Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) in Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia | Social service

Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)

Locality: Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9211 9333

Address: Suite 4A6, 410 Elizabeth Street 2010 Surry Hills, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au

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25.01.2022 As part of our No Child Left Behind campaign to ensure children and families have adequate support during Covid-19, we are working with educators, students and parents across the country. We know that schools are powerful voices when it comes to issues of child protection. That's why we are launching the National Week of Solidarity, a week of events and action happening during National Child Protection Week, September 6-12. If you're an educator, student or parent, help us ...spread the word about this event in your communities. Everything you need can be found here: https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/national_week_of_solid Most importantly we have two upcoming webinar information sessions to answer all your questions about the week. The webinars are happening: Tuesday 4 August, 6pm AEST/5.30pm ACST/4pm AWST Wednesday 19 August, 6pm AEST/5.30pm ACST/4pm You can register at the link below!

24.01.2022 People on temporary protection visas have been found to be owed protection, yet languish in uncertainty, with limited prospects of a permanent visa. Our country is suffering huge shortages in workforce right across the country in critical industries such as horticulture, aged care, meat production, child care and cleaning. We are advocating for a new initiative to provide people on TPV/SHEV visas with a permanent visa if they complete 1 year of work in a critical industry t...o help in the Covid-19 recovery. We are heartened by the positive response this proposal has received by Liberal, National and Labor MPs. We are seeking feedback on this idea directly from people on TPV/SHEVs - please see the post above for more information!

23.01.2022 Jobs at RCOA open up only very rarely, but we do currently have a position available for a Media and Campaigns Officer (maternity leave cover). Check it out below and get in touch if you think you might be the right person for the job:

22.01.2022 Last night Australian Human Rights Commission Commissioner Ed Santow called on the government to include people seeking asylum in safety nets. If you missed th...e Solidarity Assembly webinar, hosted during this National Week of Solidarity, you can watch the repeat tomorrow: https://loom.ly/TY-qqAA #NoChildLeftBehind

22.01.2022 Joe Biden has announced some of the changes he will make on Day 1 of his presidency. Many of them are very welcome news for refugees, migrants and displaced people in the US and globally. They include rescinding the hugely discriminatory so-called 'Muslim-ban', as well as a temporary moratorium on deportations while the system is reviewed, and legislation to provide pathways to citizenship for young people who have immigrated to the US.

20.01.2022 Sandy*, his wife and two daughters, have lost most of their work as a result of Covid-19, yet unlike most of his colleagues, he and his wife aren't eligible for any form of social security. He and his family are struggling to make ends meet. What kind of society do we live in where people are struggling to buy food, pay rent and are at risk of homelessness during a pandemic? Read more stories from the front line here - https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/stories... *not his real name

20.01.2022 ICYMI - RCOA's Deena Yako made headlines last week discussing nonsensical translations of COVID-19 information intended for migrant and refugee communities:

19.01.2022 Next week is National Child Protection Week. To mark this week we are calling on schools, education institutions, community groups and members of the public to help us raise awareness about the issue facing roughly 16,000 children and young people seeking asylum. Without proper supports from the Federal government, many families seeking asylum are struggling through the pandemic, with many at risk of homelessness and destitution. There are a number of ways you can get involv...ed in the the Week of Solidarity to support #NoChildLeftBehind. Learn more about the week and get involved here: https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/national_week_of_solid

19.01.2022 Today marks #7yearstoolong of offshore detention with no solution. Join Moz and hundreds around the country in lighting a candle tonight in solidarity with those detained for no crime. These people have suffered enough. Were calling for our government to resettle people safely now.

18.01.2022 COVID-19 could push over 70 million people around the world into extreme poverty - and we all need to play our part! Click the link below and sign the @EndCOVIDForAll pledge to stand in solidarity with all our neighbours.... #EndCOVIDForAll

17.01.2022 We hosted an amazing webinar on Tuesday night featuring the incredible Shabnam Safa, Shukufa Tahirir, Hani Abdile and Human Rights Commissioner Ed Santow. You can still watch it if you missed out. RSVP to our special re screening tonight at 5pm AEST:... https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/nws_webinar_2 See more

17.01.2022 Our friends at City of Sydney are hosting the Youth Leadership Conference 2020. They would like to invite all young people across NSW to participate. This leadership conference aims to empower young people to become more impactful leaders with resilience and grit. The conference focuses on exploring the idea of growth mindset - we can grow our brains capacity to learn and to solve problems, and coach young people to develop a growth mindset. For more information and to RSVP, visit: https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au//youth-leadership-

15.01.2022 Last week was National Child Protection Week. Thousands of students, teachers and parents added their voice to the call for the government to ensure people seeking asylum have the support they need during Covid-19. Learn more about the campaign at: www.nochildleftbehind.com.au

14.01.2022 BREAKING: This morning, we released new research showing the staggering social and financial costs of not extending COVID-19 lifelines to people seeking asylum and refugees at this time: - Almost 19 000 people will lose their jobs, with a doubling of unemployment in this cohort. 92% of those who retain their job will earn less than the minimum wage. ... - As a result, thousands of people will be pushed into poor health and homelessness. Not only is this a deplorable way to treat people (including up to 16 000 children), it could cost taxpayers over $200 MILLION/YEAR in dealing with this crisis. The government is choosing to treat people this way and in doing so is wasting vast sums of money in the middle of a recession. The ABC reports here: https://www.abc.net.au//coronavirus-recession-re/12503874 Read the full report here: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/covid-19-assessing-the-p/ Read our release: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/media-release-new-resear/ Join thousands of people in calling on our Government to ensure there is #NobodyLeftBehind in this crisis: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/no-child-left-behind/

14.01.2022 Next week, check out RCOA's Sahar Okhovat as she joins a stellar line up to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on stateless persons, refugees and asylum seekers who seek protection in Australia. Grab your (free) tickets here:

14.01.2022 RCOA made a submission to the Inquiry into Temporary Migration. We highlighted our longstanding concerns about the situation for refugee and people seeking asylum on temporary visas. This situation has been further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read our submission here - https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/temporary-migration-inqu/

13.01.2022 A new report launched by The Migrant Worker Justice Initiative has found that 70% of temporary visa holders in Australia, including people seeking asylum and refugees, have lost work as a result of Covid. Yet, they remain ineligible for any form of government support. We are calling on Minister for Families & Social Services Senator Anne Ruston to ensure no family seeking asylum is left behind during this pandemic. We are hearing of many children and families forced into destitution and homelessness. #NoChildLeftBehind

13.01.2022 So many people seeking asylum are struggling during this pandemic, with no work, no access to Centrelink and for some, no access to Medicare. Sandy and his family are some of those people. Sign our petition to Senator Anne Ruston calling on her to ensure #NobodyLeftBehind during #Covid19 - https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/petition

13.01.2022 We support this important campaign by the Australian Human Rights Commission to fight racism in our society. A simple scan of the comments on this post are proof enough that we have a long way to go! There is no place for racism in our society.

13.01.2022 Refugee Alternatives 2021 - Save the date! We are thrilled to be partnering with Whitlam Institute to bring you conference 2021 on 6 - 7 July 2021 in Western Sydney! Register your interest in the conference 2021 here: https://bit.ly/2Flbj4e... Keep an eye on the conference website for more updates soon! #AltRefugee #refugeealternatives #westernsydney

13.01.2022 Our Director of Policy Rebecca Eckard spoke to ABC News yesterday about the government's recent decision to push people seeking asylum out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic. The Minister for Home Affairs has issued letters to some 500 people currently in community detention, giving them 3 weeks to vacate their homes, with no support being provided. Many people have serious medical conditions and have never worked in Australia. They are expected to just find a job in... the worst recession of a lifetime. We are calling on the government to stop the exits immediately and ensure people are adequately supported at this time

13.01.2022 This week is National Child Protection Week. It is an opportunity for us to take stock and reflect on all the ways we are ensuring the protection of children and young people, and all the ways we are not. Our current treatment of children seeking asylum and refugees is not protecting them and we need to take action. Many people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas have lost work as a result of Covid-19, yet remain ineligible for critical safety net support - JobKeep...er, JobSeeker, and for some even Medicare. More than 14,000 people seeking and refugees are projected to become homeless as a result of pandemic. We are calling on Minister for Families and Social Services Senator Anne Ruston to do more and ensure #NoChildLeftBehind during this pandemic!

12.01.2022 There are still hundreds of people in limbo on Nauru and Papua New Guinea, as well as in Australia, who are seeking protection. It has been 8 long years. How long must people suffer with no solution in sight until Scott Morrison (ScoMo) accepts the NZ offer to resettle 150 refugees?

12.01.2022 RCOA made a submission to the Working Holiday Maker Program inquiry. We highlighted that SHEV holders can help contribute to the labour shortages caused by border closures due to COVID-19. We recommended that SHEV and TPV holders should be given a permanent visa if they work in a region or industry impacted by COVID-19. Read the full submission here - https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/working-holiday-inquiry/ #refugees #asylum #UNHCR #auspol #protection #settlement #displacement #globe #community #welcome #fair #just #consultation #council #humane #people #wesaywelcome #refugeeswelcome

10.01.2022 COVID-19 has demonstrated that we are only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. NRAAG team join the call to End COVID For All. It is not over for any of us until it is over for all of us. #EndCOVIDForAll

10.01.2022 The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice-President of the United States will see substantial improvements in the situation for refugees and people seeking asylum globally. Primarily this will be through a commitment to reinstate refugee admissions to 125,000 places a year, following a dramatic cut in 2020 to only 15,000 places. International Rescue Committee has outlined four key ways the Joe Biden administration can go even further and ensure the US is playing an active, leading role in refugee resettlement globally.

09.01.2022 Fatma is a mother of four children, including Jasmin. Both Fatma and her partner lost work when Covid-19 hit Australia, and being in the process of seeking asylum, none of her family are eligible for support from the Federal government. They are now struggling to make ends meet and pay their basic costs. We are advocating for the government to ensure #NoChildLeftBehind during the pandemic, and provide families like Fatma's the support they need to get through these challengin...g times. Learn more about the campaign and get involved: nochildleftbehind.com.au

08.01.2022 Right now, there are over 16,000 children and their families seeking asylum in Australia. During this pandemic they have been left to struggle with job losses, health issues, changes to childcare and increasing housing insecurity. They can't access JobSeeker, JobKeeper, and some can't even access Medicare. Schools and teachers are often on the frontline of supporting these children and their families as they come to school without enough food, lack internet access for remot...e learning or bring the pressures at home into the classroom. We are inviting schools to take part in our National Week of Solidarity from September 6-12, to mark Child Protection Week. We have created a simple yet detailed webinar you can watch to learn how you can get involved in your school, home, community centre or workaplce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOA4h3d2Ol8

08.01.2022 This week is Homelessness Week across the country. Our latest report on the public costs of leaving people behind during the Covid-19 pandemic revealed some concerning trends, including the high risk of homelessness many people seeking asylum face. Read the report to learn more: #HW2020... https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/covid-19-assessing-the-p/ See more

07.01.2022 RCOA is currently considering how we can best advocate for refugees on temporary protection visas during the current pandemic. There are currently over 17,000 people on either a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV). Given current border closures, labour shortages across the country in critical industries are emerging that people on SHEV visas could fill. We are interested in hearing from SHEV holders on a proposal we are developing to link wo...rk in critical industries to permanent visas. If you are on a SHEV, or know people who are, please fill out this survey to give us a better understanding of this issue: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2T3GC5

07.01.2022 "Some families who have lived, worked and paid tax in this country for years are now unable to put food on the table and are relying on charity to get by after months without income". Dana has lived in Australia since she was 15 and is now mother to a one-year old. She and her partner both lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and are now at imminent risk of homelessness. Listen to this short story with coverage of our new report on ABC's RN below.... #NoChildLeftBehind #NobodyLeftBehind

06.01.2022 We are thrilled that our Face to Face Schools and Community Program has been nominated for The ZEST Awards for Outstanding Project Promoting Social Cohesion and Community Harmony Award. We would like to take this opportunity and congratulate all the nominees and the winner!

06.01.2022 Next week is Child Protection Week, and we will be seizing the opportunity to point to the crisis facing children and young people seeking asylum during the Covid-19 pandemic. As people seeking asylum remain ineligible for JobSeeker and JobKeeper, we are concerned that many are being forced into destitution and even homelessness. Join us for our Solidarity Webinar to learn more about the #NoChildLeftBehind campaign and how you can get involved. Speakers include:... Edward Santow, Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission Shabnam Safa - Chair of the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG) Shukufa Tahiri - Policy Officer at the Refugee Council of Australia Sandra* - Young woman seeking asylum Hani Abdile - Writer and spoken word artist It is set to be an amazing event - RSVP today: https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/nws_webinar_1

04.01.2022 Last week was National Child Protection Week. To raise awareness about the current situation for children and young people seeking asylum, students across the country took part in a week of solidarity. Students at Fintona Girls' School created this amazing video for the week and have shared it with us. Learn more about the No Child Left Behind campaign here: www.nochildleftbehind.com.au

03.01.2022 Hundreds of people seeking asylum have been kicked out of their homes with only three weeks notice by the Minister for Home Affairs. They are being left with no support in the middle of the pandemic and told to work. None have Australian work experience and many have serious medical conditions.

03.01.2022 1000 students, parents, teachers and educators representing every state and territory have released a public statement this week, calling on the Federal Government to extend support to families seeking asylum during the pandemic. Now, schools across the country will take action during a National Week of Solidarity with people seeking asylum this week, to mark National Child Protection Week. Joining them is Australian Human Rights Commissioner Ed Santow, who said: "In this... global pandemic, we should extend the safety net to people seeking asylum and all others on temporary visas. This would prevent further unnecessary suffering for thousands of children and their families, said Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Edward Santow. "Australia is the land of the fair go and that means not leaving anyone behind. We must speak up for the most vulnerable in our communities, he added. To take part in the National Week of Solidarity, sign up here: https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/national_week_of_solid

03.01.2022 This week is Child Protection Week, and to mark that we are inviting schools, community groups and concerned members of the public join our National Week of Solidarity in support of people seeking asylum. Currently, there are more than 16,000 children and young people seeking asylum in Australia. Many of their families are struggling to make ends meet, as people seeking asylum are ineligible for payments like JobSeeker and JobKeeper. Thousands of people have lost work and ar...e receiving no support. Children are being sent to school without lunch and online classes are being missed without an internet connection at home. Please join us to mark this by getting involved. There are a number of simple ways to show your solidarity, and implore the government to ensure #NoChildLeftBehind

03.01.2022 Australian citizenship is particularly valued by people who have been refugees people who have lost or have never enjoyed the protection of their country of birth and understand better than anyone the value of Australias freedom, - Paul Power, RCOA CEO. We welcome today's announcement by the Federal Government of plans to expand the Adult Migrant English Program. We have been raising these concerns for over a decade, based on consultations with refugee communities. We are glad that today, our government has taken much needed steps to make the program more accessible. Read our full release:

03.01.2022 The Solidarity Assembly begins now, featuring an excellent line up : - Edward Santow, Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission -Shabnam Safa - Chair of the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG) -Shukufa Tahiri - Policy Officer at the Refugee Council of Australia and a performance from Hani Abdile - Writer and spoken word artist. ... Join us now to learn how you can be part of a movement for change for families seeking asylum in Australia: https://www.nochildleftbehind.com.au/nws_webinar_1

03.01.2022 We are working on a proposal for people on TPV/SHEVs to be offered permanent visas if they assist in the Covid-19 recovery by working in a critical industry - see below post for more information on this. In order to ensure our advocacy centres directly on the experiences of people in this situation, we are conducting a survey to hear from TPV/SHEV holders on this idea. Please complete and share this survey far and wide: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2T3GC5

02.01.2022 Some good news: Last week, RCOA's Deena and Shukufa hit the news, decrying the mistranslations of both Federal and State Government COVID advice to migrant and refugee communities. We applaud the swift actions of the Victorian State government, who announced a $14 million support package to better support multicultural communities in Victoria the following day. We hope to see more meaningful engagement with communities concerned:

02.01.2022 The Australian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) has joined other infectious disease bodies from around the world in calling for the protection of vulnerable populations, including people seeking asylum who are in detention, during the COVID-19 pandemic: We have seen repeatedly that this virus will find vulnerable and marginalised populations where transmission can be rapidly amplified, said ASID Immediate Past President Professor Josh Davis.... Many of these people, due to age and chronic illness, are also at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and mortality. It is vital that all communities are fully engaged with culturally appropriate messages in different languages, and supported to isolate and quarantine as required. We at RCOA have repeatedly presented the federal government with community alternatives to detention - many people have support networks and families in the local community. Allowing them to live in the community would enable to observe social distancing and thus prevent a major public health risk. #NobodyLeftBehind https://www.asid.net.au/documents/item/1927

02.01.2022 Racism is a key driving factor in the way this country treats refugees and people seeking asylum. We must acknowledge the history of racism on this land and work together to build a society that is more inclusive, more welcoming and more just. Check out the #DOMORE project which is encouraging people across the country to learn, reflect and take action to fight racism in Australia. There is no place for racism in our society, can you help us build an anti-racist future?