To Our Community | ASRC Statement

Web update: 24/08/2022 2:30pm

Dear Community,

I wanted you to hear some news from me directly about some challenges we’re facing at present and at the way forward for our organisation. Transparency and an unvarnished view of things have always been our way, and this will continue. 

Today, alongside my executive leadership team, we announced a retraction of our workforce by approximately 10% over the coming weeks, alongside a suite of changes to our workforce across vacant roles – ongoing, contract roles, operational savings and the future alignment of our team structure. 

By making these difficult decisions now, we remain financially secure and stable going forward, best able to serve and stand alongside people seeking asylum and refugees.

The reality is, this budget process has been a difficult one for the ASRC. After 5 years of significant growth thanks to your support, and record levels of generosity during the pandemic, our fundraising has now had to meet the challenge of unprecedented inflation and cost of living pressures, compounded by the increased costs of operating the ASRC.

The money you gave us at that time (during the pandemic) we committed to using to meet the sharply increased need that existed – meaning that in the last year of the pandemic and with the support of our Board, we drew down on these funds and had a deficit budget for the first time. This included supporting our social enterprises during times of lockdown by covering our lived experience staff wages when the Government would not. 

Food home delivery, access to healthcare during a crisis, emergency legal clinics, a sharp rise in the need for housing and basic needs and a focus on helping people survive this pandemic were where some of this investment went.

But we have to respond to a level of normalcy, too – the emergency funding we were so grateful to receive during this time no longer exists, and as such, we need to re-size to reflect that, while at the same time being laser-focused on our strategic plan.

And so, changes are being made to reflect this – to keep our organisation and our workforce safe and well, sustainable and focused on a strong and robust future. 

 What we can promise during this process is that the ASRC will:

• Stay true to our values, always
• Provide ongoing support to those who may be impacted by these decisions
• Remain transparent and open at all times with our community
• Provide as much support as we can for our remaining team
• Ensure all staff changes are aligned to our new strategic plan

I know you expect me as CEO, our Executive, along with our Board, a focus on managing the money donated to us in the best interests of the people we serve. This means ensuring we are financially sustainable long–term while delivering on our strategic priorities to help as many people in need while driving generational systemic policy change to make refugees’ lives and those of their children genuinely better. 

This remains my commitment to all of you.

Kon
CEO
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre