After closing it's doors to the public due to COVID-19 pandemic over the past three months, ARC reopens the centre for normal business, but with social distancing and protection measure put in place
Manager of the center, Mrs Carmen Lazar told SBS that with great anticipation the centre started accepting clients to come to the office as from Wednesday 8th of July. She says that, for more than one week, staff and volunteers of the centre were very busy preparing the office to be social distancing ready.
"We put up signs, posters, sanitizers and footsteps signs as per authorities instructions, to make sure the office is a safe place to visit".
Mrs Lazar says, to maintain the social distancing at the office, we have limited the number of visitor at one time, as per the square meter per person regulations. The office has implemented a rule that, any client who wants to come to the office, must first call and make an appointment. The office then will callback and give the client one hour to come to the office, once we finish from the previous one.
In another matter, Mrs Lazar talked about the Community Support Program. She said those in Turkey who are waiting for their Australian visa under the CSP should be contacting the I.O.M (International Migration Organisation) in Turkey to follow up on their visa. She mentioned an incident where two families whose visa were granted, but were not informed. Only upon contacting the IOM office for an inquiry were told they have been granted visa to Australia. When they asked why they were not informed, the office worker told them that it is up to the applicant to inquire about the status of their visa. These two families are now going through the final steps to finalise their paperwork, reserve their tickets and arrive to their new home. Mrs Lazar is asking the sponsors in Australia to contact the office of the Assyrian Resource Centre on (02) 97282594, the ARC then will try their best to help them about the progress of their sponsorship application of their relatives.
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