Ahead of the Federal Election, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has outlined three major issues that require immediate attention and action in 2022. ROCA is calling for: Priority 1: Finding real and lasting...
Media
Our media releases
Closure of Park Hotel detention welcome but more refugees need freedom
Today’s release of 23 refugees – eight from Melbourne’s Park Hotel and 15 from other detention centres – is a small but important step towards ending Australia’s cruel punishment of people who sought protection from...
Refugee Council of Australia welcomes final report on Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan
The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the final report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee’s inquiry on Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan. We endorse the recommendations and look...
Government listens to community pleas by adding 16,500 new places for Afghan refugees
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the announcement in the 2022 Federal Budget of 16,500 additional places for refugees from Afghanistan over the next four years. “By setting aside 16,500...
Australians welcome NZ’s generosity to refugees in offshore processing
Media release 24 March 2022 The New Zealand Government’s announcement today of 450 resettlement places over three years for refugees caught up in Australia’s offshore processing regime will be welcomed by millions of...
Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to provide temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainians
The Refugee Council of Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainian people seeking safety in Australia. “Enabling Ukrainian people to arrive in Australia and...
Refugee groups urge immediate action to reinstate humanitarian visas ahead of Federal Budget
The proposal includes 20,000 humanitarian visa places plus an additional intake of 20,000 places for refugees from Afghanistan. Community and refugee groups from across Australia have come together with the Refugee...
Support for Australian refugee communities impacted by coverage of crisis in Ukraine
As the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is concerned not only for the impact the conflict has on the enormous number of people forced to flee their homes and seek protection in...
Australians want a more open-hearted national response to refugees
The Australian Government must reverse its recent cuts to the Refugee and Humanitarian Program to meet community expectations that the nation can do more to respond to refugees displaced from escalating conflicts in...
Australia’s treatment of Afghan refugees
More than 23,000 Afghans have come to Australia – or sought to do so – to escape the Taliban, but although they are escaping the same crisis, their treatment in Australia has varied greatly, depending on their mode and...