THE REFUGEE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA (RCOA)

The Refugee Council of Australia is a non-profit peak organisation. It provides information on and advocacy for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia on behalf of its 130 organisational members and many individual members. It is not a part of the Australian Government. For more information on our organisation, see the RCOA brochure or check our latest annual report.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

* People with specialist expertise in refugee settlement are being sought for three-week placements as Visiting Settlement Advisers to the Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) program. Two people will be deployed to Kenya in April 2009 and another two to Ghana or Guinea in June 2009.

* RCOA member organisations are currently advertising vacancies for roles including international Protection Officers, researchers, counsellors, settlement workers and interpreters. For details on all positions, see our Employment page.

WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE

* Response to Opposition claims about temporary protection - Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull is rewriting history with his claim that the since abolished Temporary Protection Visa policy was an effective strategy against people smuggling. The policy was inhumane, counter-productive and pointless, resulting in an increase in asylum seekers attempting to enter Australia by boat and creating significant psychological damage to vulnerable people. To read RCOA's statement, see our Media Releases page.

* Immigration Minister at RCOA AGM - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, was guest speaker at RCOA's Annual General Meeting and Forum at Parramatta Town Hall, NSW, on 17 November 2008. Senator Evans discussed national refugee policy one year after the election of the Rudd Government. For a copy of the Minister's speech, visit our AGM page.

* Consultations on Australia's Refugee Program - RCOA has completed a national consultation process, involving people in 30 cities and towns across eight states and territories, to gather community views on issues relating to Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program. The views from these consultations are now being drawn together into a submission to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, outlining issues the Australian Government should consider in developing the 2009-10 Refugee and Humanitarian Program. For details on the consultation process and submissions from previous years, visit our Consultations page.

* The latest news from RCOA - Our December email bulletin and our Summer 2009 newsletter are now on our website. See our newsletters page.

* Do refugees receive more than aged pensioners? - An email being circulated widely claims refugees in Australia receive higher social security benefits than aged pensioners. For the truth, click here.

* Who bears the cost of Australia's Special Humanitarian Program? - With the support of the Reichstein Foundation, RCOA has released a report investigating the burden new Special Humanitarian Program entrants bear in repaying the costs of their travel to Australia.

* Refugee Week 2009 - Each year, RCOA coordinates and promotes Refugee Week in Australia, with the active support and involvement of organisations across the country. Refugee Week 2009 will be held from June 14 to 20. For more information about Refugee Week, including activities held in 2008, click here.

* Useful links - For links to the websites of RCOA's organisational members and other sites of interest, see our Links page.

CONTACT US

Refugee Council of Australia - Head Office
Suite 4A6, 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: 02 9211 9333
Fax: 02 9211 9288
Email: info@refugeecouncil.org.au

Refugee Council of Australia - Victorian Office
81-85 Barry Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: 03 9348 2245
Fax: 03 9342 9799
Email: melbourne@refugeecouncil.org.au