"The call to become involved in advocacy is something that is new to many of us. It may also be something that we may feel unqualified for or that is better left to those given particular responsibility in this area - however it is something that can involve us all."
Br Philip Pinto, June 2011
Br Philip Pinto, June 2011
Join in EREBB's - I Am Your Neighbour - May 5
2016 ERA For Change Election Requests
#LetThemStay
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In February, the Australian High Court made a decision that upheld the legality of the government's offshore processing regime. As a result 237 asylum seekers, including 37 children, will be sent back to Nauru. On this tiny island asylum seekers have suffered physical and sexual abuse, poor health care and inadequate living conditions. As Human Rights Law Centre legal advocacy director Daniel Webb stated "legality is one thing. The morality is another."
Unfortunately the majority of Australians continue to remain silent and as Edmund Burke stated “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” In response, ERA For Change schools have hung 37 booties on their school fences. This is to emphasise that we, the staff and students at EREA schools know they are there and we care. |
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Shining a Light in Dark Spaces- Opening your School's Chapel / Sacred Spaces on Thursday
The image of a Syrian child's lifeless body washed up on the shores of a Turkish beach has finally awoken the world to the global refugee crisis. His name was Aylan Kurdi. He was just three years old.
The sad reality is that Aylan was one among millions of desperate people forced to flee from war and persecution. In 2015, the world is facing a global refugee crisis, but Australia - the lucky country - is not doing enough. We can do better to help these people and we MUST ensure the Australian government does do better.
Aylan’s death should not be in vain. This Thursday ERA for Change encourages all Edmund Rice schools to open up their chapels/sacred spaces and ask students and staff to light a candle. You could also say the attached prayer together and display the photo of Aylan in your chapel/sacred space.
This action will shine a light in the dark to remember Aylan Kurdi. This action will demonstrate that we stand in solidarity with people across the world who are forced to ask for protection. It will be our challenge to the Australian government to not abandon the world's most desperate. It will be our message to the Australian Government that Real Australians Say Welcome.
Lighting a candle on Thursday is our first step. ERA for Change will initiate further action in Term 4 on the global refugee crisis. You may also like to say the Prayer for Peace For Syria.
Thanks for your support and prayers.
The sad reality is that Aylan was one among millions of desperate people forced to flee from war and persecution. In 2015, the world is facing a global refugee crisis, but Australia - the lucky country - is not doing enough. We can do better to help these people and we MUST ensure the Australian government does do better.
Aylan’s death should not be in vain. This Thursday ERA for Change encourages all Edmund Rice schools to open up their chapels/sacred spaces and ask students and staff to light a candle. You could also say the attached prayer together and display the photo of Aylan in your chapel/sacred space.
This action will shine a light in the dark to remember Aylan Kurdi. This action will demonstrate that we stand in solidarity with people across the world who are forced to ask for protection. It will be our challenge to the Australian government to not abandon the world's most desperate. It will be our message to the Australian Government that Real Australians Say Welcome.
Lighting a candle on Thursday is our first step. ERA for Change will initiate further action in Term 4 on the global refugee crisis. You may also like to say the Prayer for Peace For Syria.
Thanks for your support and prayers.
Stella Fellas & Stella Bellas for Respectful Treatment of Women
Last week thousands of ERA For Change students made a stand for women and children by wearing bowties and white ribbons to school on our annual Stella Fella & Stella Fella day.
By wearing a bow tie on Friday, we committed to being ‘Stella Fellas’ and 'Stella Bellas' - young men and women who will stand up for women everywhere and ensure all are treated with dignity and respect. Specifically, we aim to put an end to human trafficking and to violence against women.
Participants took the White Ribbon pledge to “never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women,”
ADVOCACY @ SJC: WHITE RIBBON MIXED NETBALL MATCH
At St Joseph's College, Melbourne, it became very clear that when you bring male and female students together to play a netball match you attract a large audience and create a positive and fun atmosphere. This is exactly what our Social Justice and Advocacy group aimed to do when it held White Ribbon Day on Friday the 4th of September. The White Ribbon Campaign is a movement to end men’s violence against women and girls and to promote gender equality.
In addition to wearing white ribbons and taking the white ribbon oath, students from St Joseph’s College and Sacred Heart College took part in a game of mixed netball.
In Australia, one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner, and Australian Police handle one domestic violence matter every two minutes. Up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime — the majority by husbands, intimate partners or someone they know. Whilst the above statistics are startling, and we know that most boys and men are not violent and can have loving and respectful relations with women, it is imperative that the students at SJC are aware that such violent acts against women do occur. It is also imperative that students are given the opportunity to stand up for women everywhere and ensure all are treated with dignity and respect.
Rachel Roche
Faith Coordinator
By wearing a bow tie on Friday, we committed to being ‘Stella Fellas’ and 'Stella Bellas' - young men and women who will stand up for women everywhere and ensure all are treated with dignity and respect. Specifically, we aim to put an end to human trafficking and to violence against women.
Participants took the White Ribbon pledge to “never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women,”
ADVOCACY @ SJC: WHITE RIBBON MIXED NETBALL MATCH
At St Joseph's College, Melbourne, it became very clear that when you bring male and female students together to play a netball match you attract a large audience and create a positive and fun atmosphere. This is exactly what our Social Justice and Advocacy group aimed to do when it held White Ribbon Day on Friday the 4th of September. The White Ribbon Campaign is a movement to end men’s violence against women and girls and to promote gender equality.
In addition to wearing white ribbons and taking the white ribbon oath, students from St Joseph’s College and Sacred Heart College took part in a game of mixed netball.
In Australia, one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner, and Australian Police handle one domestic violence matter every two minutes. Up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime — the majority by husbands, intimate partners or someone they know. Whilst the above statistics are startling, and we know that most boys and men are not violent and can have loving and respectful relations with women, it is imperative that the students at SJC are aware that such violent acts against women do occur. It is also imperative that students are given the opportunity to stand up for women everywhere and ensure all are treated with dignity and respect.
Rachel Roche
Faith Coordinator
2015 Detention for Detention and Student Planning Days
ERA For Change Football Team!
On Sunday, 24th of May, students from St Joseph’s Nudgee College, St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, St Patrick’s College, and St James’ College came together with Sri Lankan and Sudanese refugees to form an ERA For Change football team which competed in the annual Multicultural Development Association Refugee Football Fiesta. The event, consisting of more than 30 teams of local refugees was hosted by Gregory Terrace at Tennyson, as a way to celebrate refugee communities within Brisbane and its surrounding areas. The aim of the carnival is to bring refugees from differing nations together to foster multicultural harmony and to show welcome and inclusivity. During the day we wore Terrace jerseys, Nudgee socks, and St Pat’s and St James’ shorts. Although we looked a bit strange, this was a great symbol of our EREA brother and sister schools coming together to stand in solidarity with refugees in our community.
It was quite a high standard of football, and we lost our first two games against FC Korea and Guinea fairly convincingly. Before the next game however, against event organisers MDA United, the Sri Lankan and Sudanese refugees on our team brought the team together and explained how we should play our next game. They came up with great tactics which looked like would be a success against this team. This proved to be the case as we managed to produce a 3-0 victory. The match finished with laughter arising from both teams involved, and as we were getting changed, a member of the unaccompanied Hazara Refugees team asked politely if we wanted to play a friendly match against them as their opposing team had left. We quickly put our gear back on and raced over to the field, and after a very close game ERA For Change scored with just minutes remaining for a 3-2 win.
I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this great occasion possible. Even though the red and black Terrace jersey still felt odd on my blue and white skin, it was a fantastic cause and it was an honour to be involved in such an amazing occasion like this bringing the refugee communities and our schools together. Thankyou!
- Max Homer, Nudgee College Yr 11
It was quite a high standard of football, and we lost our first two games against FC Korea and Guinea fairly convincingly. Before the next game however, against event organisers MDA United, the Sri Lankan and Sudanese refugees on our team brought the team together and explained how we should play our next game. They came up with great tactics which looked like would be a success against this team. This proved to be the case as we managed to produce a 3-0 victory. The match finished with laughter arising from both teams involved, and as we were getting changed, a member of the unaccompanied Hazara Refugees team asked politely if we wanted to play a friendly match against them as their opposing team had left. We quickly put our gear back on and raced over to the field, and after a very close game ERA For Change scored with just minutes remaining for a 3-2 win.
I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this great occasion possible. Even though the red and black Terrace jersey still felt odd on my blue and white skin, it was a fantastic cause and it was an honour to be involved in such an amazing occasion like this bringing the refugee communities and our schools together. Thankyou!
- Max Homer, Nudgee College Yr 11
Eddies is Done!
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This year the theme for St Edmund’s Ipswich has been “Inclusive Community” and each week on assembly the students are challenged to “Brother Another”. Brotherhood in its many forms has been the avenue that we have used to form this inclusive community.
Using the Madden Brothers song “We Are Done” as inspiration the Eddies Ipswich community spent a week saying that we are done with a number of justice issues. The campaign wall was set up at the tuckshop to get maximum exposure and the boys in the tuckshop line enthusiastically took up the markers to let us know of all the issues at the school, in our local community and globally that they wish to see an end to. The resulting colourful wall was left up for two weeks as a reminder of the millions of people in the world who face injustice everyday. |
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Detention For Detention - October 17 2014
"The issue of asylum seekers is so complex, so diverse. It has dominated headlines for the better part of a decade, with almost all of us destined to form our own opinion on the matter. In many respects, it has become a political football that has for so long put popular opinion before what is truly right. So this Friday, no matter which side of the fence you sit on I urge you to attend. Because through the act of standing in solidarity we are not proclaiming what we believe to be the best political agenda. We are not part of a debate about what is the best solution for such an issue. We are simply humans, standing hand in hand with other humans. With our brothers and sisters who also walk this planet. Showing them that they are not alone in their path to safety. That they are so much more than just an issue, so much more than a problem. We are not the cause, nor are we the solution. But we are the change that we wish to see in the world."
- Sam O'Neill, College Captain - St Joseph's Nudgee College
- Sam O'Neill, College Captain - St Joseph's Nudgee College
Last year more than 3000 students and staff from EREA schools around Australia took a voluntary lunchtime detention to stand in solidarity with the 1,953 children who are currently in immigration detention in Australia. Join us again on October 17 this year for an even bigger show of support for asylum seekers with schools from all over Australia as well as our friends over the ditch in New Zealand! Find out how here
International Peace Day
- Send your message of peace to the middle east
We have all been shocked and saddened by the tragic events in Gaza, Iraq and Syria in recent months. As violence intensifies, as extremists continue to make threats against us in the west, and as we debate Australia's involvement in taking military action in Iraq, at this time we must remember what all the great leaders of the past, from Gandhi, to Jesus, Mandela, to Luther King Jr, have told us - that violence only ever creates more violence - that the only way to peace is through peace - and that to truly overcome an enemy we must love them.
For this year's International Peace Day on September 21, please join thousands of ERA For Changers to send your own personal message of peace to the people of the middle east on your own hand-made origami peace dove (it's easy!). Simply print the dove template below, follow the instructions, get your friends / teachers / family to do the same, and then send your completed doves back to us at the address listed. We will then send them all over to the conflict zones so people living there know that we Aussies care about them and that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
We can play a huge role in bringing peace to the world by flooding the middle east with our messages of love and peace for all those involved. We want to support and be in solidarity with the victims of violence, but also to appeal in compassion to those would-be perpetrators of violence - those who see us in the west as only wanting to do them harm. Make your message full of positive, loving, peaceful language / images, and make sure you say it is from Australia.
See the video below for instructions on how to make your dove.
For this year's International Peace Day on September 21, please join thousands of ERA For Changers to send your own personal message of peace to the people of the middle east on your own hand-made origami peace dove (it's easy!). Simply print the dove template below, follow the instructions, get your friends / teachers / family to do the same, and then send your completed doves back to us at the address listed. We will then send them all over to the conflict zones so people living there know that we Aussies care about them and that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
We can play a huge role in bringing peace to the world by flooding the middle east with our messages of love and peace for all those involved. We want to support and be in solidarity with the victims of violence, but also to appeal in compassion to those would-be perpetrators of violence - those who see us in the west as only wanting to do them harm. Make your message full of positive, loving, peaceful language / images, and make sure you say it is from Australia.
See the video below for instructions on how to make your dove.
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Video not working? Watch on Vimeo
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Stella Fella Bow Tie Friday - August 15
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On August 15 this year, hundreds of ERA For Change Students again raised awareness about Human Trafficking by wearing a bowtie to school on to be "Stella Fellas" who stand up for respectful treatment of women and an end to Human Trafficking. Find out more here
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A significant proportion of Australia would have been recovering from many sleepless nights due to the World Cup. The majority of Parade College students certainly could score above a C if they were required to take an exam on this once every four year event! With such keen interest among the student body it would remiss of the Social Justice prefects and the Advocacy group not to tap into this enthusiasm and raise awareness about an event initiated by Caritas called Sport for Justice. In the last week of term two we held our own mini Parade College soccer cup on both campuses. The aim of this event was:
- to educate Parade College students about what has happened to poor people in the past when big sporting events have been hosted by countries
- to raise awareness of the need to protect the most vulnerable when it comes to the hosting of the World Cup (FIFA) and the Olympic Games (IOC);
- to collect as many student signatures as possible for the Caritas petition.
The final was held on the last day of term on both campuses. A group of determined students with a ‘winner takes all approach’ took to the field. In two tightly contested matches, refereed by Mr Cordova, had Hughes House the winners (at Bundoora) by a goal, which was scored in the last 30 seconds. The Preston final saw Bodkin continue their winning ways and beat Treacy. In total we gained over 700 signatures and as a College stood in solidarity with the most vulnerable people who have been adversely affected by the World Cup in Brazil.
- to educate Parade College students about what has happened to poor people in the past when big sporting events have been hosted by countries
- to raise awareness of the need to protect the most vulnerable when it comes to the hosting of the World Cup (FIFA) and the Olympic Games (IOC);
- to collect as many student signatures as possible for the Caritas petition.
The final was held on the last day of term on both campuses. A group of determined students with a ‘winner takes all approach’ took to the field. In two tightly contested matches, refereed by Mr Cordova, had Hughes House the winners (at Bundoora) by a goal, which was scored in the last 30 seconds. The Preston final saw Bodkin continue their winning ways and beat Treacy. In total we gained over 700 signatures and as a College stood in solidarity with the most vulnerable people who have been adversely affected by the World Cup in Brazil.
Toowoomba Schools' Lantern Parade for Asylum Seekers
An amazing turn out of students, staff, and community members in support of asylum seekers for Catholic Education Week. Well done all!
World Refugee Day
Rostrevor College Adelaide says 'Not in Our Name'
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Students at Nudgee College celebrated World Refugee Day with a football match against a local Bhutanese refugee team. The game was called a draw after the 5 all penalty shoot-out! Thanks to all involved.
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Refugee Lantern Parade - 2014
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More than 100 staff and students marched with thousands of Queenslanders to welcome refugees and asylum seekers at the annual MDA Lantern Parade in Brisbane last Friday. It was a fantastic event that was a real celebration of cultural diversity, and of the richness that people from different backgrounds offer our community. Thanks to all those involved.
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2014 Brisbane student conference - 23 May
Brisbane schools will gather at St Patrick's College Shorncliffe to plan some major events for 2014. Guest speakers and presenters include lawyer and Indigenous Australian advocate Josh Creamer, and author of "The Undesirables" Mark Isaacs. Workshops, expert panel and school planning will set us on our way for a great year in 2014.
Latest news2014 Events1. Help us support the "What Would You Do?" and "Sorry Asylum Seekers" campaigns. Post your own video / picture submissions to these campaigns with #ERAforChange and #wwyd and get as many people in your school or social networks as possible to do the same. Check out the Oceania Province's rsubmission here: http://goo.gl/QJoFKx
2. Brisbane student get together this year is on 23rd May with guest speakers, workshops and activities. If you can be part of the planning committee please email [email protected] or see your staff at school. 3. Light the Dark. Last Sunday more than 300 of us joined together with 20 000 Australians to light a candle for asylum seekers as part of GetUp's Light the Dark Candlelight Vigils. This was a great national event that shows the power of advocacy and was great to be a part of. Check out the event at: http://goo.gl/Ut884f 
4. In July we will present at EREA's National Conference and spread the net to include all our schools in Australia. This way we will multiply our effectiveness and be able to make an even greater impact in society.
Help us plan for 2014. Can you take the short planning survey here please.
Terrace Tamil 20/20On Sunday 1 September a group of Terrace students took on a group of refugee students from Milpera High School in a 'friendly' 20/20 cricket match. The Milpera boys made 92 initially. Terrace then went into bat but with light fading we had to revise their total using the Johnson Lewis System. The final score was Terrace 63 vs Milpera 62. Two Milpera boys played for the Terrace team and scored the winning runs.
The Milpera team was made up of a group of young Tamil men who have been keen to have a game since arriving in Australia. Great work to all involved! 
brisbane refugee welcome hubBe part of this great opportunity to offer welcome and support to young refugees in Brisbane. Click here to find out more
St joseph's Geelong joins 'Detention for detention'
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2013 Highlights videoFeaturing ERA For Change students singing with the "Scattered People Choir" as part of their upcoming new album. Well done to all on a great first year!!
MELBOURNE ERA FOR CHANGE DAY
A great day was held for Victorian ERA For Change Schools at Parade College on Monday September 2.
With keynote speakers, Phil Glendenning (Edmund Rice Centre), Pamela Curr (asylum Seeker Resource Centre), Jessie Hooper (Killing Heidi) and Travis Demsey (The Living End) it was a fantastic day. For those involved please sign up here or visit our facebook page. 2013 Refugee Lantern ParadeOn Thursday, June 6 75 ERA For Change staff and students joined over 5000 Queenslanders to take part in MDAs annual Lantern Parade to welcome refugees to Australia. Another great show of solidarity and statement to the wider public about how we should treat refugees and asylum seekers. Well done all!
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Reconciliation Rap!27 May - 3rd June this year is National Reconciliation Week. To coincide with Reconciliation Week, Edmund Rice schools in Brisbane have released their very own Reconciliation rap song. The theme is acknowledgement of Indigenous rights in the Constitution, and was done in conjunction with local group Champion Sounds and with students from the Festival for Indigenous Edmund Rice (FIER) last year. Local Turrbal Elder, and St Edmunds Support Officer, Uncle Joe Kirk, introduces the song which features Indigenous students and staff from St James', St Laurence’s, St Edmund's, St Patrick's, Ignatius Park & St Brendan's.
This song is free distribution. It is not for sale. Copyright of the song remains with Champion Sounds. We thank Ben Porter- key rapper, Joel Turner- vocals, beatbox and Mark Welge- producer. Listen and share below, or find out more about National Reconciliation Week here. |
National Reconciliation Day Bridge walk
Read about the Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre's Reconciliation Day activities here
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JOIN US AT THE BRISBANE LANTERN PARADE FOR REFUGEES - JUNE 6
“I was a stranger, and you welcomed me….Whenever you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did it to me.” (Mt 25:35/40)
As members of Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are challenged to welcome the stranger. So, here is a simple way we can do this here in our own local community, as a follow-up to the wonderful beginning of “Detention for Detention”. On Thursday 6 June, Queensland Day, there is a Lantern Parade – a Walk for Refugees, organized by the Multicultural Development Association. It is happening at 5.30pm at Southbank Parklands, and it is an opportunity for ERA for Change members and friends to show our support for our newest neighbours – people who have come to Australia and Brisbane hoping for a better life for their families. ERA for Change will have a banner with our logo and a welcome message, and we will gather and walk together behind our banner to show our solidarity and to welcome refugees to our community. It would be great if you could bring your friends and family members with you as well. Check out the details here or register on our facebook events page or visit www.mda.org.au |
ACMRO Denounces new government policy on refugees
The Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office has slammed the governments decision to excise the Australian mainland from the migration zone, meaning boat arrivals arriving on the Australian mainland will still be processed off-shore.
Read the press release here. |
Detention for detention photo gallery |
Sign the era for change petition - "get kids out of detention" |
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Deception Bay Flexi School Detention Video
St Patrick's College Detention Video
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St James' College Detention Video |
ERA For Change melbourne launch big success
ERA for Change was launched for the Edmund Rice Schools in Victoria on April 24. 68 boys and their teachers attended and we had Sr. Brigid Arthur from the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project giving the 'big picture' on Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Australia. Caterina Mezzatesta launched a fantastic new website http://roadtorefuge.com which is an outstanding resource for all advocacy groups. Ali Reza who has recently been released from detention spoke personally and powerfully about the story of his journey to Australia. The boys who attended intend to advocate in their communities about the issues concerning Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
Launch Day Great SuccessOn March 1 2013 nearly over 150 staff and students from ten schools from Townsville (via Face to Faith skype), to Towwomba, to Woolongong (via Face to Faith Skype) to Melbourne gathered at Nudgee College for the launch of ERA For Change.
Inspiring keynote address by Phil Glendenning from the Edumund Rice Centre in Sydney, humbling facilitation by Br Damien Price, outstanding workshops by the likes of barrister and human rights advocate, Jessie Taylor, Brisbane Youth Service Director, Richard Langford, and rock stars Jesse Hooper and Travis Dempsey, incredibly touching personal story from Iranian refugee Alireza Adibnia, and passionate engagement of young men and women from Edmund Rice schools across the country, fired us all up to work together to amplify the voices of people like Alireza. We now look to the near future for our first campaign - Detention for Detention on May 2. Get involved, and get others involved! |
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