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Refugees and asylum seekers

Linda Briskman (adjunct Professor), Caroline Fleay, Mary Anne Kenny (adjunct Associate Professor), Lisa Hartley and Anne Pedersen (adjunct Associate Professor) are actively involved with the refugee rights movement with a particular focus on human rights issues at immigration detention centres. As well as scholarly publications and submissions to government, Centre members are regular commentators for the media including print and radio.

Published opinion pieces, articles and presentations have included:

Opinion pieces, articles and interviews

Mary Anne Kenny, (2017), Explainer: how Australia decides who is a genuine refugee, The Conversation, 23 February 2017.

Alex Reilly and Mary Anne Kenny, (2017), A ‘tougher’ citizenship test should not be used to further divide and exclude, The Conversation, 10 January 2017.

Nicholas Procter, Mary Anne Kenny, Carol Grech, ‘Lethal Hopelessness: Understanding and Responding to Asylum Seeker Mental Deterioration‘, Shared Learning in Clinical Practice Mental Health Practice Development Newsletter, Supplement – September 2016, University of South Australia.

Mary Anne Kenny and Nicholas Procter, (2016), Hope, certainty and trust: issues abound in US refugee resettlement deal, The Conversation, 1 December 2016.

Caroline Fleay, interview by Helen Shields on Federal Government barriers imposed on refugees who arrived by boat and are trying to get their families here safely: “‘Billion of dollars wasted” on keeping displaced people apart’, The West Australian, 27 June 2016, p. 15.

Mary Anne Kenny, (2016), FactCheck: did boat arrivals spike around the same time Australia suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia in 2011?, The Conversation, 27 May 2016.

Lisa Hartley and Caroline Fleay. “FactCheck Q&A: Do refugees cost Australia $100m a year in welfare, with an unemployment rate of 97%?The Conversation, 15 February 2016.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Ann Arnold, Radio National, Background Briefing: ‘Fazel Chegeni’s Australia: Why did a refugee spend his last days in detention’, 28 January 2016.

Mary Anne Kenny, (2015), FactCheck: how are the 12,000 extra refugees coming to Australia chosen?, The Conversation, 1 December 2015.

Mary Anne Kenny (2015), FactCheck Q&A: Has the number of asylum seeker children in detention declined?, The Conversation, 19 October 2015.

Mary Anne Kenny (2015), FactCheck: Does Australia take more refugees per capita through the UNHCR than any other country?, The Conversation, 8 September 2015.

Mary Anne Kenny (2015), FactCheck: is this the greatest period of humanitarian need since WWII?, The Conversation, 3 July 2015.

Fiona McGaughey and Mary Anne Kenny, (2015), Lashing out at the UN is not the act of a good international citizen, The Conversation, 10 March 2015.

Mary Anne Kenny, (2015), FactCheck: did 1200 refugees die at sea under Labor?, The Conversation, 3 March 2015.

Lucy Fiske, Mary Anne Kenny and Nicholas Procter, (2015), Manus Island hunger strikes are a call to Australia’s conscience, The Conversation, 19 January 2015.

Mary Anne Kenny and Nicholas Procter, (2014), ‘Fast track’ asylum processing risks fairness for efficiency, The Conversation, 8 December 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Jonathan Barrett: ‘Refugees set sail for detention centres’, Australian Financial Review Weekend, 22 November 2014.

Anne Pedersen and Lisa Hartley, (2014), What underlies public prejudice towards asylum seekers?, The Conversation, 12 May 2014.

Caroline Fleay and Lisa Hartley interviewed by Helen Shield: ‘Voices of compassion seek fair go’, The Weekend West, 22-23 March 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by ABC Radio News: ‘Research by Curtin University has found asylum seekers who have been released into the community are experiencing acute emotional and financial stress’, ABC Perth, ABC Southern Queensland, ABC Melbourne, 5 March 2014.

Caroline Fleay and Lisa Hartley interviewed by Lauren Pilat about asylum seekers in the community without the right to work: ‘Torture being “prolonged”‘, Eastern Suburbs Reporter, 4 March 2014, Stirling Times, 4 March 2014, Mandurah Mail, 5 March 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Adeshola Ore, SBS Radio: ‘Asylum seeker study reveals “extreme” distress‘, SBS News, 4 March 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Damien Carrick, Radio National: ‘Impact of work ban on asylum seekers in the community‘, ABC Radio National Law Report, 4 March 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Rewi Lyall, RTRFM Morning Magazine: ‘Asylum Seeking‘, 13 January 2014.

Caroline Fleay interviewed by Paul Entwistle, 6PR Drive: ‘Opinion poll suggesting that 60 per cent of Australians think the Abbott Government should increase the severity of the treatment of asylum seekers highlights misinformation and lack of understanding around this issue’, 8 January 2014.

Linda Briskman and Scott Poynting, (2013), ‘Before getting practical on asylum policy, let’s change our discourse‘, The Conversation, 9 August 2013.

Fiske, L. (2012), ‘Want to Stop the Boats? Make refuge available off-shore‘, The Conversation, 5 July 2012.

Kenny, M (2012), ‘Chinese Refugees Risking Lives for Asylum in New Zealand‘, The Conversation, 11 April 2012.

Kenny, M. (2011), ‘Malaysia Solution no answer for child refugees‘ The Drum, ABC, 6 June 2011.

Fleay, C. (2011), ‘What happens in Curtin, stays in Curtin‘, The Drum Opinion, 17 November 2011.

Briskman, L. and Fleay, C. (2011), ‘Australia’s human rights record has not improved since Tampa‘, The Conversation, 26 August 2011.

Briskman, L. (2011), ‘Trading in human misery‘, Open Democracy, 23 June 2011.

Fleay, C. (2011) ‘Inhumane Detention‘, The Drum Opinion, 14 June 2011.

Briskman, L. (2011) ‘Australia’s wake up call from the UN: Yes, we’re a racist country‘, The Conversation, 31 May 2011.

Briskman, L. (2011) ‘Out of mind out of sight, but we’re not treating asylum seekers right‘, The Conversation, 16 May 2011.

Fleay, C., Boydell, N. (2011) ‘The men hidden from view‘, ABC Unleashed, 8 February 2011.

Briskman, L (2010), ‘End child detention now‘, ABC Unleashed, 2 December 2010.

Briskman, L. (2010), ‘Abbott’s immigration policy: Revisiting cruelty‘, ABC Unleashed, 28 May 2010.

Fiske, L. and Briskman, L. (2010), ‘Christmas Island: Beyond politics‘, ABC Unleashed, 13 April 2010.

Dimasi, M. and Briskman, L. (2009), ‘Let them land: Remembering Tampa’, Australian Policy Online, 27 August 2009.

Briskman, L. (2009), ‘Dying for asylum‘, ABC Online, 21 April 2009.

Briskman, L. (2009), ‘No-one wants to be a refugee‘, ABC Unleashed, 20 April 2009.

Briskman, L. (2008), ‘Harrowing stories of immigration detention’, Australian Online, 25 September 2008.

Goddard, C., Latham, S. and Briskman, L. (2008), ‘Unwarranted cruelty’, The Australian, 1 September 2008.

Goddard, C. and Briskman, L. (2004), ‘By any measure, it’s official child abuse’, Herald Sun, Melbourne, 18 February 2004.

Presentations, workshops and seminars

Caroline Fleay, Keynote speech at the 2017 Grace Vaughan Annual Lecture, ‘Families Still Seeking Asylum: Political Impacts and Community Responses in Australia’, University of Western Australia, 15 March 2017.

Caroline Fleay, launched ‘Seeking Refuge WA‘ crowdfunding campaign, following The Honourable Michael Kirby’s presentation at the ‘Seeking Refuge in Australia’ public event at Curtin University, 17 February 2017.

Caroline Fleay, ‘Setting the Political Scene’. Presentation at seminar Refugee Experiences: The Right to Thrive, Not Just Survive. Curtin University, 10 November 2016.

Caroline Fleay, Panel Member, ‘Stories of Courage, Refugee Week Public Lecture, Curtin University, 24 June 2016.

Caroline Fleay, Keynote Speaker, Edmund Rice Centre VIP WA Event for Refugee Week, Trinity College, Perth, 23 June 2016.

Baden Offord, Chair, keynote speech by Burmese refugee Rubi NiChin at Refugee Week 2016 Film screening of How I Became a Refugee and Study Launch Guide, Curtin University, 20 June 2016.

Caroline Fleay and Lisa Hartley, ‘Beyond our borders: The regional impacts of Australia’s asylum seeker policies’, Presentation at the combined Australia-Asia-Pacific Institute and Humanities Research Seminar, Curtin University, 9 November 2015.

Caroline Fleay and Mary Anne Kenny, ‘A review of the research on forced movement and policy responses.’ Paper presented at The Regional Impacts of Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policies’ Workshop, Swinburne University, Melbourne, 31 August 2015.

Caroline Fleay, Lisa Hartley and William Maley, co-convenors, The Regional Impacts of Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policies’ Workshop, Swinburne University, Melbourne, 31 August 2015.

Fleay, C. ‘Nauru Mark II: The politics of seeking asylum in Australia’, Presentation at a Public Forum held at Curtin University, 9 October 2012.

Fleay, C. ‘Hidden Away: Mandatory Detention and Asylum Seekers in Australia’, Presentation at University of the Third Age, 7 August 2011.

Fleay, C. ‘Australia and Asylum Seekers: Situating the Gillard Government’, Presentation at the Refugee Conference, University of New South Wales, 15 June 2011.

Fleay, C. ‘Australia and Mandatory Detention’, Presentation at Amnesty International 50th Anniversary Dinner, Applecross, 1 June 2011.

Hartley, L.K., & Fozdar, F. (2011). ‘Australian refugee resettlement experiences: What we know, and need to know, to ensure social inclusion’. 2011 Refugee Conference, University of New South Wales, 14-17th June 2011.

Hartley. L. K., McGarty, C., & Donaghue, N. (2010). Challenges to intergroup inequality: Contrasting pathways to collective action for sympathizers and activists. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, New Orleans, USA, 26th June 2010.

Hartley, L. K., Pedersen, A., Aly, A., & McGarty, C. (2009).  Resisting prejudice:  Evaluating a university strategy aimed at reducing negativity towards Muslim Australians.  The 11th Trans Tasman Community Psychology Conference, Perth, on 17th July 2009.

Hartley. L. K., McGarty, C., & Donaghue, N. (2009). The role of context in understanding commitment to collective action after the Apology to the Stolen Generations. The Society of Australasian Social Psychologists Conference, Melbourne, on 17th April 2009.

Hartley, L. K.,  & McGarty, C. (2008). Opinion-based groups, group-based guilt and Reconciliation in Australia. The International Society for Social Justice Research Conference, Adelaide, on August 17 2008.

Hartley, L. K.,  & Pedersen, A. (2007).  Attitudes toward asylum seekers in Australia: The role of intergroup perceptions and emotions. The Emotions, Moods and Motivations Symposium. University of Western Australia: Perth: Western Australia, 2007.