THE Uniting Church in Australia is assisting some Fijian seasonal workers, who are finding it difficult to cope with the high cost of living in Australia.
The Reverend Charissa Suli, who is in Suva for the Methodist Church in Fiji conference, said over the years she had made this issue known to the president of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Dr Semisi Turagavou.
Methodist Church general secretary the Reverend Dr Jolami Lasawa confirmed they had also met with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka about this issue.
“Our president has met with the Prime Minister and told him about the situation our members, who are seasonal workers, face in Australia,” he said.
“We have received reports from the Uniting Church in Australia and we are working with them in ways we can best care for our members.”
Ms Suli said she had also reached out to the Australian Government pleading for a review of the seasonal workers’ programs.
“We also have members from the seasonal work program and they have been taken care of by our members as these workers find comfort with our Fijian families and it’s not easy for them,” she said.
“Life in Australia is very expensive and we have made a commitment to pastoral care so we are trying to work out the best way to support them.
“A lot of work we do in supporting seasonal workers come from our local members so we support them financially and sometimes with food.”
Ms Suli said if these seasonal workers were affected in Australia then their families would certainly be affected in Fiji.
“So we have discussed the best ways of supporting these seasonal workers including some from other Pacific Islands,” she said.
“It’s really hard, I won’t say it’s easy but we are working together as Uniting Church to find a way to support them.
“I can say confidently that we speak to our government in Australia to address these issues for our seasonal workers,” she said.