E.R.
Employment
Once refugees have these basic survival skills they obviously want to begin work and to establish themselves as fully independent members of the community
as soon as possible. Many of the refugees are finding work and some of those
with professional skills are beginning the gradual process of rebuilding
their careers. From what I know of the Vietnamese they recognise that they
must take whatever opportunities come their way at the very beginning so that
they can at least get started in employment. At this stage what the Vietnamese require, after their survival skills and, in some cases, some re-training, is the chance to get started in a job and we and by we I mean, again, the partnership between the Government and voluntary effort we must see that they
are given this chance.
FUN!
Already, in these early days of Vietnamese resettlement in this country there are
some success stories to be told. Many of you will have seen on television the interview of Dr Nhut by Ludovic Kennedy. Dr Whut's skills and determination and ability to contribute to his new country were very evident. You may also have heard of the eleven year old boy who, after one year here, has been able to win a scholarship in open competition with those born and educated here.
These are the exceptional ones, but no less deserving of our admiration are the unsung refugees who are taking ordinary jobs, working hard, acquiring new
skills and establishing a future for themselves and their families.
The Vietnamese possess qualities which will stand them in good stead in this
country. We know that in coming here they have shown courage and resilience.
They have risked life itself for the chance to live in a free society. Their
courage and their aspirations present us all with a challenge and at the end of the day it will be our society that will benefit most from their presence among
us.
Although I have emphasised the Vietnamese refugees' long-term needs for housing and education, I am fully aware of the anxieties of local authorities about the possible need for extra resources. The Government has just received a request from the local authority associations for financial assistance towards permanent resettlement. We will clearly consider this request as a
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