Churches offered sanctuary to the 267 refugees at risk of being returned to Nauru due to a failed High Court challenge and now Australia's teachers are adding their voices to the political push-back.
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Groups of ACT teachers this week took part in a nationwide peaceful protest by rallying and taking group photos with signs saying #LetThemStay, #standforsanctuary and #educationnotdetention.
The first group of ACT educators to take a stand were from the ANU Sociology Department posting images to Facebook and later on Wednesday afternoon a group of ACT high school teachers gathered at the foot of Mount Ainslie.
Many of those protesting were unwilling to identify themselves or the school at which they work.
On Thursday, a group at Richardson Primary School got involved showing solidarity online.
In a statement, an ACT Education Directorate spokesman reiterated the duties of teachers to ensure there was "no reasonable perception of conflict of interest between their private political opinions/activities and their official responsibilities".
"ACT public school teachers have a duty to maintain parliamentary and public confidence in the integrity, impartiality and political neutrality of the ACT Public Service," the statement read.
"However, teachers are free to exercise their democratic right to political expression during their own time (i.e. lunch break) to participate in an online campaign such as the #letthemstay campaign."
Australian Education Union ACT spokesman Tom Greenwell said he knew of educators from high schools, primary schools and colleges that felt compelled to take action.
"As a profession, we have a mission to advance the welfare of young people," he said.
"It's a spontaneous social media action that has taken off this week. We feel it is essential to make our voice heard and be part of the massive community conversation that is taking place."
Mr Greenwell said navigating the perception of political partiality was a "non-issue".
"Teachers know they have a right, like everybody else, to express their opinions, but obviously there is a clear firewall between the political opinions they express and what they do with students," he said.
"I think it's a good example of people being able to organise and take small but meaningful action on an issue which is of concern to so many."
