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...
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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...
Media release: 38 mayors and council leaders back calls to extend support to people seeking asylum
A coalition of mayors and council leaders from around the country have signed onto an open letter today, calling on the Federal Government to extend crucial supports to people seeking asylum affected by COVID-19. The...
Stronger independent oversight needed as time in immigration detention reaches record high, Refugee Council says
Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called for much stronger independent oversight of decisions to keep people in immigration detention, as the average length of time in detention blows out to a record high of 18...
Teachers and principals rally to ensure no children and families seeking asylum are left without support during COVID-19
A group of principals and teachers have this week launched the No Child Left Behind campaign, calling on the federal government to prevent children and families becoming homeless and destitute in the current economic...
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Latest publications
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
By John van Kooy Commissioned by Refugee Council of Australia Download the brief here Key points The ‘coronavirus recession’ has led to increased unemployment, underemployment and financial stress for many Australians ...
The impacts of COVID-19 on people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas
By John van Kooy Commissioned by the Refugee Council of Australia May 2020 This briefing focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on asylum seekers holding Bridging Visas (BVs “A”, “C” and “E”), and refugees on...
Seven Years On: An Overview of Australia Offshore Processing Policies
Download report here It has been seven years since 19 July 2013. On that date, the Australian Government announced that anyone who arrived in Australia by boat to seek protection and was taken to offshore processing...
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
Key issues noted about Australia’s immigration detention system: The increasing systemic cruelty of Australia’s immigration detention facilities The design, staffing and procedures of immigration detention follow a...
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.
RCOA Impact Report 2018-19
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 into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening The Character Test) Bill 2019
Our key concerns We welcome the opportunity to restate our significant concerns about this Bill. We have consistently expressed our profound concerns about the continuing expansion of executive powers under the visa...
