In the film, asylum- seekers from the Middle East who arrived in 2001 (the year of the Tampa crisis) personally tell of their struggles and their extraordinary successes. These former ‘boat people’, now Australian citizens, have demonstrated astonishing resilience and persistence in building secure, independent lives and contributing to Australian society.
Amonst them is Amir Javin, featured in the film, who will be engaging in a Q&A session following our film screening. Amir currently works as a licensed real estate agent in Sydney , after feeing Iran and spending 4 years in Australian detention centres – a tremendous opportunity to listen to Amir’s experiences first hand.
Though 17 years ago, the refugees’ plight of forced, indefinite confinement in remote locations (some refugees came as children and detained for 4years) still resonates with us today when through media coverage we learn of the inhumane conditions of refugees currently abandoned on Nauru and Manus islands.
