Timeline
Title
Timeline
Collection Items
1989: TRANSACT is Born
February – TRANSACT’s first formal meetings were held to form the organisation.
1989: TRANSACT advertise in The Canberra Times for their first AGM
4th July Tuesday – TRANSACT advertisement in The Canberra Times for their first AGM. A short piece featured in the ‘Fridge Door’ section of ‘A daily guide to life in the national capital’. The article gives a short description of the organisation’s…
1989: First AGM Held: Gloria Oyarzun's Story Published in The Canberra Times
15th July Saturday – FIRST AGM HELD: Gloria Oyarzun Story published in Canberra Times. The story ‘Nightmare Memories of Chilean Torture’ written by Amanda Lynch, tells of Gloria Oyarzun’s harrowing ordeal, having suffered torture and rape by the…
1990: 'ACT Government's Community Grants Scheme' Grant Received!
24th March Saturday – Grant received! TRANSACT received $20,000 from the ‘ACT Government's community grants scheme’ to train a network of health professionals. Joan Morris’ ‘Grant for Torture Therapy’ article published in Canberra Times, 24th March…
1990: Workshop on Torture and Rehabilitation Advertisement in The Canberra Times
2nd October Friday – A short advertisement in The Canberra Times ‘Fridge Door’ information section, advertising Workshops being run by TRANSACT Half Day Workshop on Torture and Rehabilitation at Griffin Centre on Saturday 6th October, 9am -1pm for…
1990: 'Lives Scarred by the Terror of Torture' Chi & Anh's Stories Published in The Canberra Times
29th October Monday – ‘Lives scarred by the terror of torture’ Megan Bird article published on Chi & Anh’s Vietnamese Communist Regime stories. The horrific account of two Vietnamese woman who witnessed and endured unimaginable torture at the hands…
1991: Break In at TRANSACT
19th June Wednesday – A small article in The Canberra Times written by Marion Frith, expresses the frustration TRANSACT are experiencing following a break in and all funds (Cash Tin) stolen, whilst they had clients depending on these resources.
1992: 'Focus for Community Activities' Published in The Canberra Times
8th March Sunday – ‘Focus for Community Activities’ article published in The Canberra Times, article refers to TRANSACT being one of the many community based, sole-use tenants of the Griffin Centre. As part of the Griffin Centre write up, the page…
1992: TRANSACT AGM: Guest Speaker Roberta McRae
27th August Thursday – TRANSACT Annual General Meeting with guest speaker Roberta McRae. Roberta McRae was a former Australian Politician and the 1990 recipient of the Order of Australia Medal for service to Migrant Assistance. This advertisement is…
1992: PUBLISHED! TRANSACT Health Kit.
A 19 page illustrated guide is published by TRANSACT. “TRANSACT health kit : a guide for doctors and health professionals in providing treatment to survivors of torture and trauma / Torture Rehabilitation and Network Service ACT”
1993: Refugee Week: 'Canberra City Band'
19th June Saturday – Refugee Week Musical Launch ‘Canberra City Band’ Westfield Belconnen. TRANSACT gave a stage presentation.
1993: Refugee Week: Liv Ullmann National Press Club
23rd June Wednesday – Refugee Week lunch with guest speaker Liv Ullmann at National Press Club Barton. Liv Ullmann is a Norwegian actress and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. TRANSACT gave a presentation at 7:30pm that same day.
1993: THEATRE: 'Death and the Maiden' Cast Call in The Canberra Times
19th April Monday – Advertisement in The Canberra Times, seeking participants for a production of ‘Death and the Maiden’ by Ariel Dorfman (Chilean) TRANSACT placed word in the paper asking for those who want to be involved in their planned production…
1994: 'Refugees' Memories Revealed in Art' Exhibition at The Link Gallery: Natalia Silva Canberra Times Story.
25th June Monday – ‘The Link Gallery’ exhibited 44 refugee artworks until 2nd July and an article ‘Refugees’ Memories Revealed in Art’ was published in the Canberra Times on the 27th June, showcasing some of Natalia Silva’s artwork. Emma MacDonald…
1995: 'Refugee Hide Grim Secrets' The Canberra Times Publishes story on TRANSACT's Global Network
21st March Tuesday – ‘Refugees Hide Grim Secrets’ Article published in The Canberra Times by Jacqueline Fuller. Interview with TRANSACT Director Michele Harris and statements from Svend Christensen, representative for International Rehabilitation…
1995: Joined IRCT: International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
1995 – TRANSACT Joins International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, an umbrella organisation sharing information and resources to combat worldwide torture and trauma and serve those who have suffered and need assistance.
1995: Onsite Medical Services Established
1995 - The agency established an onsite medical service and health reviews and integrated this with counselling services.
1995: Lyons Club Race Day Fundraiser for TRANSACT
25th March Saturday – Lions Club fundraiser race day at Queanbeyan race course for TRANSACT. Creating community awareness for the organisation as well as raising funds for their cause. A small Advert was placed in The Canberra Times in the ‘Fridge…
1995: TRANSACT receives Government Health Grant Canberra Times story lists 'Annual Health Funding for Community Groups'
01 July Saturday – TRANSACT receives $48,000 Government Health Grants for 1995-1996. Published in Canberra Times ‘Annual Health Funding for Community Groups.’ A.C.T Health Minister Kate Carnell reported funds totalling $739,500 for 25 community…
1995: 'Play Emotionally Trying' Theatre Production Research Publish in The Canberra Times
27th April Thursday – ‘Play Emotionally Trying’ article by Rachel Hill published. The article follows the process George Huitker (Actor) and Belinda Pearson (Director) take to understand the psychological trauma and torture that victims are exposed…
1996: Children's Intervention Counselling Program Introduced.
1996 Transact started a dedicated children’s early intervention counselling program.
1996: PUBLISHED! 'Companions in the Search'
Published “Companions in the search: a multidisciplinary guide to assist in the rehabilitation of clients who have experienced torture and trauma before settling in Australia.”
It's also been suggested that this is where the idea for "Companion…
It's also been suggested that this is where the idea for "Companion…
1996: TRANSACT created a counselling program dedicated to children
Originally funded through donation and ran during the Summer holidays of 1995-1996
1998: Parenting in Australia: A Resource and Guide to Assist Facilitators in Providing Information to Newly Arrived Refugee Parents was published
A guide written by TRANSACT staff member to provide and assist newly arrived parents into Australia. Utilised in several of the Safe Havens
1998: “Refugee Children: A Practical Guide to Health Assessment” was published
Guide written by TRANSACT staff members for health practitioners, utilised by several of the Safe Havens
2001: Triple J "Real Appeal" Donation
Companion House were donated $10,000 from Triple J's "Real Appeal", Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of
Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) in December 2001
Donations were utilised to provide services to young men from the ages of 13-20 who had…
Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) in December 2001
Donations were utilised to provide services to young men from the ages of 13-20 who had…
2002: Kosova Women's Crochet and Knitting Group
During Refugee Week in 2002, Canberra Museum and Gallery had an exhibition featuring the works of the Kosova Women's Crochet and Knitting group. The group was established to connect women who were part of the families with temporary visas.
2003: Community Events
Companion House sponsored a harmony day event with the Migrant Resource centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan. The event involved plenty of dancing, poetry readings and singing centres around harmony as a theme, as well as ‘multiculturalism and…
2003: The BRITA Project : Building Resilience in Transcultural Adolescents
The BRITA Project was designed from an ‘international review of group based activities to promote young people’s life skills’. The project was initially designed in Queensland. From 2003 and 2004 Companion House took charge of implementing the…
2003: Group work with adults
Over the course of the year Companion House developed and implemented several successful programs for adults:Men’s social group – 25 men participated in the group that emphasised social activities, mutual support of one another and the development of…
2003: Triple J Real Appeal
In 2001 $10, 000 from Triple J ‘Real Appeal’ were given to the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma. Donations were used to organize two very successful bus trips for children and their families with over 100 participants.…
2004: Events for Children
As with all years Companion House offered events specifically designed for children. In 2004 these events included sports, rock climbing and a trip to the South Coast during the summer. They also ran holiday day programs.
2004: Groups and projects
During 2004 Companion House held a number of groups and projects:Men’s groups – In 2004 there were several men’s groups held. One was a psyco-educational group that assisted with depression and related conditions, creating a supportive environment…
2006: Cooking, eating and sharing
This project was developed to work with the Sudanese and Sierra Leone Communities in order to develop stronger social connections and increase access to African food stuffs. Both women’s and young men’s groups were held over the year where they could…
2006: World Refugee Soccer Day
Companion House hosted a World Refugee Soccer day event with 300 people from refugee and soccer communities across Canberra showing up to participate in the event. One of the goals of the event was to bring the Sudan and Sierra Leone communities…
2006: Women’s Health and Future
High levels of Vitamin D deficiencies had been experienced in the community, to assist with this Companion House decided to develop a program for women. Issues cited by the women were; ‘lack of exposure were a lack of opportunity for sun exposure,…
2007: Mon Community in Cultural Transition Project
The Mon community was a small and young demographic so this program was started to give them assistance in regard to parenting and cultural transition for all members of family. Mon women experienced difficulties when it came to parenting due to a…
2007: Karen Group Program
From August to December 2007 the Karen Group Program was run at CIT Reid to increase community bonding and build strength in the Karen community. The project was extremely successful and produced many great results. One Karen woman was able to get a…
2007: Refugee Transitional Housing Program
Companion House developed the Refugee Transition Housing Program as part of a ‘tripartite agreement with ACT Housing and CatholicCare to provide transitional housing for six months for refugees and asylum seekers’. The program aimed to relieve the…
2008: World Refugee Soccer Day
2008 marked the first year in which the Mon and Karen communities had participating teams in Companion House’s Refugee Soccer Day match, along with the Sierra Leone and Sudan teams. Sierra Leone won the first match against the Sudanese team 6-2, and…
2009: Companion House 20th Anniversary
On December 10th 2009 Companion House celebrated 20 years with a festive evening including speeches, performances and refreshments.
2009: Housing Trouble in Canberra
Lack of affordable housing continued to be a problem in Canberra, however with the Refugee Transitional Housing Program helped in alleviating some of the problem in regards to finding housing for refugees.
2009: ACT Human Rights Act
In 2009 ‘Companion House became the first non-government organisation to opt into the ACT Human Rights Act, agreeing voluntarily to be bound by the Act’.Read more about the ACT Human Rights Act here:…
2009: Companion House 20th Anniversery Children’s Display
As part of celebrations of Companion House’s 20th anniversary a visual display was created by six children from the Mon, Karen, Irawi, Dinka and Sierra Leone refugee communities. The art piece was a colourful creative exhibit that portrayed the…
2009: Health Projects
Companion House ran two major health projects: The Healthy Communities Project and The Young Men Growing Project.The Healthy Communities Project focussed on health education for adults. The project covered topics of nutrition, a broad range of…
2010: Companion House Moves to Cook
In June 2010 Companion House moved location from O’Connor to Cook.
2010: World Refugee Soccer Day
Companion House continued with their annual soccer tournament on World Refugee Day once again in 2010 with six teams from the Chin, Karen, Liberian, Mon, Sierra Leone and Sudan communities. 2010 was the first year that the Liberian team participated,…
2010: Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme
In 2010 Companion House started offering the first Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) in the ACT region.
2010: Organisation moved location
In 2010 Companion House moved to the Community Hub in Cook (41 Templeton Street Cook, next to the Cook shops)
2013: "Singing our Cultures" CD collaboration
Produced “Singing our Cultures”, a CD of songs for children in Arabic and Dinka, in collaboration with Sudanese women and the West Belconnen Child and family Centre.
2013: Woman's health
Facilitated women from four communities to start participation in health screening and engage in physical activities such as tennis and Zumba
2013: Medical service refurbishment
They completed the refurbishment of their medical service. The set up of a new medical room, replacement of ageing medical equipment and starting a new process for improving referral pathways to community GPs.
2014: $10,000 raised at dinner
Raised $10,000 at a fundraising dinner for emergency relief, which has helped to address the needs of asylum seekers.
2015: Legal support
Linked asylum seekers and people from a refugee background who had visa cancellations to migration advice and legal support when needed. Also advocated for torture survivors and people with vulnerable mental health in decision-making processes.
2016: Education Forum
The ACT Parents and Citizens Council, the ACT Principals Association and Companion House cosponsored the 2016 Me and My School Forum. The forum succeeded in its aims to: foster a greater understanding of the difficulties and perspectives of families…
2016: ACTCOSS partnership award
Companion House and partnering organisations received a 2016 ACTCOSS partnership award for their collaboration in careers advice and establishment of training pathways for young asylum seekers, as well as organising driver’s licence scholarships for…
2016: Scholarships with the University of Canberra
Companion House entered into an alliance with the University of Canberra to ensure five young asylum seekers were able to access tertiary education in 2016. This partnership will provide new options for asylum seekers in Australia.
2016: Migration Advice and Assistance
Over 2015-16 they managed the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) for the ACT. Under the IAAAS Companion House provided: 405 immigration advice sessions (most of these were focused on family reunion applications) and 9 asylum…
2017: The Happiness Garden in Pialligo
32 families participated in the Happiness Garden in Pialligo growing fresh vegetables and herbs both for themselves and to share with their communities. Community members also participated in an open day for the wider Canberra community, and a…
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