Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)

Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) We are Australia's national umbrella body for refugees and people seeking protection, and the organisations and individuals who support them.

15/09/2026

Anoulack arrived in Australia as a young boy in 1984.

After attending the local public primary and high schools, he got a degree in economics.

He’s since gone on to become the MP for the state electorate of Macquarie Fields, NSW, and is the NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading; Building; Industry and Trade; Innovation, Technology and Science; and Corrections.

This is his story.

Australia’s migration and refugee protection systems are facing significant changes, including a proposal to remove work...
09/09/2026

Australia’s migration and refugee protection systems are facing significant changes, including a proposal to remove work rights for people seeking asylum.

As protection claims are processed, sometimes over years, people need the ability to support themselves. Rather than solving a problem, removing work rights for people seeking our protection would create new ones.

Write to your Federal MP now to protect fairness in Australia’s migration system: https://action.refugeecouncil.org.au/protect-fairness-migration-email-your-mp

In last weekend's The Saturday Paper, our Refugee Ambassador Atena Kashani shared her experience of having her work righ...
03/09/2026

In last weekend's The Saturday Paper, our Refugee Ambassador Atena Kashani shared her experience of having her work rights suddenly removed after living in Australia for 10 years.

Atena and her mother were both employed at the time, while her father ran a business. All three of them had to resign.

The Federal Government's proposed changes to Australia's migration system would put many other people seeking protection in Australia in the same position.

Read more: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/immigration/2026/08/29/inside-labors-migration-crackdown

It was a relief last Thursday to welcome the news that the Albanese Government would maintain the Refugee and Humanitari...
31/08/2026

It was a relief last Thursday to welcome the news that the Albanese Government would maintain the Refugee and Humanitarian Program at 20,000 places per year, following reports from earlier in the day that the program would be cut by nearly a third.

We'll continue our advocacy to protect the humanitarian program, and push the Albanese Government to its goal of 27,000 places in the years to come.

According to ABC News, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has "guaranteed" the Refugee and Humanitarian Program will not be...
27/08/2026

According to ABC News, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has "guaranteed" the Refugee and Humanitarian Program will not be cut, despite reports earlier today that the program would be cut by 6,250 places.

While this is extremely welcome news, we should not and will not cease our advocacy for the protection of the humanitarian program. We will continue our calls for:
- the Refugee and Humanitarian Program to be maintained, strongly opposing any efforts to reduce it
- the expansion of protection pathways in addition to the 20,000 places currently offered by the program
- Australia to continue to play a constructive international role in refugee protection

We will also continue our work to fight for fairness in Australia’s migration and refugee protection system.

Together, we can push for a humanitarian program and protection system that upholds fairness and compassion.

❗BREAKING: There's media speculation that the Albanese Government will cut the humanitarian program by almost a third.If...
27/08/2026

❗BREAKING: There's media speculation that the Albanese Government will cut the humanitarian program by almost a third.

If it goes ahead, the Government would not only betray values held dear by its Party's own members and supporters, but its Party platform, which has held the goal of increasing the humanitarian program to 27,000 places for over a decade.

Read our statement to the media: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/proposed-refugee-program-cut-betray-labor-party-values/

Migration is too important to be left to reactive policymaking or political bidding wars. It's time for an evidence-base...
19/08/2026

Migration is too important to be left to reactive policymaking or political bidding wars. It's time for an evidence-based national conversation about a migration system for the future.

We've joined business and civil society organisations to call on the Australian Government to convene a National Migration Summit this year.

Read our joint statement: https://www.ssi.org.au/national-migration-summit/

The Federal Government has proposed major changes to Australia’s migration system that could have serious consequences f...
18/08/2026

The Federal Government has proposed major changes to Australia’s migration system that could have serious consequences for refugees, people seeking asylum and migrant families.

Write to your Federal MP today and urge them to protect fairness, rights and family unity in Australia’s migration and refugee protection system. https://action.refugeecouncil.org.au/protect-fairness-migration-email-your-mp

Address

Surry Hills, NSW

Telephone

+61292119333

Website

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