Advocacy
Policy Papers and Submissions
2026
Racism: the wounds and the barriers. Evidence, lived experience and practice implications
This document brings together consultation findings, practice insights and relevant literature to explore how racism shapes mental health and trauma recovery for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. Its central argument is that racism interrupts recovery because it undermines the conditions recovery depends on: safety, dignity, trust, belonging, connection and access to support.
This paper was prepared by Rima Flihan (Team Leader for Advocacy, Research and Training & Counsellor/Advocate), in collaboration with QPASTT practitioners and staff.
For enquiries, contact [email protected].
2025
FASSTT Submission to the Productivity Commission’s review of National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, August 2025
Response to the National Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, June 2025
Response to Youth Models of Care Consortium Survey, May 2025
Response to Youth Justice Initiatives, January 2025
2024
Submission to Making Queensland Safer Act 2024 – Queensland Parliament Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee, December 2024
FASSTT submission on National Suicide Prevention Strategy, November 2024
Response to General Foundational Supports discussion paper – Department of Social Services (Commonwealth), November 2024
Response to Enhancing Civil Protections and Remedies for Forced Marriage – Federal Department of Attorney General, October 2024
Submission to the Queensland Government Trauma Strategy, April 2024
Response to Priority Areas for Phase Two of the Inquiry into Youth Justice Reform in Queensland, March 2024
Submission to the Queensland Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, January 2024
2023
Submission from the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture
and Trauma to the Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, July 2023
Submission to the National Children’s Commissioner Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing, June 2023
Joint Submission from RAILS and QPASTT to the Parliamentary
Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, June 2023
QPASTT Submission to NDIS CALD Strategy, March 2023
Submission to the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program (Inclusion Round) Discussion Paper Submission, March 2023
Submission to the Joint Standing Committee Inquiry to the Role of Permanent Migration in Nation Building, February 2023
2022
Submission to the Queensland Youth Strategy Consultation, November 2022
Submission to the Queensland Housing Summit, October 2022
QPASTT Homelessness Brief for Partners and Stakeholders, October 2022
Submission to the Every Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Student Succeeding Plan, Consultation by the Queensland Department of Education, March 2022.
Submission to the Queensland Mental Health Select Committee Inquiry into Mental Health Outcomes, February 2022
2021
Submission to the Queensland Inquiry into Racial Vilification July, 2021
