Latest News

New SGP funding round open

The latest funding round for the Settlement Grants Program (SGP) is now open. Click here for further details.

High Court ruling removes barrier for unaccompanied minors seeking family reunion

The High Court has ruled that it is not a requirement for the grant of an SHP visa for the sponsor to be under 18 both at the time of application and the time of decision. Read more here.

UNHCR ministerial meeting makes a 'quantum leap' on statelessness

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has described a recent ministerial-level meeting in Geneva as a 'quantum leap' forward in improving protections for stateless people. Read more here.

Refugee and asylum seeker policy on a positive pathway

RCOA has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government that it had begun to wind back its policy of indefinite mandatory detention for asylum seekers who enter Australia by boat. Read our media release.

Great new teachers' pack out now

RCOA, SBS and AIA have partnered to bring refugee and asylum facts into secondary schools. Our teachers pack is available as a free download.

'We forget that a lot of refugees have had a hard time.'

Journalist Michael Gawenda was born in a displaced persons camp in Austria, after his parents fled persecution in Poland.

Read more about: Michael's story

Follow @OzRefugeeCounc

Welcome

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is the national umbrella body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them. It has more than 140 organisational and 500 individual members. RCOA promotes the adoption of flexible, humane and practical policies towards refugees and asylum seekers both within Australia and internationally through conducting research, advocacy, policy analysis and community education.