Bikes for Refugees

BISA's Bikes For Refugees project recycles bikes in good condition and donates them, free of charge, to refugee families recently arrived in Australia.

Each year Australia accepts around 15,000 refugees, most of whom arrive on the Commonwealth humanitarian migration program. Most have spent several years, some up to a decade, in refugee camps and many have used bicycles in their countries of origin.

The project started in 2002, when the sister of a BISA member, travelling on a bus, heard several African people speaking in French. She struck up a conversation, and found that they had recently arrived from Congo, and also had been cyclists in Africa. She then asked her brother if BISA could help find 4 old bikes for these people. BISA members responded with a total of 18 bikes: 4 fully equipped ones to four new arrivals around Christmas, and another 14 to the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) a few months later.

The project has continued and currently recycles around 100 bikes a year to meet an ongoing need. The bikes go out as part of the ARA Household Goods program, which also helps people with furniture, linen, kitchen goods, etc. The scheme depends on volunteers to donate time and funds, with assistance from local businesses.

Thanks to all who have donated bikes and worked on their restoration. Each bike needed a couple of hours work: cleaning, checking and replacing tyres and cables. Special thanks to Clarke Cycles, Magill Road, for generous assistance with parts and advice. Thanks also to Lifecycle Bicycles for generous discounts on parts that enabled us to hand many bikes on with new tyres ready to go.

BISA are always happy to take bikes in good condition, to check, clean, and hand on to the Refugee Association. We are particularly keen to get bikes for children and teenagers - so if you have some that have been outgrown, please consider donating them. Contact Mike Brisco or 8365 7489 to arrange.

The Refugee Association also accepts donations of other household goods, in good condition, eg. furniture, soft furnishings, toys, etc. - to give out, as part of their Settlement program, to help newly arrived families. Please contact the ARA directly to discuss (telephone 8354 2951)  or see their website .
Report on 2009 Bikes for the Outback.