FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 February 2019 Today’s historic vote on the urgent medical treatment bill delivered a decisive message to the government: Australians want an end to the abhorrent treatment of people in...
Members hub
Members are the lifeblood of the Refugee Council of Australia's work. Our aim is to represent you and support you in changing Australia's refugee policies.This page highlights the work we are doing to represent you, and brings together resources that may help you in your work supporting refugees.
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Raising your voice
Australian Government agencies must explain their role in Hakeem Al-Araibi’s arrest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12 FEBRUARY 2019 The Australian Government owes Hakeem Al-Araibi a full explanation of the role played by government agencies in the circumstances which led to his arrest and...
Tools to support refugees and people seeking asylum
Factsheets for service providers
The Cultural Atlas (SBS)
The Cultural Atlas is an online atlas including over fifty countries representing Australia’s largest migrant populations. It provides a comprehensive guide to each country, describing the dominant culture of each...
Information for employers
This video is a collaboration between Think and Colour and Diversitat, a not-for-profit charitable community service organisation that supports culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, and the...
Information for people supporting people seeking asylum
Attending Departmental interviews This factsheet is provided by Refugee & Advice Casework Service, a legal organisation that helps refugees in Sydney. It was last upated in March 2016. This factsheet is designed to...
Fast-tracking decisions
This table lists decisions by federal courts relating to the new system of refugee status determination for people who came by boat, known as 'fast tracking'.
Getting involved in the annual UNHCR-NGO Consultations in Geneva: a guide
This is a brief guide for those Australian organisations and individuals that are considering participating in the annual UNHCR-NGO Consultations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Impact of university scholarships for TPV and SHEV Holders receiving Special Benefit income support
This page explains the impact of university and further education scholarships on people on a Commonwealth income payment.
Information for lawyers
This fact sheet explains some parts of the law about who is a refugee and what is 'complementary protection'.
Information for people supporting people in detention
This fact sheet is for people wanting to assist people seeking asylum in immigration detention who appear to be suffering harm because of their prolonged detention.
Recent reports of interest
Service responses for people with disabilities from refugee backgrounds in Northern Melbourne
A new report looks at the problems of people with disabilities from a refugee background in northern Melbourne. The difficulties of those in need of disability support in getting appropriate support are made even more...
Red Cross celebrates 25 years of supporting people seeking asylum
In 2018, Australian Red Cross found out it would no longer be funded by the Australian Government to provide support to people seeking asylum under the Status Resolution Support Services program. The end of the...
UNHCR Global Trends 2017 – How Australia compares with the world
UNHCR's latest Global Trends report highlights that at the end of 2017, global displacement has reached yet another new record high of 68.5 million individuals, an increase of 2.9 million since 2016. Each year, UNHCR...
Lethal hopelessness: Understanding and responding to asylum seeker distress and mental deterioration
This article explores the mental health crisis among people seeking asylum in the community, and recommends a trauma-informed response for service providers.
Labour migration as complementary pathways for refugees in the Asia-Pacific
This paper from the Lowy Institute looks at he nature of abour migration in the Asia-Pacific region, and its relationship to pathways for people seeking asylum. It aims to identify ways in which countries can extend...
Cancelling visas on ‘character’ grounds: The Ombudsman reports
The Commonwealth Ombudsman has published a report investigating the administration of the process of visa cancellations as a result of the Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Act passed in 2014...
