28 July 2026 As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Australian Government to uphold its commitment to the international protection system...
Media releases
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Forced returns, withdrawal of aid and cuts to resettlement leave refugees at greater risk
19 June 2026 Massive cuts to humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement and an alarming increase in forced returns are making life much more difficult and dangerous for the world’s refugees. An analysis of the latest...
Australia called on to strengthen refugee protection as resettlement placements decline
16 June 2026 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Federal Government to maintain its commitment to Australia’s Humanitarian Program, as new United Nations projections for 2027 show that 2.37...
Refugee Week 2026 celebrates a million stories
29 May 2026 Refugee Week, Australia’s premier celebration recognising the contributions of refugees, returns from 14 to 20 June. This year marks a major milestone: the 40th anniversary of Refugee Week in Australia, with...
2026-27 Federal Budget: What it means for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection
13 May 2026 2026-27 Federal Budget Key points: Welcome funding to better recognise the skills of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Spending on offshore detention and processing in 2025-26 was $971.6...
Refugee Council welcomes Budget allocation for skills recognition reform but troubled by offshore detention cost blowout
13 May 2026 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the Australian Government’s funding support in the 2026-27 Budget for better recognition of the skills of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, but...
Asylum issues
Government welcomes five soccer players while bolting the door closed for others
10 March 2026 On the day that five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team were given humanitarian visas to protect them from possible persecution in Iran, the Albanese Government has introduced legislation...
Refugee Council welcomes protection visas for Iranian women’s soccer team
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes the decision to grant humanitarian visas to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team currently in Australia. This decision recognises the serious safety concerns...
Australia must continue to stand with Ukrainians seeking safety
24 Feb 2026 Today marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Millions of lives have been turned upside down. Nearly six million people have fled Ukraine and are now living as refugees around the...
Refugee Council calls for immediate suspension of Nauruan arrangement amid serious corruption allegations
26 November 2025 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called for the Australian Government to immediately suspend its reception arrangement with Nauru, amid reports of serious corruption and indications that the...
Refugee Council calls for Parliamentary Inquiry into allegations of corruption and mismanagement in Offshore Processing
10 November 2025 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into serious allegations surrounding the management of offshore detention and reception centres in Nauru. The call follows...
First deportation under multi-billion dollar Nauru deal a dark new chapter for Australia
Human rights organisations have condemned the Albanese Government’s first deportation to Nauru under its new secret offshore deal, calling it a shameful breach of Australia’s values of fairness, equality and justice...
International issues
Australia must increase pressure on Myanmar after fraudulent election
17 March 2026 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is urging the Australian Government to push for renewed international action on the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, as the country’s military junta convenes a new...
Refugee Council warns of risks to Afghan-Australians amid speculation of embassy closure
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is deeply concerned by alarming reports that the Canberra-based Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan may soon close, following pressure from the Department of Foreign...
Refugee Council’s letter to Foreign Minister Penny Wong regarding Sudan
6 November 2025 We have written to Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly regarding the escalating crisis in Sudan. While the announcement of an additional $10...
Refugee Council welcomes Sudan support, but pushes for a consistent, clear pathway to safety
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes the Federal Government’s acknowledgement of the devastating conflict in Sudan, and the announcement of an extra $10 million in humanitarian assistance to support...
Australia must act with urgency as Sudan crisis worsens
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Australian Government to urgently increase its response to the worsening situation in Sudan, which the United Nations has called the world’s largest...
Refugee Council urges Australia to reject US efforts to undermine protection for people fleeing persecution
24 September 2025 The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has joined more than 270 refugee and human rights organisations around the world in a joint letter urging governments to defend the rights of people fleeing...
