WORDS Beth Doherty PHOTO Maggie Power

The greatest change comes through enabling people to see their innate value, says Paul Power.

Paul Power tempers his words with a dry sense of humour. Even when speaking out on issues he is obviously passionate about, he tries not to come across as too forthright. ‘Okay, now I’ll get off my soapbox’, he jokes, after one particularly profound statement.

In fact, Paul has a lot to talk about. His years working with Catholic social justice agencies such as Caritas and St Vincent de Paul have shown him the reality of poverty and injustice in Australia. Paul is currently the CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, a secular organisation dedicated to advancing the cause of refugees and asylum seekers. He has been in this role for just over a year.‘The Refugee Council of Australia is a small umbrella organisation and has been advocating for 25 years’, he says.

RCOA first came to prominence during the arrivals in Australia of Cambodian and Vietnamese people fleeing violent conflicts in South-East Asia. Like many refugee agencies, perhaps they felt at the time that their existence would be short-lived, however Paul feels that the need for the agency is as great as ever.‘The treatment of asylum seekers has been one of the fundamental challenges facing Australia in the last decade’, he says.

This challenge means that Paul has needed to study up on international policy affecting asylum seekers, and it is a daunting task. ‘I was quite surprised to get the job at RCOA when I applied. For me it’s been a rapid learning process—right in the middle of national and international policy issues.’

However, Paul’s background is an impressive one and he seems to be up to the task of negotiating the twists and turns of refugee policy. He is trained as a journalist and edited the Fairfield Advance as a 24-year-old. He moved onto papers such as the Illawarra Mercury before a career change in 1993.

‘I went then to Australian Catholic Relief (now Caritas) in 1993 and that was my first step out of the newspaper industry. It became Caritas Australia while I was there. I worked there until 1997. From then until mid last year, I worked with the St Vincent de Paul society in Wollongong diocese.

‘I ended up managing what became the Vincentian Social Action Centre (based at Campbelltown). We were involved in a few things. In the time I was there, we developed from ideas to things that came to fruition.’

The Vincentian Social Action Centre had a number of focuses, including a community development program in public housing estates, a support program for people with mental illness, and a volunteer support program.

The centre’s work in community development was inspired by similar programs in South Asia, where social animation was a key aspect of work for justice. The centre won the 2006 Mercy Foundation Social Justice Award. ‘This was a good outside recognition’, says Paul.

Paul is married to Clare and has three children. He speaks of the importance of shared values and the support that motivates much of his work. ‘We have the same values. She’s very involved in the same sorts of things. When your spouse supports you and shares your views, it’s much easier.’

Paul has worked for Vinnies in a professional capacity, but also has volunteered in the Camden parish for 19 years.

‘There are so many impressive role models in that organisation. Often it’s the local people who are most impressive. And the spirit in which it is done. They have taught me a lot about Christianity and a lot about humanity.’

He says his faith is hard to articulate.

‘I think for me Christian faith is really about being both a realist and an optimist. We are confronted with the reality of our own failing and the reality of injustices that we can see either locally or globally.’

Paul’s life through his involvement in public housing advocacy, Vincentian work, overseas development work and work with refugees and asylum seekers is very much characteristic of his faith and he talks about this as the main reason he does what he does.

‘“The gospel is about comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.” This is one of my favourite quotes by Fr Brian Gore—a priest who was jailed in the Philippines for his involvement in the revolution and working with the Filipino people in overthrowing the Marcos regime. I had a bit to do with him over the years through social justice networks and my work with Caritas Australia.

‘A lot is achieved by people taking strong stands against injustice, but more change comes about through gentle encouragement, enabling people to see who they are and what they are doing is valuable.

‘I think of one of St Paul’s companions, who was given the name Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement”. Encouragement is central to the Christian mission. All of us need it and all of us can offer it to others. The most impressive people are generally not those at the centre of national or international decision-making but those who work, often without notice, in their own local communities, encouraging people others would prefer to forget about.’

Paul speaks about the importance of lifting up those who are ignored. He speaks about a basic need in all of us for encouragement and affirmation.

‘All of us need encouragement, and it is something anyone, no matter where they are, can offer to others.

‘You can see and hear of people doing wonderful things in terms of social justice, and feel as though your contribution is inadequate—but every person is able to provide encouragement to others.’

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