'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.
Monthly bulletins
RCOA's monthly e-mail bulletins contain the latest news and information about our work, developments in refugee and asylum seeker policy, events, resources, opportunities and media coverage on refugee and asylum seeker issues.
If you would like to receive our monthly bulletins, please send an e-mail info@refugeecouncil.org.au with "Subscribe" in the subject line.
2012
| February | Plight of refugees with adverse ASIO findings raised with Canberra; Nauru is not an option; NGOs deplore Thailand’s forced deportation of refugee to Laos. |
2011
| December | RCOA turns 30; Asylum seeker processing on positive pathway; High Court ruling removes barrier for unaccompanied minors seeking family reunion. |
| November | Government shifts towards community processing of asylum applications; Intake freeze causes dismay; RCOA members, religious groups and unions back community processing. |
| October | Offshore policy revisited; Regional refugee protection network urged; Complementary protection legislation passed. |
| September | High Court scuttles Malaysia deal; More than 200 organisations call for humane asylum seeker policy; ACT takes lead on asylum seeker support. |
| August | High Court injunction suspends Malaysia deal; Planned reopening of Manus Island facility undermines regional cooperation; RCOA CEO and Board members visit Malaysia. |
| July | A risk based approach to immigration detention; Australian advocates take key concerns to Geneva; Refugee Week 2011 our most successful celebration ever. |
| June | Joint statement on the Nauru and Malaysian ‘solutions’; Urgent need for detention reform highlighted yet again; Asylum concerns raised with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. |
| May | Malaysia's appalling rights record ignored in refugee transfer deal; Federal Budget highlights blowout in detention costs; Government plans reopening of Pacific Solution detention centre. |
| April | RCOA calls for overhaul of immigration detention; RCOA calls for reform of security assessment processes for asylum seekers; Bali Process develops first regional agreement on irregular movement. |
| March | Complementary Protection Bill offers greater protection for vulnerable people; RCOA takes concerns to Parliament House; Minister announces new multicultural policy. |
| February | A missed opportunity to scrap an unfair system; Refugee arrests in Thailand highlight struggle for protection in South-East Asia; Grave concerns over Australia’s MoU with Afghanistan. |
2010
| December | High Court ruling a critical step towards fairer asylum system; Increase in self-harm amongst detainees highlights the need to review detention policy. |
| November | RCOA welcomes moves to release children from detention; Legislation on detention of humanitarian minors introduced to the Senate; RCOA presents policy concerns to Minister and Parliamentarians. |
| October | Australia ends suspension of Afghan asylum claims; RCOA calls for review of policy of indefinite mandatory detention; RCOA outlines refugee settlement priorities for new Parliament. |
| September | Refugee policy debate a low point in 2010 Federal election campaign; Issues to be taken up with new Federal Government; Concerns raised about impact of income management policy on refugee families |
| August | Joint statement on need for regional refugee protection framework; RCOA launches three new research reports on refugee settlement issues. |
| July | Refugee Week 2010 our most successful celebration to date; UNHCR statistics expose spin on asylum issues; Australian refugee representatives take concerns to UNHCR-global consultations. |
| June | Federal Opposition proposes harmful, inhumane refugee policy; Coalition of NGOs sends joint letter on asylum policy. |
| May | Reopening Curtin detention centre a step backwards for reform; Halt in refugee processing creates detention concerns; Anti-people smuggling legislation increases risk of harm to vulnerable groups. |
| April | 2009 UNHCR asylum statistics put Australia’s role into perspective; RCOA calls for change to handling of visa applications for people with disabilities. |
| March | New report highlights research on economic and social contributions of refugees; Assistant UN High Commissioner calls for end to distorted political debate about refugees. |
| February | RCOA and A Just Australia join forces; Challenging misleading statements about refugees. |
2009
| February | June | November |
| March | July | December |
| April | August | |
| May | September |
2008
| February | June | October |
| March | July | November |
| April | August | December |
| May | September |
2007
| February | May | December |
| March (1) | June | |
| March (2) | August | |
| April | November |