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Refugee to resident
In the comfortable, multi-coloured offices of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in West Melbourne, Wondatir Felek Haile feels at home.
With the second hand couches and free lunch every day, it is warm and inviting, but a long way from his homeland in Ethiopia.
Wondatir, 36, came to Melbourne for the Homeless World Cup with the Ethiopian team in November last year.
After the tournament finished he visited the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre which helped him apply for permanent residency as a refugee.
“The ASRC counselled me, they were like a family, they helped me find accommodation, food and clothing,” said Wondatir.
“Without the ASRC, life as an asylum seeker would be very difficult.”
Wondatir became a permanent resident of Australia in March 2009 and is now studying and working as a volunteer with the ASRC.
“I am now studying English for Bilingual Community Development at NMIT and I volunteer at the ASRC one day per week.”
At the ASRC he is helping educate other asylum seekers about integrating into the Australian community.
“I am creating information session programs for asylum seekers to run every Tuesday about refugee status, applications, HIV/AIDS information, Australian culture and integration to help refugees and asylum seekers respect the different cultures and traditions in Australia.”
Wondatir is one of hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees assisted by the ASRC each year.
The ASRC offers assistance in a range of areas including accommodation, housing, health and employment.
WISE Employment has sponsored the Employment Program at the ASRC since 2004.
Gavin Ackerley is the Employment Coordinator for the program and said the assistance from WISE has helped meet the many needs of the program.
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