Dear John

You may have noticed that asylum seekers are in the news again. And yet again they are connected to some controversy. So I have decided to write to John (Howard, that is, we're not on a first name basis, not just yet). I write to encourage him to reconsider the revision of Australia's immigration policy and the way it impacts on asylum seekers. You may recall that it took many years and the consistent lobbying of community and asylum seeker and refugee advocates to help alter the government's policy on children in detention. The proposed changes are effectively a step backward from the government's recent progress.

Although I write to John, I understand that he is a busy man and cannot personally respond to all the letters he must receive. I am sure, however, that I will get a nice letter from the relevant department.

It does make me wonder if my letter will make a difference, and if it doesn't, what is the point of doing it? You may have had a similar experience. Perhaps it doesn't matter whether I choose to write or not to write, but if lots of other people make the same choice then it will make a difference.

I was reminded last week of the importance of creating change, no matter how small, within my own backyard. My neighbour asked me about Voluntary Student Unionism and what it will mean for students. All she had read about in the papers (and mind you she reads the Herald Sun) was that union fees were just for sports and childcare. For the first time, I was really glad to have been able to answer her question. I knew something about an issue that really mattered! And that made the world of difference to me, even if it doesn't make a difference to anyone else.