In April 2023, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, visited Australia for a three-day tour of meetings with Australian Government representatives, NGOs and people from refugee backgrounds...
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Refugee Council of Australia helps launch first Parliamentary Friends of Refugees Group
The Refugee Council of Australia, along with key organisations and communities in the refugee sector, will support the launch of the first-ever multi-party Parliamentary Friends of Refugees Group at Parliament House...
Refugee Council welcomes plan to end cruel temporary protection policy
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes the Albanese Government’s long-awaited announcement of its plans to end the cruel and unnecessary policy of temporary protection. “Today’s announcement from Immigration...
Refugee Council welcomes lifting of restriction on refugee family reunion
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes today’s announcement that the Albanese Government will abolish a ministerial direction which placed refugees who arrived by boat last in decisions about family reunion. ...
Human rights organisations condemn Albanese Government trying to push through a rushed Bill to force people back into detention
The Albanese Government introduced legislation that will force people recently released from immigration detention, including people seeking asylum and refugees, back into detention.
RCOA clarifies media misinterpretations of submission concerning Australia’s migration system
The Refugee Council of Australia responds to media misinterpretation of its submission on Australia's migration system.
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Latest publications
Submission on the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023
The Refugee Council of Australia made a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Education And Employment concerning the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023. RCOA welcomes...
Submission to the ‘Migration, Pathway to Nation Building’ Inquiry
The Refugee Council of Australia’s made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s inquiry into Migration, Pathway to Nation Building. Australia has welcomed 950,000 refugees and...
Submission to the review of the Workforce Australia employment services system
Since the Refugee Council of Australia began its work in 1981, we have consistently seen and documented how refugees who come to Australia and seek protection or who are resettled, are strongly motivated to rebuild...
Complementary pathways for refugees: Policy principles
Australia has established, is piloting or has the potential to introduce a range of complementary migration pathways for refugees and others in humanitarian need beyond Australia’s long-standing and vital commitment to...
Refugee Response Index Australia Review: Making the international refugee system work (Pillar 6)
The following presents the key findings from the application of the Refugee Response Index (RRI) to the Australia context, focusing on Pillar 6 of the RRI: Making the international refugee system work. Refugee Response...
Refugee Response Index Australia Review: Towards durable solutions (Pillar 5)
The following presents the key findings from the application of the Refugee Response Index (RRI) to the Australia context, focusing on Pillar 5 of the RRI: Towards durable solutions. Refugee Response Index (RRI)...
Refugee Response Index Australia Review: Recognition as refugees (Pillar 2)
This report presents interim findings from the application of the Refugee Response Index (RRI) to the Australia context, focusing on Pillar 1 of the RRI on ‘Access to Asylum’. The RRI is a civil society led initiative...
Breaking the link between onshore protection and offshore resettlement
How separating onshore refugee protection visas from overseas humanitarian resettlement will help address Australia’s messy visa system For over 25 years, there has been an artificially constructed link between the...
Industry accreditation as a barrier to employment: A case study – Dentistry
Policy Brief As the Australian Government considers how to create pathways to more employment opportunities for more Australians in the context of low unemployment rates and significant skills shortages,[1] this brief...
Submission on the Migration Amendment (Evacuation To Safety) Bill 2023
The Refugee Council urges Federal Parliamentarians to support this Bill to evacuate people held in offshore processing to safety while they wait for a durable solution. This Bill sets out a constructive option...
Post-WW2 refugee arrivals to pass 950,000 in 2023
The number of refugee and humanitarian entrants welcomed to Australia since World War II will pass 950,000 in the early months of 2023. Australian Government statistics show that 940,159 refugee and humanitarian...
UN Committee Against Torture notes concerns about Australia’s refugee policies
RCOA has urged the Australian Government to act on a new United Nations Committee Against Torture report which highlights breaches of international law in Australia’s treatment of refugees. RCOA, together with the...
