Religious and Legal Attitudes on Refugees: Council of Christians and Jews (VIC)

Religious and Legal Attitudes on Refugees

Date: Sunday, February 17th 2013   Time: 3pm

Location:  Edmund Rice Education Australia- 9 The Vaucluse,  Richmond (off Church Street) - Ample Parking

Vehicle Entry from St. Kevin's Waterford Campus on the Vaucluse opposite St. Ignatius Church

We cordially invite you to attend and if possible please inform the CCJ Office:

Phone: (03) 9817 3848  Email: ccjvic@bigpond.net.au

Speakers:

Julian Burnside AO QC is an Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author. He is known for his staunch opposition to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, and has provided legal counsel in a wide array of high-profile cases. He has a daughter called Katherine and a foster son called Mosa. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2009, "for service as a human rights advocate, particularly for refugees and asylum seekers, to the arts as a patron and fundraiser, and to the law”.

Rabbi Kim Ettlinger was ordained at Hebrew Union College (HUC) in May 2005, where she earned two Master of Arts Degrees, one in Jewish Education and one in Hebrew Letters. Currently Rabbi Ettlinger serves Temple Beth Israel, Melbourne as Associate Rabbi.  Rabbi Ettlinger is passionate about Jewish liturgy and finding new ways to find ways of engaging tradition with modernity.  She also works closely with the youth and youth adults in the community and is always looking for new opportunities for social justice and social action.

Sister Brigid Arthur is a Brigidine Sister who trained both as a primary and secondary teacher.  She was principal of schools for many years.  Brigid currently works for the Brigidine Secondary Schools’ Council.  She also is the joint coordinator of the Brigidine Asylum Seekers’ Project, helping asylum seekers and refugees with accommodation, and other practical support, and in advocacy - trying to change the present policies and procedures used in Australia to deter asylum seekers coming to this country.

Sheikh Abdinur Weli is the Imam of the Islamic Council of Victoria & City Mosque. He also serves on the Victorian Board of Imams and Australian National Imams Council.  Sheikh Abdinur has extensively worked with refugees and migrant communities over the past 14 years . He served on various government and community boards on refugee and asylum-seeker issues  and continues to work with newly arrived and emerging refugee communities