We promote humane and compassionate policies for people seeking safety in Australia and around the globe. While we cannot predict the wars, conflicts and oppressive regimes that will force people to seek asylum, we can...
Media & Publications
Read our latest publications here. You can also search or find here. For journalists, please see our Media centre.Latest media
1000 teachers, students and parents speak out for people seeking asylum during National Child Protection Week
1000 students, parents, teachers and educators – representing every state and territory – have released a public statement this week, calling on the Federal Government to extend support to families seeking asylum during...
The Refugee Council welcomes government plans for more flexible Adult Migrant English Program
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has today welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it plans to expand access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). RCOA chief executive officer Paul Power said...
Media release: New research shows huge economic costs of excluding people from support during pandemic
New research released today indicates that excluding refugees and people seeking asylum from financial support could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and exacerbate the nation’s health and homelessness...
Media release: Refugee Council deeply concerned for people in immigration detention as Mantra guard tests positive
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is deeply concerned for the safety of people detained at the Mantra Bell City hotel at Preston in Melbourne, after a security guard has tested positive for COVID-19. Over 60...
Response to Hong Kong crisis must focus on those at greatest risk: Refugee Council
The Australian Government must focus on providing protection to those at greatest risk from China’s imposition of national security laws on Hong Kong, to avoid being seen to exploit the crisis for business advantage...
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Latest publications
RCOA Impact Report 2019-20
We promote humane and compassionate policies for people seeking safety in Australia and around the globe. While we cannot predict the wars, conflicts and oppressive regimes that will force people to seek asylum, we can...
Submission to the inquiry into the impact of temporary migration
Download our submission here On 5 December 2019, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on Temporary Migration to inquire into and report on the impact temporary migration has on the Australian economy...
Submission to the inquiry into the working holiday maker program
The Australian economy has been substantially affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). In order to contain the spread of the virus, the Australian Government has closed its borders to all but citizens and permanent...
COVID-19 and humanitarian migrants on temporary visas: assessing the public costs
This paper estimates the impact of COVID-19. It finds that nearly 19,000 refugees and asylum seekers on temporary visas will lose their jobs because of the current economic downturn.
The impacts of COVID-19 on people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas
This briefing focuses on the impacts of COVID-19 on asylum seekers holding Bridging Visas (BVs “A”, “C” and “E”), and refugees on Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) and Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).
Seven years on: An overview of Australia’s offshore processing policies
This report aims to provide the key figures related to Australia's offshore processing policies, seven years on: how many people have been sent offshore, where people are now, where they were from, how many returned or...
Submission to the inquiry into strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region
Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the inquiry into strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region which is undertaken by Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs...
Submission to the inquiry on the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items In Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020
RCOA welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 and its likely impacts on people in detention, their families and support...
Refugee resettlement to fall short of national and global targets, as COVID-19 pandemic halts travel
Summary of April 2020 Working Group on Resettlement Briefing on Covid-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has put paid to the Australian Government reaching its target of 17,100 offshore refugee resettlement visas in 2019-20 and...
Concerns about systemic cruelty and arbitrariness in Australia’s immigration detention system raised with two United Nations bodies ahead of their visits to Australia
This report raises key issues about Australia's detention system to two UN bodies, and Australia's breach of its obligations under the Optional Protocol on the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
Keeping the Australian Government accountable: a guide
This guide is for refugees, people seeking asylum, and people advocating on their behalf. It provides information about different ways in which people can raise their issues with the government, and how they can find...
The use of non-judicial accountability mechanisms by the refugee sector in Australia
This report looks at the use of non-judicial accountability mechanisms, such as Parliament and the Australian Human Rights Commission, by the refugee sector in Australia.
