Are you interested in supporting newly-arrived refugees?
Our programs require forming groups of five or more adults in the same geographic area. Follow these tips for spreading the word and finding support among others in the community.
1. Conversations with friends
Have a chat with your close contacts – including friends, family and neighbours. Explain to them what the program is about, why you want to get involved, and why you think they would make a good group member. If they are interested, suggest they join CRSA’s next public information session.
2. Ask your broader network
Next, you might talk to your wider social network:
- friends of friends
- friends from work
- school or university alumni
- members of local sport clubs
- members of faith-based networks
- members of other local clubs or community groups
Ask your close contacts or any group members you have already identified to do the same. We have drafted some content for you to pin on a noticeboard or share via social or email – feel free to personalise it.
3. Share to community notice boards or local media
Now, it’s time to reach out to like-minded people in your neighbourhood that you perhaps haven’t met yet.
- Pin a flyer (create yours using our Canva template) or message to a local community noticeboard, or post to an online community group
- Get in touch with your local council and let them know about your search
- Get in touch with local media outlets and ask if they can promote your search
4. Post in the public facebook group
If you’re on Facebook, visit the ‘Form a local group’ facebook group. This group is public, and not monitored closely by the CRSA team, so here are some tips for navigating it:
- Join a state-based ‘Form a group’ page, found in the top pinned post
- Scroll through others’ posts to see if you can connect with someone in your area
- Make your own post and invite people in the area to connect with you
- Join or create a community group that is specific to your area – if you let us know about it in our pinned post, we can add it to the list so you’re easy to find . For example, Northern Beaches locals found each other via the Manlygees group and went on to welcome one of the first CRISP arrivals.
5. Host a CommuniTEA
CommuniTEAs are an opportunity to come together over meal and chat about community sponsorship. Use the resources in this toolkit to help you host an afternoon tea, potluck dinner, or lunch at a local cafe, where connection is on the menu. Invite anyone with an appetite for change, and we’re sure you’ll see the beginnings of a new Community Supporter Group.
Keep spreading the word! You might find support from places you don’t expect. Once people hear about what you’re planning, it will stay in their minds too.
Find out more about the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot by attending a Public Information Session: check upcoming dates.