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When Tayla Hansen heard a mental health nurse recount stories from the Christmas Island detention centre it struck a chord.
“I was shocked and appalled,” the 25-year-old said.
“When you hear what those people are suffering from and what their detention is like and the effect that that has had on them … well you really can’t imagine what that feels like.
“Then for them to have those adverse health effects as a result of that and to really need the help and support that they are not getting when they come to Australia – we've got to change that.”
And Ms Hansen is not just talking about change.
She has founded and presides over Bendigo’s Young People for Refugees.
Last month the young group put on its first event, bringing former Burundi child soldier turned rapper, Fablice Manirakiza for a concert at the Old Church on the Hill.
Today the group convened with other refugee groups to form the basis of a push to effect more change – this time on a national level.
The meeting was part of a campaign being rolled out by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre across the country, which is starting in Victoria.
It is one which aims to re-frame the way Australia talks about people seeking asylum.
We want to change the way people talk about refugees – to bring humanity and dignity back into the conversation,'
- Young People for Refugees Bendigo founder and president Tayla Hansen
“The media and politicians often talk about refugees in dehumanising language,” Ms Hansen said.
“But these are people we are talking about.”
In the meantime the young activist will have plenty to keep her busy.
By day Ms Hansen is a production technician in the viral antigen production department at MSD Animal Health.
“I create viral antigens that go into the vaccines for your cats and dogs and cows and chickens,” she said.
In her spare time, Ms Hansen will be coordinating a push to reach out to young people from refugee backgrounds in the greater Bendigo area.
“We're really focusing on submitting a proposal to the TAFE so that we can start some support programs for students from refugee backgrounds as there is quite a large population there,” she said.
“Our goal is that people from refugee backgrounds feel supported and are integrated into the community.”