The State We're In, 7 July 2012. How an immigration official stopped detainees from killing themselves. How an Indian woman is now thriving after an acid attack damaged her face. And how a gay Palestinian man has finally found his real home.
Comment on this show or listen to previous shows.
Podcast feed
iTunes 
Like us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 
Add us on Google+ 
Aspiring singer-songwriter Peter Mitchell thought life was going to be easy in Australia’s public service.
But on his first day he was asked to tackle undocumented immigrants trying to escape.
He soon realized he had a knack for the job, and later became manager of the country’s most notorious immigration detention centre, Villawood.
His crowning achievement: talking detainees out of slitting their own throats.
After his time at Villawood, Peter Mitchell was assigned to run Operation Safe Haven, a temporary asylum for 4,000 refugees from Kosovo. They held a concert and Peter got to play a song he’d written especially for them: signing it changed the course of his life. View photos.
More: Peter Mitchell tells his story in the book Compassionate Bastard. Listen to Peter’s music here.
Shirin Juwaley in Mumbai, India had a bad feeling when she got married.
Her instincts were right: her new husband turned out to be abusive and after two months, she filed for divorce.
It was then that he threw acid on her face. Shirin tells host Jonathan Groubert how she’s put her life back together – on her terms.
Shirin often goes into schools to speak about what happened to her. But the principal of one girls’ college refused to let her enter.
RNW colleague, Dheera Sujan - who writes the blog South Asia Wired - wrote an open letter to the principal. Dheera joined Jonathan to describe the response her letter provoked - listen in new player.
More: Trial by fire: Shirin Juwaley acid attack survivor.
Shirin’s organization is Palash - helping reintegrate individuals with disfigurement.
Bad education - Mumbai Mirror.
More information on Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI).
The Invisible Man - listen in new player
Louie is Palestinian. When his family found out he was gay, they tried to kill him. So he fled to Tel Aviv. He survived by learning Hebrew, wearing a Star of David and living underground.
But after ten years he had to flee Israel. He tells Jonathan how he’s now found home in a cold place far, far away.
Louie is featured in the documentary The Invisible Men.
Email this Radio Show
Printer-friendly version
A very intriguing and inspiring story of the heartaches and satisfactions of working at the pointy ends of Australian public service and government policies. Well presented and thoughtful. Looking forward to reading Peter's book about his working life.
Thank you, Murray, albeit belatedly. Will pass on your compliments to Peter as well.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.