The Australian Government’s review of its Community Support Program (CSP) has highlighted the urgent need for a new model of community sponsorship of refugees which is more affordable, less discriminatory and better...
Media & Publications
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Refugee Council welcomes NSW Government $6 million emergency package for people seeking asylum
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed a new NSW Government emergency support package as a much-needed response to growing destitution among people seeking asylum. RCOA CEO Paul Power said the NSW...
After eight years of offshore processing, where to from here?
Background about 19 July decision and its bipartisan support Eight years ago, on 19 July 2013, then Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, made an announcement that further hardened the newly-restarted offshore processing...
Being LGBTIQ+ and seeking asylum during COVID
Media release: July 2, 2021 BEING LGBTIQ+ AND SEEKING ASYLUM DURING COVID Understanding mental health considerations of LGBTIQ+ people who are seeking asylum or are refugees during COVID, is just one of the...
Refugee Alternatives Conference Virtual Announcement
In light of recent government restrictions and the ongoing developments of COVID-19 in NSW, we have made the difficult decision to take our Refugee Alternatives Conference co-hosted by Whitlam Institute within Western...
Meet our Refugee Week ambassadors
Media release June 11, 2021 They’ve created YouTube music channels, been on major TV shows, won international Karate tournaments and picked up multiple awards for advocacy. That’s just a few of the achievements among...
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Latest publications
Rebuilding a Responsive and Strategic Refugee Program: Response to the Australian Government Discussion Paper on the 2021-22 Humanitarian Program
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes the opportunity to provide its views in response to the Australian Government’s discussion paper on Australia’s Humanitarian Program in 2021-22. As the national community...
Submission to the inquiry into the efficacy, fairness, timeliness and costs of the processing and granting of visa classes which provide for or allow for family and partner reunions
For many years, RCOA has raised concerns about the dismal number and the extraordinary costs of family reunion visas for refugee communities. In 2016, we released a report Address the Pain of Family...
The Federal Budget: What it means for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection
What does the Federal Budget hold for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection? This analysis provides a full briefing of those changes.
Joint submission to the Universal Periodic Review: Papua New Guinea
In November 2021, the human rights record of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will face scrutiny when the PNG Government appears before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for the third periodic review of its human...
Submission on pushback practices and their impact on the human rights of migrants
On 1 February 2021, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants. The submission was made in response to the Special...
Submission on the Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill 2020
On 19 February 2021 the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening...
UN member states challenge Australia’s refugee and asylum policies
Forty-seven UN member states raised concerns about and recommended changes to the Australian Government’s refugee, asylum and immigration detention policies when Australia’s human rights record came up for its third...
Homelessness and hunger among people seeking asylum during COVID-19
In August 2020, the Refugee Council of Australia surveyed charities, asylum support agencies and volunteer groups to understand better the situation that they and their clients are facing as a result of the COVID-19...
The Federal Budget: What it means for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection
What does the Federal Budget hold for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection? This analysis provides a full briefing of those changes.
Submission to the inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities in Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the Inquiry into Issues Facing Diaspora Communities which is undertaken by Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Download the...
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...
