The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed today’s announcement that fully vaccinated refugee and humanitarian visa holders will be able to enter Australia from 1 December 2021. RCOA chief executive officer...
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Refugee Council celebrates 40 years
As the Refugee Council of Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary, CEO Paul Power says the organisation “sadly” is as essential as ever before for refugees to “get a fair go”. Mr Power said this was because political...
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA Refugee-led advocacy has been significantly boosted with the election of a former refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina as head of Australia’s peak body on refugee policy. Jasmina...
Refugee program smallest in 45 years while migration program quota filled
The Australian Government filled its Migration Program quota in 2020-21 but issued fewer than half of the available refugee and humanitarian visas, the Department of Home Affairs’ latest annual report reveals. The 2020...
Refugees trapped in Australia’s offshore detention to get new life in Canada
Media release October 17, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Ten refugees currently held in Australia’s cruel offshore detention system will be able to restart their lives in Canada...
US, Canada and NZ support needed as Australia abandons refugees in PNG
Media release: US, CANADA AND NZ SUPPORT NEEDED AS AUSTRALIA ABANDONS REFUGEES IN PNG The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called on the governments of the United States, Canada and New Zealand to step...
How restoring 20,000 lost refugee visas could save lives at risk in Afghanistan
After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of Australians supported calls for the Australian Government to respond generously, calling for a special intake of 20,000 places for...
Why additional places are needed for Australia’s refugee intake from Afghanistan
RCOA is calling on The Australian Government to provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas to refugees from Afghanistan in its new brief, included below. As outlined, there is an urgent need to go beyond the...
Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together
Media release August 24, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together The extraordinary collaboration of athletes, advocates and the Australian...
States step up for Afghanistan humanitarian arrivals
Media release: August 23, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia STATES STEP UP FOR AFGHAN HUMANITARIAN ARRIVALS The arrival in Perth of the first groups of Afghan nationals since the...
