In July 2013, Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that asylum seekers who arrived by boat wouldn’t be allowed to settle in Australia.  

But before this announcement was made, at least thirty thousand asylum seekers were allowed out of detention and into communities on bridging visas, meaning they could live in Australia, but couldn’t work or study. 
Five Asylum seekers, living on bridging visas in Western Sydney, waiting for the government to decide if they can stay, are now opening up with their experiences. 
Their stories, ranging from the tragic to the comedic, are being told on stage by a group of Australian actors; for fear that speaking out themselves would land them back in detention. 
Ninah Kopel with this story. 


NinahKopel