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Australian Refugee Foundation
Refugee Week

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2012-13 Submission on the Refugee and Humanitarian Program

RCOA's annual submission on Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program is now available for download here.

2012-14 Refugee Week theme: 'Restoring Hope'

RCOA has chosen 'Restoring Hope' as the Refugee Week theme for 2012 to 2014. For further details, visit the Refugee Week website.

Plight of refugees with adverse ASIO findings raised with Canberra

RCOA has written to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon on the predicament of recognised refugees who remain in immigration detention because of adverse ASIO findings. Read the letter here.

Nauru is not an option

RCOA acted strongly to reject any return to offshore processing in Nauru following revelations the Federal Government was willing to negotiate with the Opposition on asylum seeker policy. Read our media release.

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.

 

Detention of asylum seekers

Australia's system of mandatory indefinite detention is in urgent need of reform.

Read more about: Mandatory detention

 

Purpose, aims and goals

In its strategic planning for the five years to 2015, the Refugee Council of Australia defined its Purpose, Aims and Goals in the following way:

Purpose

To work with its members in promoting the development of humane, lawful and constructive policies towards refugees and asylum seekers by Australian and other governments and their communities.

Aims

In order to achieve this purpose, the Council pursues the following aims:

(a) To act as a unifying organisation and to represent its members.
(b) To promote the empowerment of refugee communities and individuals in Australia and internationally and support the capacity building of Australia's refugee sector.
(c) To monitor, research and present information on issues relating to the needs and circumstances of refugees and asylum seekers.
(d) To assist governments and inter-governmental organisations to formulate policy and improve support and services for refugees and asylum seekers.
(e)

To increase public awareness and media sensitivity towards refugees and asylum seekers.

Goals 2011-2015

During the period 2011-2015 RCOA will work with its members towards:

  1. Promoting better opportunities and improved services and support for refugees settling in Australia;
  2. Promoting fairer government policies for people seeking asylum in Australia;
  3. Promoting more effective systems of international protection for refugees and asylum seekers;
  4. Promoting increased public support for refugees;
  5. Enhancing the capacity of RCOA to achieve its organisational goals.

These goals are outlined in more detail in RCOA's 2011-15 Strategic Plan.