A statement released by the service providers has been published below:
“With the aim of providing much needed support platform for Sikhs in Australia, the Sikh Helpline service is launched by Red Khanda Inc. The Helpline sewa run by volunteers will provide Australia-wide sangat confidential counselling, information and help on various issues in Punjabi and English.
“Presence of Sikhs in Australia
can be traced back to early settlement periods but the number of Sikhs
in Australia since those periods had not grown much until the end of
20th century mainly due to white Australia policy and Sikhs from Punjab favouring
Canada, UK and USA over Australia. This scene has changed in last 10
years when young Sikh students and skilled migrants shifted their focus
to Australia and made down under their home. The Sikh Australians are
positively contributing to growth and development of their adopted
country.
“While Sikh Australians report
their experience in Australia en masse as good, the challenges faced by
Sikh Australians cannot be pushed aside. Living away in a foreign land
and as minority immigrant in adopted country is never easy but for Sikh
Australians the incidents like 9/11 and Martin Place siege bring alive
realities of racism and hatred. Adults and children come face to face
with bullying, harassment and discrimination on day to day basis. Some
can deal with situations on their own, others need some system of
support to gather a response to these problems.
“Then there are our in house
issues which need to be attended. Although Sikhi propounds abstinence
from intoxicants and mandates equality, but the harsh truth is that some
Sikh households do suffer from domestic violence, addictions etc. Due
to stigma attached with such issues the victims don’t want to discuss
things openly and need community support. Growing up in high pace modern
materialistic societies either gives one less exposure to Sikhi or
sometimes causes confusion and conflicts within about ones faith and
identity.
“Above are some examples of
situations and circumstances when one needs to seek help and guidance.
With a view to help fellow Sikhs in need to help in such situation Sikh
Helpline Australia is being launched.”
The confidential service has now rolled out and is available as a community run service throughout Australia.
With Thanks : Sikhs Helping Sikhs
