Photo Delhove Blennerhassett
A new group in Mullumbimby has formed to help settle a Syrian refugee family in the area within the next few months.
Mullumbimby Refugee Support Group (MRSG) are operating under a federal government pilot program, which has already settled six refugee families in the Northern Rivers. The program is known as Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP).
MRSG co-ordinator, Delhove Blennerhassett, said his 16-strong group formed from a desire to do something practical about the plight of refugees.
‘This area has such a great awareness and we loved the idea of the community getting together to help a refugee family in need,’ Delhove said.
Anyone can form a community support group of at least five members, who must be fully committed and receive online training under the CRISP program.
The government grants humanitarian visas to eligible refugees who are based overseas. The CRISP program then matches refugees with approved Australian community support groups such as MRSG. The support group then welcomes the family into their area and cares for them for a year.
This care includes finding accommodation, settling kids into school, dealing with Centrelink, helping find jobs, providing transport, and anything that helps the family settle into a new life in Australia.
Delhove said at first they baulked at the fundraising challenge, but then signed a partnership agreement with Ballina Region For Refugees (BR4R), who will take on the lion’s share of fundraising.
‘We couldn’t have done it without BR4R,’ Delhove said.
BR4R was formed in 2015, and raises all its own funds and does not receive any government support.
Tax deductible
They have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support refugee causes and have helped settle four families in the region. Donations are tax deductible.
For more info, contact Delhove Blennerhassett on 0434 007 276. For Ballina Region For Refugees, contact President, Marilyn Leeks, on 0407 219 898, or email [email protected].
The Australian government CRISP program is at refugeesponsorship.org.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
