News and Media

FASSTT has called on Senators to oppose three Bills which could have serious damaging consequences for refugees and people seeking protection in Australia. The legislative proposals are the Migration Amendment Bill 2024, the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 and the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention…

This statement provides an update to FASSTT’s statement “Support for people affected by the events in Israel and Gaza” published on 26 October 2023 . In October 2023, the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) issued a statement calling for a ceasefire and expressing its…

The Forum of Australian Services to Survivors of Torture and Trauma has launched Witness to War, a free and confidential multilingual telephone hotline for people in Australia affected by overseas conflicts. Staffed by mental health practitioners and bicultural support workers, Witness to War offers community members incidental counselling, information about…

When conflicts arise in their country of origin, individuals, families and communities can experience heightened stress that increases their vulnerability to a variety of difficulties and symptoms associated with their past traumatic experiences. These commonly include increased anxiety and fear about the safety of loved ones who remain in circumstances…

The recent escalation of violence in Israel, Gaza, and the surrounding regions is inflicting enduring and devastating humanitarian consequences including loss of life and widespread trauma. Through our collective experience supporting survivors of torture and trauma, we know that the impact on mental health and well-being will be enduring and…

The statement below is issued on behalf of delegates at the 3rd Australian and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference, held in Adelaide on 9-11 October 2023: We have heard from people with lived experience, mental health professionals, lawyers, researchers and others about the profound harms experienced by…

The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement that it will increase the number of entrants brought to Australia under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program from 17,875 to 20,000 people. The Government’s commitment to increase the program is particularly important when…

In 2021, along with the rest of the community, FASSTT member agencies were deeply concerned at the deterioration of conditions in Afghanistan as the Taliban returned to power following the withdrawal of coalition forces and the collapse of the Afghan government. In August 2021 Australia's response to the unfolding crises…

For the past two years, the impact of the global COVID pandemic has been felt particularly severely by the individuals and communities supported by FASSTT agencies. FASSTT member agencies have noted a marked increase in psychological distress amongst clients and communities in the past two years as well as a…

In May 2021, the network of 8 services which provide specialist services to refugee survivors of torture and trauma (FASSTT) became a formal Company Limited by Guarantee. The purpose of doing this was to formalise our national collaborative practice and strengthen our capacity to maintain quality standards in governance and…