Latest News

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.

'The police had machine guns and they were shooting at us.'

Actor, writer and director Tony Le Nguyen fled Vietnam with his family in the wake of the Vietnam war.

Read more about: Tony's story

Follow @OzRefugeeCounc

A Just Australia

A Just Australia (AJA) was launched in July 2002 as a national policy lobby group campaigning for just policies and programs for refugees and asylum seekers.

The AJA campaign brings together over 11,500 individual supporters, 120 non-governmental organisations and over 70 prominent Australian Patrons.

AJA campaigns for policies toward refugees and asylum seekers that at all times reflect respect, decency and traditional Australian generosity to those in need, while advancing Australia’s international standing and national interests. We seek just and compassionate treatment of refugees, consistent with the human rights standards that Australia has developed and endorsed.

This campaign incorporates a series of public awareness activities including: lobbying in Canberra both to the Minister as well as individual politicians, public events and meetings, research and analysis on current issues for our monthly newsletter keeping advocates and supporters informed of the latest developments and actions they can take to help the campaign. AJA members, patrons and other refugee support organisations and individuals have contributed to the campaign by providing resources and active pubic awareness raising.

Merger with Refugee Council

On 14 December 2009, members of AJA voted in favour of a motion to merge with RCOA. The merger, supported overwhelmingly by AJA members, brought together two of the most significant independent voices on refugee policy. RCOA retained its formal structure, incorporating AJA as its public education and advocacy wing.

AJA National Coordinator Kate Gauthier joined RCOA’s staff as Communications Manager, while AJA Deputy Chair, Phil Glendenning, and former AJA Board Member Dr Judyth Watson, joined the RCOA Board.

The combination of RCOA’s resources and policy expertise and AJA’s campaigning and advocacy experience will widen our national networks and enhance our capacity to act in the interests of asylum seekers and refugees.

Utilising the policy expertise of RCOA, AJA will now be able to concentrate on its core skills of public awareness raising and positive engagement with the media.

For more information about AJA, visit www.ajustaustralia.com