POST 4:
Help in Time Of Need
When you are in
trouble of any kind, much more so when in a foreign country, with little
support from close family, a feeling of despondency is natural. Also, when you
are working for a goal, and have a short time window for its completion, but
are not able to find the information you need, there is a sense of frustration.
You have staked a lot of resources and time on your future and it
does not seem to be going anywhere, you wish someone could help.
1.
First Port of Call:
Your first point
of finding support is always the Indian High Commission and Indian Consulates.
In spite of all the negative comments people have given to Indian Foreign
Missions, I can assure you that they are the most helpful, as compared to those
of many other countries. They have their bureaucratic procedures, like any
Government Department of any country. Please approach them courteously and have
complete and truthful details of your problem, preferably written out, and you
are sure to find help. They can help in many ways which are not listed on their
websites, as they are in contact with the various expatriate Indian
organizations, to which they may refer you to for assistance. The contact
details of Indian High Commission in Australia is
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Chancery
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3-5, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT-2600
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Website
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Fax
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+61-2-62731308 (off), 62733328 (HC)
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Phone Canberra
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+61-2-6273 3999
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E-mail
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Phone Sydney
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0061-02-9231 2299
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E mail Sydney
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Phone Melbourne
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0061-3-9682 7836
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E mail Melbourne
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Phone Perth
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0061-8 9221 4205
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E mail Perth
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Phone Brisbane
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061-7-3871 3362
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E mail Brisbane
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You can find
additional details of above consular offices at
2.
Indian Organizations and Associations:
There are many organizations and associations set up by the Indian
diaspora, which are engaged in cultural, fraternising, community service etc.
Most of them are always more than willing to help a compatriot in difficulty.
While most members are working and have limited time availability, but if
approached with specific issues that you may have, they will go out of their
way to provide help. Please avoid calling them first on the phone, but send
them a short e mail message, with the heading, “Help Requested”.
Please give your contact details and explain how urgently you need the
help. (Please avoid asking for money.)
You can always also send an e mail, with a similar message. Please
understand that while your need may be urgent and you may be feeling frustrated
at not receiving a response, they may be very busy or trying to contact others
to see how they can be of assistance. Please appreciate that they are going out
of their way to help you, and the more courteous you are the greater are the
chances that they will help you.
Someone in the Indian community may have gone through similar problems that
you are facing today, and has been able to come out of it. Someone knows a
friend or acquaintance in the company you want a job in, and may be willing to
put in a word for you. Someone knows about the college you are seeking an
admission in, and may guide you about it. Someone may be able to help you find
a place to live. Someone may have tried the road you wish to walk and found the
pitfalls, and may warn you against these.
Be sure that there is always someone who can assist you if you would care
to ask humbly.
Be gracious to those who help you, by acknowledging it in writing, and
telling them how much their help meant to you.
A list of Indian associations is available on the Indian High Commission’s
website at
To help you, the same is being copied at the end of this post.
3.
Indian Media, both print and broadcast
The Indian media carries stories of interest to the Indian diaspora, and
also provides an important link to the sub-continent and all those coming from
there. It is but natural, those problems of Indian immigrants is of crucial importance
to them. They highlight the same in their columns and broadcast minutes and
also influence the authorities for their solutions.
By its very nature such solutions cannot be immediate, but affect the
policies of the local and federal governments.
Having said that do not underestimate the help that the media can provide
you in times of difficulty. They have huge contacts within the community and
with the authorities. Please approach them, following the same suggestions made
above for approaching the associations, and you may find that you have received
a helping hand you sorely needed but least expected.
The contact details of the media is available at the Indian High
Commission’s website
To help you, the same is being copied at the end of this post.
4.
Charitable organizations
Australians are ranked as the highest group in the whole world when it
comes to giving both their time and resources for charitable causes. It is
ingrained in what is called, “The Australian Way of Life”. They will be
happy to help you without even expecting anything in return. I should know, as
I have been working since the time I arrived here in a Catholic Community
Helping organization, called Vinnies. All of them will help anyone in
need without consideration of religious background and ethnicity. Whether it be
food that you may need or a bed or medicines, they will be happy to help.
They are not bound by government rules of residency, and will help anyone
in need. As they are multi-million dollar organizations, they have also various
contacts, which they may help you with. They work in the local council areas
and one may be not very far from where you live. While they do not expect
anything in return, being gracious always helps. May be when you are in better
times, you can return the favour by contributing with your time and resources.
A contact list of such organizations is given at the end of this post.
5. Legal Aid:
Many a time you may need legal advice for yourself or a
family member. Legal advice in Australia is very costly. But not taking legal
help, when you may need it, is still more costly.
If you are not in a position to afford it, there is a system
called Legal Aid available. Depending on your circumstances and legally
sustainability of your issue the Legal Aid office may either agree to fight
your case in court, at little or no cost, or may just advice you of the process
you must follow. Please do not underestimate their advice, as it may be crucial
to you.
The various types
of services you may get from Legal Aid offices are as follows:
Help
over the phone: You can call them up and get guidance
Find information: They have factsheets and resources to help you with your
problem
Get advice from a lawyer: They
provide free face-to-face advice on most legal issues
Help at court: They have lawyers to assist you at many courts and tribunals
Contact web-links of Legal Aid
Offices in different Australian states are given below:
Queensland: http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx
Victoria: http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/
South Australia: http://www.lsc.sa.gov.au/
Western Australia: http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/Pages/Default.aspx
Tasmania: http://www.legalaid.tas.gov.au/
Northern Territories: http://www.ntlac.nt.gov.au/
6.
Approaching Local Councillors and Members of Parliament:
Unlike India, politicians in
Australia are easily available to the members of their constituencies. They
have their offices within the geographical area of the constituency and have
full time officers available on phone and e mail. They will listen to your
issues and provide an appointment for personal discussions. For a better
outcome, it is advisable that you may write out your issues, in a
point-wise form, along with your contact details. You will be better-off, if you
specify what resolution you are looking for, and why you have not been able to
get a resolution in the normal course. Believe me, that the response is
pretty quick, and you can phone up and request for an update. You do not need
to have anyone’s recommendation for the above.
It is very easy to Google and
get the information about your local councillor. For example, if I Google,” contact details for local
councillors Brisbane south”, I shall get the complete list of councillors on
the website
List of
Charitable Organizations
i. St Vincent de Paul Society
(Vinnies)
(02) 9568 0262
ii. The Salvation Army
(Salvos)
(03) 8878
4500
iii. Hillsong
(02)
8853 5391
iv. Anglicare
(02) 9895 8000
v. The Smith Family
1800 024
069
vi.
Meals On Wheels
1800 854 453
vii.
Mission Australia
13 11 14
viii.
Uniting Care Australia
- NSW/ACT
Parramatta Mission
119 Macquarie St
Parramatta NSW 2150
02 9891 2277
Website: www.parramattamission.org.au
Wesley Mission
220 Pitt St
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9263 5555
Website: www.wesleymission.org.au
Kippax Uniting Care
Cnr Luke St and Hardwick Cres
Holt ACT 2615
02 6254 1733
Website: www.kippax.org.au
- Northern Territory
Somerville Community Services
147 Lee Point Rd
Wagaman NT 0810
08 8920 4100
Website: www.somerville.org.au
- South Australia
Uniting Care Wesley Bowden
77 Gibson St
Bowden SA 5007
08 8245 7100
Website: www.ucwb.org.au
Uniting Care Wesley Country South Australia
60 Florence St
Port Pirie SA 5540
08 8633 8600
Website: www.ucwcsa.org.au
Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide
70 Dale St
Port Adelaide SA 5015
08 8440 2200
Website: www.ucwpa.org.au
Uniting Care Copper Triangle
25 Wearn Cres
Kadina SA 5554
08 8821 3383
Uniting Care Gawler
10 Tod St
Gawler SA 5118
08 8522 4522
Uniting in Care Salisbury Inc.
1 Bowen Tce
Salisbury SA 5108
08 8258 2675
- Western Australia
Uniting Care West
16 Sunbury Rd
Victoria Park WA 6100
1300 663 298
Website: www.unitingcarewest.org.au
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Victoria/Tasmania
Bendigo Uniting Care Outreach
25 Forest St
Bendigo Vic 3552
03 5443 4972
Website: www.ucarebgo.com.au
Church of All Nations Community Support Agency
180 Palmerston St
Carlton Vic 3053
03 9347 7077
Website: www.carlton-uca.org
Lentara Uniting Care
413 – 419 Camp Rd
Broadmeadows Vic 3047
03 9351 3600
Website: www.lentarauc.org.au
South Port Uniting Care
319 Dorcas St
South Melbourne Vic 3025
03 9690 1188
Website: www.southportuc.org.au
Uniting Care Ballarat
105 Dana St
Ballarat Vic 3353
03 5332 1286
Website: www.unitingcareballarat.com.au
Uniting Care East Burwood Centre
220 Burwood Hwy
Burwood East Vic 3151
03 9803 3400
Website: www.ucebc.org
Uniting Care Geelong
2 Balliang St
South Geelong Vic 3220
03 4210 1100
Website: www.ucg.unitingcare.org.au
Uniting Care Gippsland
49 McCulloch St
Bairnsdale Vic 3875
03 5152 9600
Website: www.ucgipps.org.au
Uniting Care Harrison Community Services
1012 Little Burwood Hwy
Wantrina South Vic 3152
03 9871 8700
Website: www.unitingcareharrison.org.au
Uniting Care Hotham Mission
2 Elm Street
North Melbourne Vic 3051
03 9326 8245
Website: www.hothammission.org.au
Uniting Care Prahran Mission
211 Chapel St
Prahran Vic 2181
1800 266 664
Website: www.prahranmission.org.au
Uniting Care Tasmania
31 Cambridge St
Bellerive Tas 7018
03 6244 1144
Website: http://tas.unitingcare.org.au/
Uniting Care Werribee Support and Housing
19 Duncans Rd
Werribee Vic 3030
03 9742 6452
Website: www.wsh.org.au
Uniting Care Wodonga
Cnr Beechworth Rd and Nilmar Ave
Wodonga Vic 3690
03 6024 2108
Website: www.wodonga.unitingcare.org.au
