Latest News

Expanded excision law a new low in refugee protection The international system of asylum would collapse if other countries followed the lead of Australia in passing legislation to expand its excision policy to the entire country. Read more here.

Right to work fundamental for asylum seeker families Bridging visas issued to asylum seeker families who arrive by boat must include the right to work to ensure vulnerable people are not left destitute. Read more here.

Detention of children no longer a last resort The Australian Government is walking further away from its commitment to use detention as a last resort for minors by confirming plans to send children to immigration detention facilities in Darwin and Western Australia. Read more here.

People displaced by climate change require new solutions The crisis responses necessary and available to refugees will not be an answer to future displacement caused by climate change, the Refugee Council of Australia said today. Read more here.

Government urged to release children from Manus Island detention RCOA has backed a call by Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers member Paris Aristotle for the Australian Government to ur gently review the policy of keeping children in immigration detention on Manus Island. Read our media release here.

Parliament urged to support Bill to resolve indefinite detention RCOA has encouraged a Senate Committee to support a Bill before the Australian Parliament to provide alternatives to the prolonged and indefinite detention of recognised refugees with adverse ASIO security assessments. Read more here.

Opposition's denial of appeal rights more punishment for asylum seekers The Australian Opposition's proposal to deny asylum seekers arriving by boat access to an independent review of their refugee claim is further discrimination based on their mode of arrival. Read more here.

2013-14 Intake Submission released RCOA's submission on the 2013-14 Refugee and Humanitarian Program is now available for download here. The submission focuses on international refugee needs, the recommendations of the Expert Panel on asylum seekers and community processing of asylum seekers.

Regional refugee protection in Asia-Pacific is unfinished business The Australian Government must step up efforts to improve the inadequate levels of protection faced by refugees and asylum seekers that drive the movement of dangerous boat journeys from Asia to Australia. Read more here.

 

 

Refugee Week Resource Kit

The Resource Kit is designed to help event organisers and teachers prepare for Refugee Week. Click on the links below to download each section.

1. Background information on refugees: a brief introduction to refugees and refugee issues including definitions, basic facts and figures and a rundown of Australia's refugee program.

2. What is Refugee Week?: background information about the event.

3. Planning an event for Refugee Week: a detailed guide on event planning, including event ideas, tips for getting media coverage of your event, guidelines for working with people from refugee backgrounds and advice on evaluating the success of your event.

4. Myths and facts about refugees and asylum seekers: this chapter highlights some of the common myths about refugees and asylum seekers and aims to correct the record for people seeking accurate information about issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers.

5. Teacher resources: lesson plans, links to interesting websites with games and information specifically designed for kids, and ideas on how you can bring Refugee Week to your school.

6. Useful websites and refugee-related resources: links to key websites with refugee information packs as well as an extensive list of books, documentaries, films and online games focusing on refugee-related issues.

Appendix: sample event evaluation forms.