Frequently asked questions

Who are refugees?

The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (and its 1967 Protocol), to which Australia is a signatory, defines a refugee as:

“Any person who owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country.”

This definition is used by the Australian Government to determine whether our country has protection obligations towards an individual. If a person is found to be a refugee, Australia is obliged under international law to offer support and to ensure that the person is not sent back unwillingly to the country of origin.

For further information, see Who are refugees?

What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is a person who has sought protection as a refugee, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been assessed. Every refugee has at some point been an asylum seeker. Those asylum seekers who are found to be refugees are entitled to international protection and assistance. Those are found not to be refugees, nor to be in need of any other form of international protection, can be sent back to their country of origin.

What is the difference between a refugee and a migrant?

A migrant is someone who chooses to leave their country to seek a better life elsewhere. They make a conscious choice to come to leave their country and they can return whenever they like. Before they decided to leave their country, migrants can seek information about their new home, study the language and explore employment opportunities. They can take their belongings with them and say goodbye to the important people in their lives. They are free to return home at any time if things don’t work out as they had hoped, if they get homesick or if they wish to visit family members and friends left behind.

Refugees are forced to leave their country because they are at risk of, or have experienced, persecution. Their concerns of refugees are human rights and safety, not economic advantage. Refugees have been forced to leave behind their homes, most or all of their belongings, family members and friends. Some are forced to flee with no warning and many have experienced significant trauma or been tortured or otherwise ill-treated. The journey to safety is fraught with hazard and many refugees risk their lives in search of protection. They cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves.

Because refugees and migrants are different groups of people, with different pre-arrival experiences, it is important that the distinction be made in the services provided. Refugees have needs distinct from and additional to migrants, in particular in relation to torture and trauma counselling, secure housing and medical care.

Are asylum seekers who arrive by boat “illegal immigrants”?

No. Asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat are neither engaging in illegal activity, nor are they immigrants. Both international and Australian law permit unauthorised entry into Australia for the purposes of seeking asylum. Asylum seekers do not break any Australian laws simply by arriving on boats or without authorisation. It is also incorrect to refer to asylum seekers as immigrants. Refugees, unlike immigrants, are forced to leave their country and cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves. The concerns of refugees are human rights and safety, not economic advantage.

For further information, see our page on common myths about refugees and asylum seekers.

Are asylum seekers “queue jumpers”?

No. Applying for protection onshore is not a means of bypassing the “correct” process of applying for protection, but is in fact the standard procedure for seeking protection. Every refugee in the world has, at some point, entered another country to seek asylum.

The vast majority of the world’s refugees either return home once conditions which forced them to leave have improved, or settle permanently in the country where they sought asylum. For some refugees, however, these solutions are not possible and it may be necessary for them to be resettled in a third country. However, there is no resettlement “queue” which onshore applicants are trying to evade. Resettlement is intended to be a complement to, not a substitute for, providing protection to refugees who apply for asylum onshore. It is a way of providing a solution for refugees who have been unable to find effective protection elsewhere, but is certainly not the standard or only “legitimate” way to find protection – it’s simply a different solution based on different circumstances. In fact, only a tiny minority (less than one per cent) of the world’s refugees are resettled in third countries.

For further information, see our page on common myths about refugees and asylum seekers.

Do refugees receive higher social security payments than age pensioners?

No. A refugee who has permanent residency in Australia receives exactly the same social security benefits as any Australian-born person in the same circumstances. This myth originated from a blatantly inaccurate e-mail which has been circulating in various forms since 2007.

For further information, see our page on hoax e-mails.

How many refugees does Australia settle each year?

The current size of Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program is 13,750. This includes 6,000 places for recognised refugees referred by UNHCR; and 7,750 places for the Special Humanitarian Program and onshore applicants. For further information, see Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program.

How can I assist refugees and asylum seekers?

Click here for information on how you can help refugees and asylum seekers.

Can I volunteer or undertake an internship with RCOA?

Yes. Positions are periodically available at RCOA in the areas of research, policy analysis, media and public relations, event coordination, fundraising and administration. Opportunities are primarily available at our Sydney office (located in Surry Hills) and occasionally in our Melbourne office (located in the Melbourne CBD). For further information, see our volunteering page.

How can I donate to RCOA?

See our donations page.