PEOPLE are still suffering from Australia's treatment of refugees, activists sought to remind people in Bendigo.
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The Rural Australians for Refugees Bendigo rally came ahead of World Refugee Day, which is June 20.
"Although the community is hurting in many ways from the pandemic we're still in the middle of, we also want to highlight that there are people doing it even tougher," Christine Cummins, a spokesperson for RAR Bendigo, said.
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She said there were people still waiting for certainty on asylum claims, some of whom were not eligible to work due to policy settings.
Others had access to supports through settlement programs such as those offered in Bendigo, Ms Cummins said.
She was critical of policies that saw people who had been granted refugee status languishing in offshore detention.
COVID-19 precautions made for a few noticeable changes to Friday's rally, such as distancing and face masks.
Raising awareness that everyone, including refugees, can contribute to society is among the aims of World Refugee Day.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
