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Warm welcome awaits refugee family

20/7/2022

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By Catherine Watson

RIGHT now a Syrian family on the other side of the world is probably searching for information about a small town called Wonthaggi, somewhere in Victoria, Australia, their future home.

 
Bass Coast has been chosen as one of the first seven communities in Australia to host a refugee family under the Federal Government’s new Community Sponsorship Scheme.
 
The family of husband, wife and four children aged three to nine is currently living in Iraq, having fled Syria during the recent civil war.
Sylvia Davey of the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group said members were excited to be able to welcome the family to Bass Coast and ease their path into their new community.
 
“We were told that Bass Coast was chosen because of the experience of members of our group.” While the group itself was only set up two years ago, several of the members, including Sylvia, have worked for many years to welcome refugees in Bass Coast.
 
The community sponsorship program was set up by the previous Coalition government to help newly arrived refugees to find their feet in Australia.
 
As humanitarian refugees the family is entitled to government support, including English lessons.
 
They are expected to arrive some time in August or September. Their hosts will pick them up from the airport and bring them back to start their new life.
 
Once the arrival date is confirmed the group will be looking for short-term accommodation until something long term can be secured.
 
“We know the community will be generous and want to support them.”
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