Jess Scully: A humanitarian at home

In celebration of World Humanitarian Day this 19 August, we spotlight Jess Scully —author, city-maker, advocate and supporter of the Asylum Seekers Centre. 

For Jess, being a humanitarian is within reach for all of us.

“Sydney’s best face forward of welcome”

The former Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney is a long-time advocate for the Asylum Seekers Centre, which she calls “Sydney’s best face forward of welcome.”

This comes from a deep personal passion. Jess’ mother fled Chile in the 1970s; her father came from India.

 “It’s hard for people to change their lives…”

“I know how important it is to have people who’ve been there before, who can give advice, suggest places to live. That sense of welcome shapes generations.”

Jess became a supporter of the Asylum Seekers Centre in 2017. 

“I was so excited to learn that there was a place in my community that people could go to and be welcomed. 

“People who’ve been through a lot just need a helping hand… a place to land, a place to connect, make friends, get support, and access opportunities.”

Jess has continued to be an active advocate for the Centre and the people we support, including speaking at our events and amplifying our social media campaigns.

Strangers into neighbours

For Jess, the Asylum Seekers Centre turns newcomers into neighbours. 

“From the perspective of a person who was a civic leader and who’s really involved in my local community, it’s really useful and important to have a place where we can make contact and where we can direct support.

“It makes people seeking asylum in our community into our neighbors when we know that there’s a place like the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown.”

The power of storytelling

Jess, who has spent her career at the intersection of creativity and civic life, sees storytelling as critical in addressing humanitarian challenges.

“I love the relationship the Centre has with artists and storytellers.” 

Too often, she says, people seeking asylum are misrepresented.

“When our governments and media are demonising people seeking asylum, quite often they’re not able to advocate for themselves or their families.

“So the role that creatives and organisations like the Asylum Seekers Centre can play is to be a conduit – to help tell those stories when people can’t do it for themselves.”

Even the story of the building matters. 

“It’s very visible from the train line, very colourful with a beautiful mural.

“It really makes it feel like a beacon, or a welcome mat, or a lantern, a lighthouse…

“All of those visual metaphors tell us: people we may not know are going through these really challenging experiences. And there’s a home, a place where they can connect. That makes us neighbours.”

Local effort to global impact

In a world overwhelmed by crisis, Jess believes in the power of local, sustained action.

“Being connected to an organisation like the Asylum Seekers Centre for me is a way of having impact.”

“It’s like the local way of being part of the positive solutions in the face of all of these global challenges. I think that’s how regular giving is useful.”

We are all humanitarians

Reflecting on World Humanitarian Day, Jess believes that everyone should consider themselves as humanitarian.

“If we’re able to just take a little bit of that incredible privilege that we have and share it back… we’re doing something in the service of shared humanity.” 

She believes each individual has the power in their different fields and communities to make an impact. 

“The word humanitarian sounds very formal and official. But being a humanitarian to me is just caring for your fellow humans and wanting everyone to have access to opportunity and to flourish.

“I don’t need to be an expert on all the issues and challenges faced by people seeking asylum: I know the Asylum Seekers Centre are the experts, and I just need to chip in a little each month to help them do their work.”

*Join Jess in caring for fellow humans – become a regular donor today.