Material Aid

Asylum Seekers in Australia have no guaranteed right to income, healthcare or settlement services. They face destitution and adversity in Australia as they struggle to make it from day to day. The Material Aid Program responds to this destitution through the in-house provision of essential items (e.g. metcards, bedding and nappies) as well as liaising with mainstream services to provide other basics such as clothing and computers.

Volunteer profile – Christina Spehr

Volunteer profile – Christina Spehr

“It is such a rewarding experience to volunteer with an organisation as diverse and worthwhile as the ASRC. Many of the members describe coming to the centre as ‘feeling at home’ and I have to agree. It is such a wonderful place. As a volunteer in the Aid and Advocacy program, I feel I am really making a difference in the lives of our members, assisting them to get by in day-to-day Australian life.”

Donor profile – Helen Gourlay

"Through my involvement with the ASRC, I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting families from all over the globe. I often wondered how the younger families managed to clothe their small children. I have many nursing friends who run mothers groups, and I began taking donations from these new mothers of their new and almost new baby clothes when their children have outgrown them. I package these clothes and baby items up into bags and families can select in a dignified manner which clothes would be appropriate for their children. And the families donating the clothes are thrilled to know exactly where their pre-loved things have gone."

Asylum Seeker - Shamraiz

"I first came to ASRC in hope of getting some legal advice and support. Soon I realised that the ASRC had much more to offer, and the support I received from Material Aid was overwhelming. I got Metcards for all my ASRC appointments and to go school, medical appointments and counselling.. I'll always be grateful for their support."

What We Do

The Material Aid Program provides essential items such as:

  • Metcards. (up to $90,000 worth of Metcards each year)
  • Phonecards and mobile phones
  • Nappies and baby clothes
  • Bedding
  • Kitchenware

The Material Aid Program also refers asylum seekers to other services for assistance with basics such as:

  • Clothing
  • Bicycles
  • Computers

Donations and The ASRC Survival Network

Due to limited funding and resources, many of the items we distribute must be sourced from individuals, community groups and corporate donors. The ASRC Survival Network (which includes supporters of the Foodbank) is made up of individual, community group and corporate members who wish to be kept up-to-date with our aid and food security campaigns. By joining the Network, members have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of asylum seekers. Click this link to find our more about the Survival Network or to donate.

Advocacy and capacity building

The Material Aid Program advocates to the mainstream emergency relief sector, improving the community's capacity to include and respond to asylum seekers. The Material Aid Program also participates in policy-level advocacy. For example, the program was central in the successful lobbying campaign to achieve concession travel for asylum seekers in Victoria.