b'Twenty years of welcoming asylum seekers.In August 2002, the Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre (ASWC) first opened its doors wide to welcome and support people seeking asylum in Australia. The Welcome Centre was born in the wake ofThe centre provides a dual service in responding the 2001/2002 Tampa affair, when fears existedto peoples basic needs and empowering people in the community that large numbers of asylumto learn how to navigate the Australian context, seekers were arriving unchecked in Australia. she said.A group of agencies and workers knew somethingIt is important to understand where people arehad to be done. There was a clear need to establishat in their settlement journey.a community centre to offer support and safety toIf theyre new to the country then they might Melbournes growing asylum seeker population.have quite early-stage settlement needs, likeNow, 20 years on, despite a divisive social andmore day-to-day things.political climate, the ASWC has stood firm as People who have been here longer, might have a a place of refuge, welcome and humility.lot of their early settlement needs already met but While waiting for decisions on their applicationsneed social connection and mental health support. to be recognised as refugees, many asylumPeoples mental health is quite compromised when seekers are isolated in the community with verytheyve been seeking asylum for a long time.little or no form of assistance and with few rightsASWC Community Development Worker, Art, or entitlements. explains that just like the diversity of clients who Unitings Asylum Seeker Program Team Leader,visit the centre, its programs are equally as varied. Aimee says the centre supports people at all stages of their settlement journey. Find out more4 Supporter Newsletter Autumn 2023'