Hobart CRISP Refugee Support Group helps Congolese family settle in Tasmania

A single mother, who has been a refugee for 16 years, will be arriving to Tasmania soon and already has an army of support behind her. Inside story of how it happened >>

Hobart CRISP Refugee Support Group. (L-R) Back row: David Hodgman, Sally Gill, Lucy Chapman, David Knowles, John Thurstans, Rhys Gunner. Front row: Sarah Thurstans, Jen Fry, Alison Thurstans and Sandi Woodward. Picture: Supplied

A Hobart sponsorship group is giving a helping hand to a refugee family by helping them settle when they arrive in Tasmania.

The idea started when Sandi Woodward heard about a Canadian program a number of years ago.

“I always thought it seemed like a fantastic idea for community groups to help refugees settle in,” she said.

Then she heard about the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), a program created by Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia.

“It’s nice to do something positive to give back to the community and I think it’s hard for us to imagine just how difficult it would be for a family to settle into a completely new country,” she said.

“With a community support group around to help you settle in you’ve got a much better chance of having a positive outcome.”

The PE teacher asked her friends if they would be interested in helping, and created the Hobart CRISP Refugee Support Group.

“The support groups involved in the CRISP program often say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done,” Ms Woodward said.

“It's the most rewarding thing and we’re looking forward to getting to know the family and helping them to settle into life in Australia.”

The group has raised about $16,500 which will go towards a Congolese family, a single mum who has been a refugee for 16 years and her three sons, when they arrive in late June.

“The boys are all school age, so they’ll come to Tasmania and start school,” she said.

“We’re hoping to get them into soccer because sports are a great way to make connections, friends and start to settle in.”

The group will help the family, including setting up a bank account, enrolling in school, sorting out Medicare and helping them find a medical practice.

“We’re assisting the family to find a rental property so if there is anyone out there that has a house that would be interested in renting to our family, they could make contact with us on Facebook,” Ms Woodward said.

“We’d like them to make choices about where they live, where they play soccer or what school they go to so they have some agency over their own lives.”