 2021 the VDSA Lunch Project Group has marked its ninth year of existence, and notwithstanding the disruption and distress provoked by Covid 19 there is still cause for celebrating its work and achievements. Since its foundation the VDSA lunch group has prepared, transported and served lunches to clients of the Asylum…

My name is Justin [we have changed Justin’s name for anonymity and safety] from Sri Lanka. I came Australia to seek asylum by the brutal war against Tamils.I was incarcerated at Sydney immigration residential housing between 2011 to 2016 by the reason of adverse security from ASIO. Those period of my life was limbo. I…

Charity Haynes for Alison RacoMuch of this year has been dominated by the Coronavirus and its impact on vulnerable people like asylum seekers highlights the importance of VDSA in their lives. All those asylum seekers and refugees living without visa or on welfare are not eligible for the government’s special benefits like JobSeeker. So, if…