Refugee Council of Australia

Refugees are not always able to return safely home or to remain in the country where they received asylum. There are situations in which resettlement to a third country is the only safe and viable durable solution for refugees. Through the generosity of resettlement countries and the tireless endeavors of local non-governmental organisations, resettlement has become a fundamental element of the system for the international protection of refugees.

Resettlement is a vital instrument of protection and durable solution. Resettlement under UNHCR auspices is geared primarily to the special needs of refugees under the Office’s mandate recognizing that their life, liberty, safety, health or other fundamental human rights are at risk in the country where they sought refuge. Resettlement is also considered a durable solution in particular circumstances for refugees who do not have immediate protection concerns.

The decision to resettle a refugee is normally taken, with priority, when there is no alternative way to guarantee the legal or physical security of the person concerned. In light of this, the common description of resettlement as a “last resort” should not be interpreted to mean that there is a hierarchy of solutions and that resettlement is the least valuable or needed among them. For many refugees, resettlement is, in fact, the best - or perhaps, only - alternative. See the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook.

AUSTRALIA’S RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS

Australia is a major resettlement country for refugees. In 2008-2009 Australia will accept 13,500 onshore and offshore refugees. For the 2007-2008 financial year the Australian government granted 13,014 humanitarian visas.

- the offshore component gives resettlement to people requiring humanitarian protection
- the onshore component gives protection to people already living in Australia and who are deemed to be Refugee Convention refugees

Prior to refugees and humanitarian entrants departing for Australia they are offered settlement information offshore. The Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO) is designed to prepare entrants for travel to Australia, enhance their settlement prospects, create realistic expectations of life in Australia and provide information about Australian laws, values and lifestyle. For more information go to the Department of Immigration website http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/67ausco.htm

SETTLEMENT ISSUES

The settlement experience for many refugees can be a very difficult time with feelings of homesickness, isolation and culture shock compounding people’s abilities to start a new life in Australia.
Many refugees have experienced extremely traumatic pasts before arriving in Australia. They have often experienced high levels of poverty, low levels of formal education, suffered from the effects of torture and trauma and have low levels or no knowledge of English. Their day to day existence before arriving in Australia may have been in a refugee camp. Many may have never rented a house, paid a bill, gone to work or have had any concept of engaging with institutions such as banks, real estate agents or government departments.

- high unemployment
- housing issues
- English language barriers
- effects of torture and trauma
- general health issues

See the Refugee Council of Australia’s latest submission to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Australia’s Refugee & Humanitarian Program: Community views on current challenges and future directions. Click here for the 2008-09 submission.

SETTLEMENT SERVICES

Please click here for services available.

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Education

Classroom management strategies to address the needs of Sudanese refugee learners

This study by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), examined the extent to which English language, literacy and numeracy teachers used classroom management strategies to meet the needs of adult Sudanese refugee learners. While teachers met the needs of these learners in so far as they coincided with those of other refugee groups, the highly oral language culture of these learners appeared not to have been accounted for in teaching strategies. Recommendations include greater flexibility in program content, outcomes and delivery.
Available from http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1778.html

The National Centre for Vocational Educational Research has produced a guide for educators working with refugee and humanitarian entrants who come from highly oral cultural backgrounds. In recent years, many new arrivals to Australia through the refugee program have been from African countries. Their indigenous languages, like many other indigenous languages, do not have a written form. This guide provides a set of 'good practice' strategies for designing effective English language, literacy and numeracy programs for all adult learners from highly oral cultural backgrounds. The guide can be downloaded from http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1804.html

Employment

Murdoch University’s Centre for Social and Community Research has produced a paper titled “Refugees and Employment: The effect of visible difference on discrimination”. Written by Val Colic-Peisker and Farida Tilbury, the report seeks to address a number of policy implications in the areas of refugee resettlement, qualifications and skills recognition, employment assistance for culturally and linguistically diverse migrants and especially refugees and equal opportunity and anti-discrimination. The sociological research project was funded by the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project scheme. Download from: http://www.cscr.murdoch.edu.au/refugees_and_employment.pdf

General Settlement

This guide, produced by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship with assistance from RCOA, presents government and non-government initiatives from around Australia, that assist humanitarian entrants to settle in Australia in the key areas of health, education, employment, law and community harmony as well as focusing on key client groups: youth, family and women. To download a full copy of the guide please visit:
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/settle/empowering_refugees/index.htm

Rebuilding Social Support Networks in Small and Emerging Refugee Communities

Produced by Whittlesea Community Connections, this report highlights the importance of community support networks and the extent to which they provide much of the informal settlement support and social connections necessary to achieve successful settlement outcomes. The report is available from www.whittleseacommunityconnections.org.au

Dropped from the Moon: the settlement experience of refugee communities in Tasmania

By Jo Flanagan, this highly detailed research project produced by Anglicare Tasmania explores the experiences of refugees settling in Tasmania and makes a series of recommendations towards improving settlement outcomes and retaining refugee communities in Tasmania. The report can be found at:
http://www.anglicare-tas.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=34&Itemid=81

When Do I Stop Being a Refugee: The Journey Towards Citizenship and Community Inclusivity

A report of the resettlement conference held in Adelaide in October 2006 by the Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia and the SA Refugee Week Committee, including presentations given by 32 speakers and panellists. Copies of the report are available from the Migrant Resource Centre on (08) 8217 9500 or email admin@mrcsa.com.au

This publication, edited by Val Colic-Peisker and Farida Tilbury, includes a number of chapters on the settlement experiences of refugees in Western Australia, ranging from academic research to service providers’ reflections and refugees’ own perspectives. Available from the Centre for Social and Community Research, Murdoch University, Perth (08) 9360 7349.

Health

Read the Research on the Psychological Difficulties facing Child Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The Psychological Well Being of Child and Adolescent Refugee and Asylum Seekers: Overview of Major Research Findings of the Past Ten Years is a literature review undertaken by Trang Thomas, Professor of Psychology, and Winnie Lau, Clinical Psychology Researcher, at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The review identifies several consistent findings by international studies on the psychological difficulties facing child and adolescent refugees and asylum seekers. It includes extensive references and suggested readings.

To assist refugees navigate Australia’s health system, the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma has produced a booklet called, Making a Healthy Start in Australia. Click here to view the resource.

Produced by the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, this resource is to assist doctors and other health professionals in working with clients of a refugee background. Available online at http://www.foundationhouse.org.au/publications.php

Towards better health for refugee children and young people in Australia and New Zealand

This 2007 report by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians provides a comprehensive analysis of issues relating to the health of refugee children and young people in the community and in immigration detention. The report also recommends enhancements to health services, further development of research and improvements in training and professional practice. A full copy of the report and related position paper “The Health of Refugee Children” can be downloaded from http://www.racp.edu.au

International Settlement

UNHCR has produced an International Handbook to guide reception and integration of resettled refugees. Its aim is to provide information and ideas to guide integration practice. It does this by articulating the broad conditions required for successful resettlement and by identifying some of the critical issues that need to be considered in the planning process
The Handbook draws extensively on the experience of countries of resettlement and presents a number of specific ideas and approaches developed in these countries. Alternative perspectives are presented, along with discussion about their costs and benefits. Readers are encouraged to evaluate the applicability of these approaches to their local environment. Click here to download the Handbook.

Older Refugees

Health issues among aged or aging refugees have been raised in a number of fora over the years. Consultations with workers and community members have confirmed that older refugees have special needs, but formal research on older refugees in Australia has been scant. The NSW Refugee Health Service can provide information on the specific health needs of older refugees. Click here for more information.

NSW Refugee Health Service has published this 60-page discussion paper which profiles older refugees in NSW, gives an overview of the issues they face and explores implications for policy and service delivery. http://www.swsahs.nsw.gov.au/areaser/refugeehs/resources_research.asp

Parenting and childbirth

Designed for women of a non-English speaking background, this book provides accessible information about ante-natal and post-natal procedures and aims to improve women’s English language skills through a topic which is relevant and meaningful to them. By Fran Weston. For further details, see http://www.ames.edu.au

Produced by the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, the kit provides a resource for service providers and a DVD for parents from African backgrounds. The DVD is in English, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Dinka, Nuer, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Liberian English and Krio. A booklet on key services for parents and their young children also accompanies the DVD. For further information about the kit and how to obtain the DVD, visit: http://www.survivorsvic.org.au/serviceinn_parenting.php

Police

The Australasian Police Multicultural Advisory Bureau under the Commonwealth Government's Living In Harmony initiative has developed "The Guide to the Role of Police in Australia". This booklet is available in the following languages: English, Arabic, Afghani (Dari), Bosnian, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, Somali and Vietnamese. The booklet aims to provide prospective and newly arrives migrants with a general understanding of some legal and policing concepts and processes.
The Victorian Department of Justice has produced a Multicultural Justice Directory which is available in Arabic, Somali, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Public Information

Fire Prevention and Community Safety Information
The NSW Fire Brigades have a range of community safety program resources and information sheets for culturally and linguistically diverse communities that are translated into a number of community languages. Information sheets and additional details about sessions provided by Community Safety Officers can be found at: http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=207

Refugees from Africa

In the last few years there has been a significant increase in the number of refugees from Africa settling in NSW. African refugees in Australia predominantly come from Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan. While these countries are not homogenous, there are some shared health issues. The NSW Refugee Health Service has produced a fact sheet which explains some of these health issues.

Refugee Migration

Produced by Victoria University’s Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives in June 2007 provides a comparative evaluation and analysis of refugee migration to Warrnambool and Swan Hill in Victoria. The full report is available at http://www.vu.edu.au/Research/ICEPA/index.aspx

Refugee Youth

Refugee Youth Report: Adolescent refugee perspectives on psychological well-being

This research, first published in January 2007 by the Centre for International Health, Curtin University, WA explores how adolescent refugee children perceive issues of migration, loss, resettlement and acculturation. Conducted across four government schools in WA, the research also makes a series of recommendations for school-based strategies to promote psychological well-being. The full paper can be found at http://www.developmentgateway.com.au/jahia/Jahia/pid/4686

Information to assist refugee youth tackle the Victorian education system can be found in "A Guide for newly arrived young people – Understanding the Victorian Education and Training System". Published in 2003 by the Centre for Multicultural Youth.

Young refugee women from Former Yugoslavia tell their stories in Our Lives Past Present & Future: A Scrapbook of Stories by Young Refugee Women Living in Brisbane from Former Yugoslavia.

A broad range of excellent resources for refugee young people and workers are available at the Centre for Multicultural Youth.

QPASTT (Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma) also has a range of youth-related resources.

The University of Western Sydney has created a DVD that will assist young people as they begin the journey from high school to vocational training, higher education or employment in Australia. For further information about the DVD and to order copies please contact Louise Eljiz, UWS Office of University Engagement, on (02) 4620 3148 or email oue@uws.edu.au

The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) in Melbourne has developed an information sheet that provides a general statistical overview of the primary source countries and settlement trends for refugee young people currently residing in Victoria.
Download from: http://www.cmy.net.au/ResourcesfortheSector#InfoSheets

Women

This DVD in Somali, Dinka and Arabic was developed to inform and encourage women to present early for antenatal care and make full use of services offered by antenatal clinics. This resource aims to improve antenatal health and subsequent birth outcomes of women and their babies from small and emerging African communities. For further information or a free copy of the DVD, please contact: Monique Wakefield; Ph: (02) 9840 3376; monique.wakefield@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

SETTLEMENT ISSUES ARCHIVE

Public condemnation of former Immigration Minister's comments on African refugees in Australia

In October 2007, the then Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews created national and international controversy with a series of media interviews in which he publicly criticised the failure of African refugees to integrate in Australia. The nature of the public criticism was unprecedented for an Immigration Minister in the 30 years of the Government's Refugee and Humanitarian Program - never had a Minister been so critical of the program for which he or she was responsible. The criticism was extraordinary because the Minister did not alter the program in any way. The 2007-08 program continues to operate in the way the Minister announced in August 2007.

Media interviews Mr Andrews gave on this issue between October 2 and 5, 2007 can be found on the National Library's Pandora Web Archive.

The Refugee Council of Australia was one of many organisations to condemn the Minister's statements. Our October 2, 2007 media release can be found here.

An open letter to all Australians and Australia's elected officials was published as an advertisement in The Australian newspaper on October 15.
The letter, signed by 68 organisations, expressed support for African communities in Australia and for humanitarian need to remain the basis for Australia's refugee program. The open letter can be viewed here.

Internationally, the former Minister's comments have been widely criticised and have resulted in much negative publicity for Australia. Typical of the international non-government responses was a statement issued by the Canadian Council for Refugees:

The Canadian Council for Refugees joins refugee rights NGOs in Australia, including the Refugee Council of Australia, in denouncing the recent announcement by the Government of Australia that it will resettle fewer refugees from Africa because of a perception that some recently resettled refugees from Sudan are experiencing more difficulty than usual in integrating into Australian society. In particular, the Canadian Council for Refugees deplores the discriminatory remarks targetting the whole Sudanese community, and by implication African refugees generally. Refugees are individual persons who because of their own experiences and trauma will need varying types of assistance to meet the challenges of integration. It is the responsibility of the welcoming community to provide the conditions for successful integration, as part of its humanitarian response to the needs of refugees.

Commentary in the media

While the media coverage has been overwhelmingly critical of the past Minister's comments, African community leaders have been upset by the misleading coverage of community issues by some media outlets. The African Migrant Review Panel has lodged a complaint with the three major Australian commercial television networks about their coverage.

Below is a snapshot of some of the media commentary about the public debate: (Inclusion in this summary does not imply that RCOA agrees with the article’s content or vouches for its accuracy)

Playing out a black farce - Opinion, Jill Singer
Jill Singer describes a number of ironies in recent statements by Minister Andrews such as linking the challenges faced by Sudanese with their pre-migration experiences, yet these are the people who in 2001 were 'waiting in the queue' and who were 'those most in need'. While the previous Minister has spoken about the need to resettle more Burmese, there remain seven Burmese asylum seekers languishing on Nauru (Herald Sun, 8 October)
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22546019-5000117,00.html

Art of the dog whistle - Opinion, Dennis Atkins
Dennis Atkins speaks of the Minister's recent comments and those made by other politicians as blowing the 'dog whistle' - coded messaging to prompt a response by the electorate in the hope of generating fear. (The Courier Mail, 8 October)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22547589-953,00.html

Stop blaming the victims, minister - Opinion, Tracee Hutchinson
Tracee Hutchinson speaks about the ways in which the Australian Government has treated successive groups of refugees and asylum seekers and that despite having been granted refugee status, Australia is still not willing to accept 72 Sri Lankans on Nauru. The piece also highlights the need for increased funding for services which help refugees "fit in". (The Age, 6 October)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/stop-blaming-the-victims-minister/2007/10/05/1191091364068.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Immigration is not all black and white - Opinion, Terry Sweetman
Terry Sweetman speaks of successive Immigration Ministers lacking the ability to show leadership in overcoming fear and ignorance. (The Courier Mail, 7 October)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22540606-5007190,00.html

Refugees face political slaughter - Editorial, Tory Maguire
Tory Maquire highlights the trauma and torture experienced by many Sudanese refugees and says it is not surprising that many have difficulties adjusting when they arrive in Australia and that comments made by Kevin Andrews are playing to the lowest common denominator. (The Daily Telegraph, 8 October)
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/opinion/story/0,22049,22545453-5001031,00.html

Former Minister's drumbeat on Sudan a beat up - Editorial, The Sunday Times
This piece describes the pain caused by Minister Andrews' recent comments and that these have successfully inflamed a situation which was not serious. (The Sunday Times, 7 October)
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22543561-5005374,00.html

Pollies play the election race card - Editorial, The Geelong Advertiser
This piece asks questions about the lack of substantive data to supportMinister Andrews' claims that Sudanese have greater challenges in settling than other groups. (The Geelong Advertiser, 6 October)
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/06/7588_opinion.html

Race to point finger of blame - Feature Article, Cath Hart and Samantha Maiden
Despite Amanda Vanstone's support for resettlement of refugees from Africa, and in particular from Darfur, the current Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has sought, from his first week in office, to reduce the refugee intake from Africa. The Minister's comments also come as census data reveals that a number of key marginal electorates are home to some of the largest Sudanese communities. (The Australian, 6 October)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22538228-28737,00.html

Sudanese community in Australia in the media spotlight - Opinion, Deng M. Koch
This piece provides a detailed description of the situation facing Sudanese refugees and their experience of settlement in Australia. (Sudanese Tribune, 6 October)
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article24093

More dogwhistling – Editorial, The Australian
The piece speaks about the reasons for adjustment to the regional composition of the refugee program when it was announced in August and that, at that time, there was no suggestion of integration issues as an influencing factor in the Government’s decision making. Minister Andrews’ recent statements are unsubstantiated and may undermine public support in the refugee program. (The Australian, 4 October)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22526972-16382,00.html

No Africans allowed: Has our way of life come to this? – Editorial, The Age
Reiterating UNHCR’s response that Australia’s refugee program should be based on providing protection to those most in need, not on the basis of their perceived capacity to integrate, this piece says that just as refugees make an adjustment, the Australian community and Government needs to provide compassionate space and time for successful adjustment. (The Age, 4 October)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/no-africans-allowed-has-our-way-of-life-come-to-this/2007/10/03/1191091191710.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Without prejudice, politics or parochialism – Editorial, The Age
With the opening of the 12th annual Metropolis Conference in Melbourne themed “migration, economic growth and social cohesion” recent comments by the Immigration Minister and debate within the media will be brought into sharper focus. In the recent volatile context, the conference hopes to provide some constructive points of discussion and lasting outcomes. (The Age, 9 October)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/without-prejudice-politics-or-parochialism/2007/10/08/1191695817891.html

Playing the race card – Editorial, The Mercury
In contrast to Minister Andrews’ assertion that African refugees achieve lower rates of education, the Multicultural Council of Tasmania highlights the success of 250 African refugees engaged in tertiary studies. (The Mercury, 8 October) http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22548391-5006549,00.html

Fear, racism show Australia’s ugly face – Opinion, Tim Costello
World Vision CEO, Tim Costello talks about the generosity of Australians and the willingness to give everyone a ‘fair go’, but that instances over recent years such as Tampa, the Cronulla riots and recent perceptions about African refugees have diminished the positive faces of Australia and asks the question “Are we heroes or villains?” (News.com.au, 11 October)
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22566647-5007146,00.html

Call Andrews mean, not racist – Opinion, Samuel Makinda
Professor of politics and international studies at Murdoch University, WA, Samuel Makinda speaks about the freeze on African refugee numbers as unfortunate, as there are many thousands waiting in camps, but also views this as an opportunity to improve settlement services which will benefit the many refugee communities already in Australia. (The Australian, 11 October)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22564242-5013480,00.html

CURRENT ISSUES - REFUGEE SETTLEMENT

INTRODUCTION

AUSTRALIA’S RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS

SETTLEMENT ISSUES

SETTLEMENT SERVICES