Refugees trapped for years in Australia’s cruel offshore processing system are starting new lives in Canada after landing in Vancouver and Toronto yesterday (Dec 11). Eight refugees, who were sent to detention on Manus...
Media releases
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Lifting of travel restrictions welcome news for refugee visa holders
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed today’s announcement that fully vaccinated refugee and humanitarian visa holders will be able to enter Australia from 1 December 2021. RCOA chief executive officer...
Refugee Council celebrates 40 years
As the Refugee Council of Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary, CEO Paul Power says the organisation “sadly” is as essential as ever before for refugees to “get a fair go”. Mr Power said this was because political...
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA Refugee-led advocacy has been significantly boosted with the election of a former refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina as head of Australia’s peak body on refugee policy. Jasmina...
Refugee program smallest in 45 years while migration program quota filled
The Australian Government filled its Migration Program quota in 2020-21 but issued fewer than half of the available refugee and humanitarian visas, the Department of Home Affairs’ latest annual report reveals. The 2020...
Refugees trapped in Australia’s offshore detention to get new life in Canada
Media release October 17, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Ten refugees currently held in Australia’s cruel offshore detention system will be able to restart their lives in Canada...
International issues
Refugee Council calls on Foreign Minister to speak up about arbitrary detention in Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called on Foreign Minister Marise Payne to speak up about her government’s appalling record on immigration detention after she expressed public concern about the impacts of...
How restoring 20,000 lost refugee visas could save lives at risk in Afghanistan
After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of Australians supported calls for the Australian Government to respond generously, calling for a special intake of 20,000 places for...
Why additional places are needed for Australia’s refugee intake from Afghanistan
RCOA is calling on The Australian Government to provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas to refugees from Afghanistan in its new brief, included below. As outlined, there is an urgent need to go beyond the...
Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together
Media release August 24, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together The extraordinary collaboration of athletes, advocates and the Australian...
States step up for Afghanistan humanitarian arrivals
Media release: August 23, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia STATES STEP UP FOR AFGHAN HUMANITARIAN ARRIVALS The arrival in Perth of the first groups of Afghan nationals since the...
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups call on all Parliamentarians to respond to the crisis in Afghanistan
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups have signed on to a joint letter to all Federal MPs and Senators calling on them to take urgent action on the devastating situation in Afghanistan. The joint...
Asylum issues
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups call on all Parliamentarians to respond to the crisis in Afghanistan
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups have signed on to a joint letter to all Federal MPs and Senators calling on them to take urgent action on the devastating situation in Afghanistan. The joint...
Media release: Release of medevac refugees
Media release: Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the decision by the Federal Government to release dozens of refugees who were previously...
State Premiers warned to prepare to support 500 refugees being abandoned by Federal Government
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has written to five State Premiers to warn them to prepare for the Federal Government’s latest move to strip financial assistance from more than 500 refugees and people seeking...
ICC ruling should prompt Australian Government to accept New Zealand resettlement option
Human rights and refugee sector unite to call on Australian Government to get people detained in offshore detention to safety in the wake of ICC ruling. Australia’s peak human rights and refugee rights organisations...
The Medevac Legislation is working as intended and must be retained
The findings presented today by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee are a clear indication that the Medevac legislation is functioning as intended and should be retained, the Refugee Council of...
Medical crisis on Manus and Nauru escalates: Morrison Government must act to avoid further tragedy
Joint media release by the Medical Evacuation Response Group After six years of offshore detention there is an unprecedented medical crisis on Manus and Nauru. Men and women, who have been detained by the Australian...
