www.refugeecouncil.org.au

refugeecouncil ofaustraliaannualreport2013/14

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President’s report 3

RCOA’s objectives andpriorities 6

RCOA’s people 8

Refugee settlement policy 9

Asylum policy 11

International links 14

Information and community education 16

Our organisation 18

RCOA members 19

Financial report 26

The Refugee Council of Australia would like to acknowledge thegenerous support of the following organisations and individuals for thework of the Council during 2013-14:

Funding support:

• AMES (Victoria)

• Amnesty International Australia

• Antipodean Family Foundation

• Australian Communities Foundation

• Australian Council for InternationalDevelopment

• Australian Refugee Foundation

• Berg Family Foundation

• Caritas Australia

• Department of Immigration andBorder Protection

• Department of Social Services

• Geddes Nairn Development Fund

• Illawarra Multicultural Services

• Jesuit Refugee Service Australia

• McKinnon Family Foundation

• Navitas English

• Network of Caring

• NSW AMES

• NSW Community RelationsCommission

• NSW Teachers’ Federation

• Sandi Foundation

• Settlement Services International

• Sky Foundation

• Victorian Multicultural Commission

• Victorian Office of MulticulturalAffairs and Citizenship

In-kind support:

• Ali Ali

• Sam Almaliki

• Ballarat Community Health

• Ballarat Multicultural Council

• Sarah Blasko

• Centre for Multicultural Youth

• City of Ballarat

• Maya Cranitch

• Friends of STARTTS

• David Lancaster

• One Louder

• Randwick Colour Printing

• UNHCR Regional Office, Canberra

Front cover: Hany, 20, and histhree-year-old brother Ashrafenjoy a happy moment in thebleak surroundings of a camp forSyrian refugees in Lebanon’sBekaa Valley © UNHCR/A.McConnell

acknowledgements

contents

deported to danger by Australia. Concerned individuals,NGOs and faith organisations used every opportunity tovoice their discomfort and displeasure at the direction ofAustralia’s refugee policies and demanded vulnerablepeople be treated lawfully and fairly.

In late May, when the Minister for Immigration ScottMorrison announced the Government would cut theRefugee Council of Australia’s core funding, people from allwalks of life demonstrated their support for our importantwork as an independent voice on refugee policy. We weregreatly heartened by the public response to our appeal forassistance which enabled us to cover the $140,000 in lostcore funding for 2014-15 and provided greater certainty forcurrent programs. Donations came from all corners of thecountry, including Australian singer-songwriter SarahBlasko, who generously staged a concert in Sydneysupported by a number of her friends, to help raise fundsfor our organisation. Many donors expressed outrage at theMinister’s decision and their fears for other organisations inthe NGO sector.

The year 2013-14 started with asylum seekers and refugeesagain taking centre stage in a negative Federal electioncampaign with both major parties engaged in an unedifying

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In 2013-14, governments – both Labor and Liberal-National

– crafted punitive policies to deter and expel asylum seekers

from entering Australia, and for asylum seekers already

living in the community, devised punishments to encourage

people to return home and measures to forcibly return

people. In some instances, people were deported to danger

and subsequently arrested, kidnapped or beaten. Unlike

other areas of government spending which faced severe

budgetary cutbacks, Australian governments were prepared

to expend extraordinary amounts of taxpayer funds to

implement offshore and onshore detention and border

control. In 2013-14, the Department of Immigration and

Border Protection (DIBP) allocated A$3.07 billion to its harsh

treatment of asylum seekers who arrived by boat, an

amount equivalent to the A$3.08 billion spent worldwide in

2013 by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees

(UNHCR) on all its programs for 42.9 million refugees and

displaced people under its mandate.

Despite the secrecy around Australia’s border control

activities and detention regime, instances of asylum seekers

being killed, injured, abused and mistreated and harming

themselves in detention were reported widely in the media.

Human rights groups followed the cases of people

Sixty years ago a Liberal Prime Minister Robert Menzies created history by presiding over Australia’saccession to the Refugee Convention, enabling this cornerstone of refugee protection to come into force.Few could imagine the situation refugees, asylum seekers and their supporters find ourselves in now,

where people are detained for seeking refugee status and denied fundamental rights such as the right to workand access to family reunion, and unarmed, desperate and vulnerable asylum seekers are treated as enemycombatants and met by the military as part of “Operation Sovereign Borders”.

president’s report

Successive Australian Governments have, to ournation’s shame, forgotten the ideals of theRefugee Convention and chosen to expel anddetain people fleeing persecution. Oneorganisation which has consistently opposedthese policies has been the Refugee Council ofAustralia, which has stood up for the rights ofrefugees and asylum seekers since 1981. I amproud to be a member of the Refugee Counciland I urge you to join me in ensuring thisessential national voice for justice andcompassion for refugees is not silenced.

Malcolm Fraser, AC, CHPrime Minister of Australia 1975-1983

contest to produce the most draconian asylum policies.With the defeat of Labor, which in its six years in officedismantled then reinstated offshore processing in Nauruand Papua New Guinea, the new Liberal-Nationalgovernment set about implementing the destructive policyagenda it put forward to the electorate which included thecontinuation of offshore processing, turning back asylumboats, reinstatement of Temporary Protection Visas, thestripping away of basic rights for asylum seekers, cutting6,250 places from the Refugee and Humanitarian Programand removing safeguards and protections to make it easierfor the government to return asylum seekers home.Australia continued to detain asylum seeker children butthe Australian Human Rights Commission responded byinitiating a second public inquiry into the incredible harmcaused by the immigration detention of children.

The Government insisted its policies were aimed atpreventing asylum seekers drowning at sea and dismantlingpeople-smuggling networks but many of these measureswere based on a brutal logic that punishing boat arrivalsalready in Australia by denial of work rights and restrictionson family reunion were necessary deterrents.

However, the Government’s policy settings ignored thefactors that forced desperate people on to boats and didnot address the lack of safe pathways to refugee protectionand the inadequate living conditions of refugees andasylum seekers in parts of South-East Asia who lack legalstatus, work rights, access to quality education and healthand face waiting times of up to two years before beinggranted an initial interview about their refugee claim.

Despite warnings from UNHCR, NGOs and concernedadvocates about sending asylum seekers to offshoredetention centres, the Manus Island centre exploded into

violence in February resulting in the brutal and fatal bashingof a young asylum seeker from Iran, Reza Berati. Dozens ofasylum seekers were also injured. RCOA and its membersand supporters also pleaded with the Government toresolve the status of about 24,000 asylum seekerslanguishing in Australian cities on bridging visas, mostwithout the right to work and struggling to subsist on thelowest level of government assistance.

While the Government pursued policies to fast-track theirremoval from Australia, fear and anxiety gripped asylumseekers. Some declared that they would rather die inAustralia than die after being sent home. Sadly, one Tamilasylum seeker, Leo Seemanpillai, died after setting himselfon fire in Geelong. Leo’s friends said he was anxious aboutbeing returned to Sri Lanka.

The Government’s determination to return asylum seekersto Sri Lanka sat uncomfortably with Australia’s closecooperation with the South Asian country, even though itwas widely recognised as a major source of refugees.Asylum seekers from Sri Lanka were forcibly returned and,at the same time, Australia donated naval patrol boats tothe government in Colombo even though it was underinternational investigation for alleged war crimes.

Australia’s practice of punishing asylum seekers andrefugees rather than protecting them did not go unnoticedon the global stage with international NGOs condemningAustralia’s actions in a statement issued at the UNHCRExecutive Committee meeting in Geneva in October. In hisopening address to the UNHCR-NGO consultations inGeneva in June, High Commissioner Antonio Guterressingled out Australia as one country that had closed itsborders to people seeking protection and reflected on thecountry’s “very strange” obsession with deterring asylum

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president’s report

In March, RCOA chief executive officer Paul Power was one of six international guests invited by Yale Law School, USA to speakat its conference on “The Globalization of High Seas Interdiction”. Other speakers included UNHCR Deputy High CommissionerAlex Aleinikoff, Oxford University Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill and Azadeh Dastyari from Melbourne’s Monash University.

seekers who arrive by boat. While Australia was recognisedfor its successful resettlement program, its policies to blockasylum seekers from reaching refugee protection could nothave come at a worse time. In June, the release of UNHCRGlobal Trends statistics confirmed there were more than 50million people displaced by persecution and conflict in2013, the highest number recorded since the end of WorldWar II. The UNHCR statistics also showed that responsibilityfor caring for refugees was shifting increasingly to thedeveloping world which was now hosting 86 percent of theworld’s refugees. The generosity of Lebanon, a country of4.4 million people hosting more than 1.1 million refugeesfrom Syria, provided a stark contrast to the actions ofAustralia in repelling people in need of refugee protection.

RCOA’s international advocacy impressed on Australia, as awealthy nation and Refugee Convention signatory, to domore to protect refugees globally and in the Asia-Pacificregion where there was an urgent need for Australia toencourage its neighbours to build the incremental stepstowards a regional refugee protection framework thatwould provide better protection for refugees and asylumseekers and in the long-term remove the need for people toengage people-smugglers on dangerous sea journeys.Unfortunately, neither of the major parties in Australia sawthis as a priority and instead concentrated on short-termdeterrence policies that would prove counter-productive inthe long-term. The lack of progress in the Asia-Pacificregion was a source of great frustration to RCOA which foryears has made strong representations to government forbetter solutions to address the insecurity and lack of safepathways to refugee protection in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the Government has reported a slowdown in thenumber of asylum boats in Australian waters, we remainextremely concerned about vulnerable people risking theirlives on other perilous journeys. Our concern andcompassion for vulnerable people should not be limited toAustralian geography and we look forward to the day thatpolicies to assist people drowning at sea be enacted beforepeople are forced to board a boat. That means we lookforward to the day when positive political leadership buildsthe regional refugee protection framework that allowsasylum seekers timely refugee status determination, legalstatus, work rights and access to education and health fortheir families.

RCOA’s dedicated but small team in Sydney and Melbourneworked tirelessly to represent the sector and advocate,educate and influence the policy agenda in an increasinglydifficult political environment. One noticeable aspect ofRCOA’s work was its increasing support for refugeecommunities in Australia. Under chief executive Paul Power,RCOA recognised the critical importance of empoweringrefugees in advocacy and in education. Through the JohnGibson Refugee Community Leadership Grant, people ofrefugee background were able to make significantcontributions to UNHCR dialogues at key meetings andforums in Geneva. This kind of advocacy is powerful andRCOA is committed to increasing these opportunities forpeople of refugee background to participate in high-levelforums. Through a new program, “Face to Face”, formerrefugees share their stories at schools in New South Walesand Victoria. Refugee Week went from strength-to-strengthwith launches in Sydney and Victoria held in areas closer torefugee settlement and more than 230 events held acrossthe country. Refugee Week ambassadors were invaluable inhighlighting the positive contributions of the more than800,000 humanitarian entrants Australia has welcomed sinceFederation, providing much-needed respite from what hasbeen a protracted negative public debate about refugees.

These are the worst of times for refugees and asylum seekersbut these times bring out the best in our supporters andadvocates. Australians are increasingly expressing concern atwhat is being done in their name and it would not besurprising 30 years from now to see a Prime Minister ofAustralia rise in Parliament and offer an apology on behalf ofthe nation to refugees and asylum seekers and their familiesfor the damage caused by the cruel and inhuman treatmentthat is being done to them today. To RCOA’s supporters, Iknow you are angry and frustrated at the direction ofAustralia’s refugee policy and pessimistic about short-termchange. But we must remain united, proactive and primed toadvocate for the policies we know are workable, lawful,decent, protection-centred and consistent with theinternational human rights standards we signed up to sixtyyears ago. With your continued support, RCOA will be aneven stronger, independent voice on refugee policy.

Phil GlendenningPresident

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These are the worst of times for refugees andasylum seekers but these times bring out thebest in our supporters and advocates.

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conducting research, policy analysis, representation, trainingand community education. We are funded throughdonations and membership fees, by project grants, by trustsand foundations and by undertaking consultancies.

RCOA works to further the interests of members whothemselves are involved in the full spectrum of work withrefugees, from assisting refugees in countries of first asylumand when they repatriate to their homelands, to providingformal and informal settlement support to refugees inAustralia, offering protection and legal advice to refugeesand asylum seekers and providing emotional support andfriendship.

RCOA maintains close ties to many internationalorganisations, including the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Councilof Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Asia-Pacific Refugee RightsNetwork (APRRN) and refugee councils in other countries.Since 2009, RCOA has had Special Consultative Status withthe United Nations Economic and Social Council. It hasbeen active in the global Annual Tripartite Consultations on

To achieve this purpose, the RCOA has a number ofkey aims:

(a) To act as a unifying organisation and to represent itsmembers.

(b) To promote the empowerment of refugee communitiesand individuals in Australia and internationally andsupport the capacity building of Australia’s refugeesector.

(c) To monitor, research and present information on issuesrelating to the needs and circumstances of refugees andasylum seekers.

(d) To assist governments and inter-governmentalorganisations to formulate policy and improve supportand services for refugees and asylum seekers.

(e) To increase public awareness and media sensitivitytowards refugees and asylum seekers.

The priority activities for RCOA are set by its members, asrepresented by an elected Board. They centre on

RCOA’s objectives & prioritiesThe Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is a national, not for profit organisation with more than 1000

organisational and individual members. Formed in November 1981, RCOA’s purpose is to promote theadoption of humane, lawful and constructive policies towards refugees, asylum seekers and displaced

persons by the Australian and other Governments and their communities.

RCOA’s board members at the organisation’s 2013 Annual General Meeting in Canberra in November, (from left) MuhamaYotham, Dr Susan Harris-Rimmer, Dr Ali Nur, Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin, Professor William Maley, Sonia Caton, Jenny Semple,Shayla Strapps, Abdul Karim Hekmat, Lis de Vris, Nga Kwan, Dr Judyth Watson, Phil Glendenning.

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Resettlement for more than 15 years. The Council remainsengaged in regular dialogue with Federal and stategovernment departments, in particular the Department ofImmigration and Border Protection (DIBP), the Departmentof Social Services and the Department of Foreign Affairsand Trade, and with bodies such as the Refugee ReviewTribunal and the Australian Human Rights Commission.RCOA is a member of ICVA, APRRN and the AustralianCouncil for International Development.

Strategic plan 2011-2015

In November 2010, the RCOA Board adopted a five-yearstrategic plan for the organisation. The plan is basedaround five goals and 17 objectives related to these goals:

1. Promoting better opportunities andimproved services and support for refugeessettling in Australia

1.1 Provide opportunities for refugee services andcommunity organisations to inform RCOA about keysettlement issues and to share information on issues, policyand practice.

1.2 Support refugee community representatives in theirefforts to raise community concerns and ideas.

1.3 Conduct research into high priority refugee settlementissues, exploring examples of good practice in respondingto the issues identified.

1.4 Maintain constructive dialogue with government onissues facing refugee and humanitarian entrants and theservices which support them.

2. Promoting fairer government policiespeople seeking asylum in Australia

2.1 Maintain networks to provide members and supporterswith opportunities to inform RCOA’s work on asylum policyissues.

2.2 Monitor and conduct research into critical issuesaffecting people seeking asylum in Australia.

2.3 Maintain constructive dialogue with government onasylum policy issues.

3. Promoting more effective systems ofinternational protection for refugees andasylum seekers

3.1 Gather information from national and internationalnetworks on issues of international refugee protectionrelevant to Australian policy and communities in Australia.

3.2 Maintain constructive dialogue with UNHCR and (asappropriate) other governments and international bodies onrelevant refugee protection and resettlement issues.

4. Promoting increased public support forrefugees

4.1 Provide information on refugee issues to members,supporters and the general public, including throughregular publications, websites, social networking and (asappropriate) emerging technologies.

4.2 Engage with the Australian media, encouragingbalanced reporting of refugee and asylum issues and givingRCOA’s perspectives on relevant issues of public interest.

4.3 Provide opportunities for supporters to become activelyinvolved in supporting the work of RCOA and its members.

4.4 Inform Australians about international protection needsand enhance support for Australia’s continued involvementin refugee protection and resettlement, through publicactivities (e.g. Refugee Week), awareness-raising strategies(e.g. promotion of Refugee Welcome Zones), presentationsand provision of information to the public.

5. Enhancing the capacity of RCOA to achieveits organisational goals

5.1 Strengthen the financial viability of RCOA and ensurecompliance with legal obligations.

5.2 Increase public financial support through membershipand fundraising, working closely with the AustralianRefugee Foundation.

5.3 Maintain an effective staff team, supported by a humanresources strategy which monitors workload and providesappropriate training and support to staff.

5.4 Increase the board’s capacity to undertake its roles ingovernance, policy setting and representing a diverse,national membership.

Between November and February, educator Maya Cranitchconducted training sessions in Melbourne and Sydney toprepare refugee community members to share their storiesas part of RCOA’s Face to Face program in schools.

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RCOA’s people

Ordinary members

Lis de Vries, Individual Member Representative, Victoria

Dr Susan Harris-Rimmer, Individual Member, ACT

Abdul Karim Hekmat, Youth Worker, Fairfield MigrantResource Centre NSW (from 26 November 2013)

Wah Wah Naw, Counsellor, NSW Service for the Treatmentand Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (until 26November 2013)

Fr Maurizio Pettena CS, Director, Australian CatholicMigrant and Refugee Office (until 26 November 2013)

Jenny Semple, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Migrantand Refugee Centre, Victoria

Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin, Manager, Settlement DeliverySupport Services, AMES, Victoria

Shayla Strapps, CASE for Refugees, WA (from 25 November2013)

Bobby Whitfield, President, Federation of LiberianCommunities in Australia

Muhama Yotham, Individual Member, South Australia (until5 May 2014)

STAFF 2013-14

As at 30 June 2014, RCOA had four full-time and six part-time staff

Chief Executive Officer (Sydney)Paul Power

Communications Manager (Sydney)Andrew Williams

Research Coordinator (Melbourne)Rebecca Eckard

Information and Policy Coordinator (Sydney)Lucy Morgan

Office Manager (Sydney)Effie Mitchell

Projects Manager (Sydney)Eileen Wahab

International Policy Coordinator (Melbourne)Louise Olliff

Policy Officer (Melbourne)Asher Hirsch

Administration and Membership Officer (Sydney)Rebecca Langton

Accounting Officer (Sydney)Martyn Green

Volunteers and interns 2013-14

Georgina Burke

Sam Campisi

Georgia-Rae Cobon

Sophie Farrell

Latifa Hekmat

Olivia Miley-Dyer

Phoebe Miley-Dyer

Sarah Morgan

Lisa Norman

Mimi Oorloff

Anastasia Palmer-Hughes

Rosaria Pepe

Touka Shoukor

Melissa Thatcher

Alison Woodward

Secretary (from 26 November 2013): Dr Ali Nur, IndividualMember, Darwin, NT

Treasurer: Nga Kwan, Member of Institute of CharteredAccountants in Australia, NSW

Chairperson: Sonia Caton, Solicitor and Migration Agent;Representative, Refugee and Immigration Legal Service,Queensland

BOARD 2013-14

Office bearers

President: Phil Glendenning, Director, Edmund Rice Centre,NSW

Vice-President: Professor William Maley AM, Barrister-at-Law; Director, Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy, AustralianNational University, ACT

Secretary (until 26 November 2013): Dr Judyth Watson,Board member, Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugee andDetainees (CARAD), WA

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representing 195 organisations and more than 35 differentnational and ethnic groups.

National Settlement Policy Network

The National Settlement Policy Network provides anopportunity for members of RCOA and the SettlementCouncil of Australia to share information, plan advocacy andlisten to guest speakers on various themes. In 2013-14,three teleconferences were convened to discuss: advocacypriorities for the settlement sector under a new government;the role of local government in the settlement process; andsupporting humanitarian entrants with a disability.

Engaging with government

With a new government installed in Canberra, RCOA had animportant role in communicating the realignment ofministerial responsibilities for settlement services from theDepartment of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to

The decrease in the program from 20,000 to 13,750disappointed our members who had long advocated for anexpanded program. The Coalition’s elevation to office alsoresulted in changes in the machinery of government withresponsibility for settlement services and multicultural affairsshifting from the Department of Immigration and BorderProtection to the Department of Social Services and carriageof the Adult and Migrant English Program to the Departmentof Industry. RCOA continued to promote positive practices insettlement support and advocated on behalf of memberorganisations to state and federal government agencies foradjustments to policies and programs to better meet therequirements of humanitarian entrants.

Submission on the 2014-15 refugeeprogram

Following months of research and consultations withrefugee communities and service providers, RCOAcompleted its annual submission on Australia’s Refugee andHumanitarian Program. In January, RCOA chief executiveofficer Paul Power presented the submission andrecommendations to Immigration Minister Scott Morrison atthe Minister’s annual discussion on the HumanitarianProgram with peak bodies and community representatives.Key recommendations included: increasing the number ofrefugees Australia accepts under the annual intake programto help bridge the widening gulf between globalresettlement needs and available places; helping improveconditions for refugees who will never be resettled;reviewing Australia’s migration program to identifyopportunities for refugees to enter Australia through skilledand family streams; revising the Community Proposal Pilotto ease access for applicants; developing a separateHumanitarian Family Reunion Program; increasing supportavailable to asylum seekers in the community; abandoningoffshore processing; and restoring a single statutory systemof onshore processing. RCOA’s submission was based onconsultations with approximately 845 participants,

Australia’s Refugee and HumanitarianProgram, 2013-14

• Offshore refugee visas: 6,501

• Offshore Special Humanitarian visas: 4,515

• Permanent Onshore protection visas: 2,752

• Total permanent refugee and humanitarian visas: 13,768

Temporary humanitarian visas

• Temporary Protection Visas 23

• Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas 112

• Temporary Humanitarian Stay Visas 253

Total 388

• Primary countries of origin for offshore refugee andhumanitarian entrants were Afghanistan (2,754), Iraq(2,364), Burma (1,819), Syria (1,007), Bhutan (507), Iran(431), Democratic Republic of Congo (326), Eritrea (277),Somalia (237), Ethiopia (221). Regions of origin were Asia-Pacific (50%), Middle East (36%), Africa (16%).

• Primary countries of origin for the 545 refugees whoentered Australia by boat and received permanent onshoreprotection visas in 2013-14 were: Afghanistan (232),Stateless (78), Iran (73), Sri Lanka (58), Pakistan (50), Iraq(30).).

• Primary countries of origin for the other 2,207 refugeeswho received permanent onshore protection visas were:Pakistan (382), Egypt (342), Iran (309), Libya (192), China(144), Iraq (100), Afghanistan (85), Lebanon (64), India (59),Papua New Guinea (53).

refugee settlementpolicyWith a change of Federal Government in

September, the Coalition implementedits election policy of reducing the size of

the Refugee and Humanitarian Program by 6,250places. At a time when the number of displacedpeople was the highest it had been since the end ofWorld War II, there was a critical need forresettlement states like Australia to lead byexample and offer additional places.

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the Department of Social Services and the Department ofIndustry to members. RCOA also participated in a meeting ofthe Government’s Survey Reference Group for a longitudinalsurvey of refugee and humanitarian entrants and attendedthe DIBP’s consultations on the family migration program.CEO Paul Power continued his engagement with Ministersand senior officials as a member of the Government’sRefugee Resettlement Advisory Council. RCOA raisedconcerns with the Department of Social Services and theGovernment about the delays in confirming SettlementGrants Program (SGP) funding for 2014-15 and theimplications this posed to organisations administering vitalsettlement services through SGP providers.

At the state level, RCOA’s engagement with the VictorianGovernment remained positive with Minister forMulticultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras inDecember providing RCOA $120,000 over two years underthe Peak Multicultural Organisations Grants Program for aprogram to involve refugee community members moredirectly in advocacy on issues of shared concern. TheMinister said: “The Victorian Coalition Governmentrecognises the Refugee Council of Australia’s outstandingservice to the Victorian community, in forming collaborative,humane and innovative policy responses with humanitariancommunities, and in building the capacity of Victoria’srefugee sector.” In NSW, RCOA partnered with theCommunity Relations Commission to publish a resource toassist NSW government agencies in understanding andmeeting the needs of asylum seekers and people fromrefugee backgrounds settling in the State. The resourceprovided information on Australia’s Refugee andHumanitarian Program, settlement trends in NSW, typicalexperiences of people fleeing persecution and supportservices available to humanitarian entrants.

Research

In July 2013, RCOA received funding from the Geddes NairnDevelopment Fund, through the Australian CommunitiesFoundation, to conduct research into current housing issuesfor refugees and asylum seekers. RCOA published aliterature review on research into housing issues facingrefugees and asylum seekers. The research project wasinformed by interviews conducted with representatives from47 organisations and community groups from the AfghanHazara, Iranian, Iraqi, Karen, Rohingya, Somali, Sri LankanTamil and Sudanese communities throughout Australia, witha draft report published in 2014. RCOA also examined therole of refugee community organisations in the settlementof new arrivals. “The Strength Within” highlighted the oftenunnoticed and overwhelmingly voluntary work conducted byrefugee community organisations in fostering socialparticipation, economic and personal wellbeing,independence, life satisfaction and community connectionsand profiled the work of five community organisations.

Submissions

RCOA made a number of submissions on a wide range ofissues affecting refugees including housing affordability,education and racial discrimination. On housing issues,RCOA sent a submission to the Senate EconomicReferences Committee Inquiry into Affordable Housing.Based on consultations with refugees and asylum seekers,RCOA recommended increasing housing stock, providingfinancial support and extending work rights to asylumseekers. A similar submission was made to the NSWLegislative Council inquiry into social, public and affordablehousing. The Senate Standing Committee on Education andEmployment Inquiry into Technical and Further Education inAustralia provided an opportunity for RCOA to raise theexperiences of refugee communities in vocationaleducation. RCOA’s submission explained how thecompetitive training market had resulted in lower qualitysupport to some refugee and humanitarian entrants inTAFEs and argued for better regulation and monitoring ofthe quality of vocational education and training (VET)provides. The Federal Attorney-General’s proposedamendments to the Racial Discrimination Act providedRCOA with the opportunity to convey fears expressed byAustralians of refugee background about racism and abusein Australia. The submission argued that the proposedamendments would weaken protection against racism,racial vilification and discrimination. The submission wasinformed by consultations RCOA held with Australians ofrefugee background who shared many experiences ofracism at work, in public places, on public transport and insocial activities such as sporting clubs. RCOA was also oneof more than 150 organisations to sign a joint letter urgingthe Attorney-General not to repeal the racial vilificationprotections in the Racial Discrimination Act.

refugee settlement policy

Three generations of the Koirala family, who were resettledto Australia in 2009 as Bhutanese refugees from Nepal,outside the home they are purchasing in Launceston,Tasmania. Their positive experience in the housing market inAustralia was among many explored in RCOA’s research onfinding sustainable housing for refugees and asylum seekers.

In July, the newly reinstalled Prime Minister Kevin Ruddexpanded his predecessor Julia Gillard’s reintroduction ofoffshore processing by announcing hastily negotiated andmisnamed “resettlement arrangements” with Papua NewGuinea and Nauru which would see all future asylum seekerswho arrived by boat permanently expelled from Australia.After a change of government in September, the newLiberal-National Coalition government of Tony Abbotteclipsed all of its predecessors with the harshness of itspolicies which were designed to make it as difficult aspossible for anyone trying to reach Australia to seek asylum.Maintaining Mr Rudd’s new policy, the Abbott Governmentbegan turning back boats and increased pressure on peopleto withdraw their asylum claims and return home. Asylumseekers already living in Australia on bridging visas werepunished for their mode of arrival, with many denied theright to work and forced to subsist on thelowest form of government assistance.Australia continued to indefinitely detainrecognised refugees with adverse ASIOsecurity assessments, ignoring a UNHuman Rights Committee finding that thisamounts to arbitrary detention and cruel,inhuman and degrading treatment inviolation of the International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights. The practice ofdetaining asylum seeker children indetention was the subject of anotherinquiry by the Australian Human RightsCommission.

In the lead-up to the Federal election on7 September, RCOA mobilised 78 faithand community NGOs to issue astatement titled “Enough is Enough” tomark the first anniversary of theAustralian Government’s reintroduction ofoffshore detention of asylum seekers. Theplea for a new approach built onprotection rather than punishment, factsover fear-mongering and long-termsolutions instead of short-term politicalgain was ignored as the new Coalitiongovernment delivered on its commitmentto “stop the boats” and insisted that

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A young boy waits to be registered with his mother in June after being rescuedfrom a tiny, overcrowded fishing boat on the Mediterranean Sea as part ofItaly’s Mare Nostrum search and rescue operation. The Italian Government’sapproach was in stark contrast to the Australian Government’s OperationSovereign Border which saw 12 boats carrying 383 asylum seekers forciblyreturned between December 2013 and May 2014. © UNHCR/A.D'Amato

asylum policyThe year 2013-14 was the worst time to be an

asylum seeker in Australia’s history withLabor and Coalition governments

implementing harsh policies that stripped awaybasic rights and decent treatment of people seekingasylum in Australia.

term “illegal maritime arrivals” be used by government staffand contractors. In November, RCOA coordinated 138NGOs, faith-based organisations and community groups ina joint statement condemning the Government’s use ofsuch dehumanising terminology.

Operation Sovereign Borders

Soon after the change of government in September, theAustralian Government established “Operation SovereignBorders”, a military-style response to the movement ofasylum seekers by boat to Australia. Led by a three-stargeneral reporting directly to the Minister for Immigration andBorder Protection, naval and customs officers were issuedwith orders to turn back boats carrying asylum seekers“when safe to do so”. As part of turn-back operations,asylum seekers were transferred from lifeboats to Australianvessels and forced to board fully-enclosed and “unsinkable”lifeboats which were then cast adrift outside Indonesianterritorial waters. The Australian Government also investedresources into strengthening border protection anddeterrence measures to stop asylum seekers from reachingAustralia, including donating patrol vessels to Malaysia andSri Lanka and stationing Australian Customs and BorderProtection officials in Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

RCOA continued to encourage the Government to makegreater use of community arrangements for more than3,000 asylum seekers in long-term detention.

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Outsourcing Australia’s internationalobligations

Two months before the election, the Labor Government ofKevin Rudd entered into agreements with the governmentsof Papua New Guinea and Nauru to subject all asylumseekers who arrive in Australia by boat to offshoreprocessing. Asylum seekers were transferred to detentioncentres in Nauru and Manus Island where their claims forrefugee protection would be processed under the laws ofthose countries. If found to be refugees, asylum seekerswould be resettled in a country other than Australia. Thisarrangement, without precedent in the world, attractedstrong condemnation from UNHCR, Australian andinternational NGOs and civil society groups who warnedthat keeping asylum seekers in appalling conditions with noclear plan for their long-term protection was damagingvulnerable people and destroying Australia’s reputation forfairness and decency. Tragically, the frustrations inside theManus Island detention centre erupted in February, resultingin the death of Reza Berati, a 24-year-old asylum seekerfrom Iran, while 70 others sustained injuries, some serious.Despite the extreme violence and calls for the centre to beclosed, Manus Island remained a key part of theGovernment’s asylum policy agenda which extended tonegotiations with Cambodia to send recognised refugeesfrom Nauru to Cambodia, despite the South-East Asiancountry’s history of forcibly returning refugees topersecution and limited capacity to support refugees.

Deported to danger

In pursuit of its election promise to “stop the boats”, theGovernment embarked on a range of measures todiscourage asylum seekers from accessing support to lodgea claim for refugee status. Measures included delaying theRefugee Status Determination process for asylum seekerswho arrived by boat, developing plans for a “fast-track”processing regime to make assessments within 14 dayswithout access to independent merits review, removal ofgovernment-funded legal advice to help asylum seekerslodge claims and “enhanced screening” to deny asylumseekers the opportunity to have their claims fairly andthoroughly assessed. RCOA members raised concerns thatthe cumulative effect of these measures placed vulnerable

people at serious risk of being sent back to danger. The fearand anxiety felt by asylum seekers facing the prospect ofbeing deported to danger were tragically illustrated by thedeath of a young Tamil man, Leo Seemanpillai, who in Juneset himself on fire in Geelong while waiting for resolutionof his refugee status.

Punishment as policy

The Australian Government’s harsh deterrents againstasylum seekers arriving by boat were also applied to theestimated 30,000 asylum seekers living in Australia onbridging visas. Asylum seekers with Bridging Visas that hadexpired and not been renewed were left without legalstatus and, in some instances, access to work rights theypreviously enjoyed. The granting of new permanentprotection visas to asylum seekers was suspended when theMinister issued of a cap on visa grants. This condemnedanyone in the process of applying for refugee status, orasylum seekers asking for refugee protection, to a life offear and uncertainty on bridging visas. Even refugees whohad arrived by boat as asylum seekers years ago wereretrospectively punished by a ministerial directive ensuringfamily visa applications lodged by refugees who arrived byboat would be given the lowest processing priority.Payments for young asylum seekers were reduced andasylum seekers were forced to abide by a Code ofBehaviour that gave the Government discretion to use avery broad definition of anti-social behaviour to detainasylum seekers or expel them to Nauru or Manus Island.

Temporary Protection Visas

RCOA registered its strong opposition to the needlesslypunitive and counter-productive Temporary Protection Visa(TPV) regime pursued by the Government. Thereintroduction in October of TPVs was one of the few harshdeterrence policies which Parliament blocked, with theSenate voting in December to disallow the regulation.Despite this, the Government continued with its temporaryprotection policy, using the existing TemporaryHumanitarian Stay and Temporary Humanitarian Concernvisas as a substitute to TPVs.

asylum policy

13

Detention

Asylum seekers, including children, continued to languish inimmigration detention facilities on the Australian mainland,Christmas Island and in offshore processing centres inNauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. RCOAcontinued to advocate for the release of recognisedrefugees in indefinite detention on the basis of adverseASIO security assessments, arguing for the Government toexercise available options ranging from unconditionalrelease to appropriate supervisory arrangements. TheGovernment’s announcement that it would close sixdetention centres in the Northern Territory, WesternAustralia and Christmas Island was welcome but RCOAdrew attention to the increasing rate of long-termdetention, noting that between 30 September 2013 and 31March 2014, the number of people detained for six monthsor more increased nearly six-fold from 621 to 3,618. RCOAcontinued to encourage the Government to make greateruse of community arrangements for more than 3,000asylum seekers in long-term detention.

Networking and advocacy

RCOA identified the need for greater information sharingand advocacy on issues affecting asylum seekers and inOctober created four working groups among memberorganisations under its National Asylum Policy Network. Theworking groups concentrated on asylum seekers in thecommunity, detention, interception and offshore processingand refugee status determination and legal aid. TheNational Asylum Policy Network convened sixteleconferences in 2013-14 and RCOA continued to chairboth the Network of Asylum Seeker Agencies (Victoria) andthe Asylum Seeker Interagency meetings in NSW, creatingopportunities for RCOA members to work together on keyasylum policy concerns. These concerns were taken upactively throughout the year by RCOA in meetings andcorrespondence with senior officials and Parliamentariansand in Department of Immigration and Border Protection’sformal dialogue with NGOs in March.

Research

RCOA produced a summary of the Federal Budget revealingthe DIBP would spend $2.96 billion on onshore detention-related services, community release, status resolution andoffshore asylum seeker management in 2014-15. RCOAalso produced an analysis of the Federal Government’sAugust 2013 economic statement which introduced anumber of changes to policies and programs affectingrefugees and asylum seekers. In the lead-up to theSeptember election, RCOA assembled election guidesoutlining the refugee and asylum policies of the majorparties as well as the minor party candidates for the Senate.

Submissions

RCOA made two submissions to the Senate StandingCommittee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs,recommending two migration amendment Bills before theParliament not be passed. RCOA argued against repealingthe complementary protection provisions of the MigrationAct 1958, citing case studies of people found to be owedprotection under this framework and warned that a return toa discretionary and non-compellable Ministerial interventionmechanism risked undermining refugee protection for peopleat risk of serious human rights violations. RCOA also sent asubmission to the Australian Human Rights Commission’sInquiry into Children in Detention and provided evidence atits public hearing in Sydney.

As part of the National Inquiry into Children in ImmigrationDetention, inquiry staff visited immigration detentionfacilities to speak to children in detention. During thesevisits, staff gave the children paper and textas and askedthem to draw something about their life. The drawingswere the children’s submissions to the inquiry. Staff askedthe children for their permission to publish their pictures. Photo credit: Australian Human Rights Commission, National Inquiry into

Children in Immigration Detention

Unfortunately, neither major political partyseemed seriously interested in effective actionto improve refugee protection in the Asia-Pacificregion. Instead, Australia devoted its energieson harsh and punitive measures to stop peopletravelling by boat to seek asylum and in theprocess attracted the critical scrutiny ofinternational NGOs and the United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Inan answer to a question asked by an Australianrefugee community member at the UNHCR-NGO consultations in Geneva in June, the HighCommissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterresdescribed as “very strange” Australia’sobsession with deterring asylum seekers whoarrive by boat to seek refugee protection.

UNHCR NGO consultations

RCOA chief executive officer Paul Power joinedfive refugee community representatives and ateam of NGO leaders from Australia for theconsultations in Geneva in June, which drew 485delegates from 82 countries. RCOA alsoarranged meetings with the directors and seniorstaff of five UNHCR bureaux to present concernsgathered through community consultations inAustralia in preceding months. The meetings alsoprovided an opportunity to share informationand ideas with other NGOs from around theglobe about policy changes in differentcountries, with delegates from many nationsexpressing deep concern about the internationalimplications of recent policy changes in Australia.This year’s UNHCR-NGO consultation theme was“Women’s Leadership and Participation”.

Supporting refugeecommunity representation

Through the John Gibson Refugee CommunityLeadership Grant, RCOA was able to send aMelbourne-based former refugee from Iraq,Nuha Markus, to UNHCR’s NGO Consultations inGeneva. Nuha was chosen from a strong field ofapplicants for the grant, which was named inhonour of the late John Gibson, RCOA presidentfrom 2006 to 2012. The grant was offered byRCOA with financial support from SettlementServices International, Australian Council forInternational Development and AmnestyInternational Australia. Nuha was able to raisecommunity concerns in formal sessions of thethree-day NGO Consultations and in meetings

RCOA focused its engagement in international forums onencouraging Australia to show leadership in regionalrefugee protection and addressing the most basic needs

of people fleeing persecution. In 2013, the number of peopledisplaced world-wide passed 50 million, the highest levelsince World War II, making the international refugee situationone of the most challenging the world has ever seen.

UNHCR global refugee statistics, 2013

Refugees under UNHCR’s mandate 11.7 million

Refugees under UNRWA’s mandate (Palestinians) 5.0 million

Total 16.7 million

Asylum seekers 1.2 million

Internally displaced persons 33.3 million

TOTAL 51.2 million

Top host countries for refugees, 31 December 20131 Pakistan 1,616,500 7 Chad 434,500

2 Iran 857,400 8 Ethiopia 433,900

3 Lebanon 856,500 9 China 301,000

4 Jordan 641,900 10 United States 263,600

5 Turkey 609,900 49 Australia 34,503

6 Kenya 534,900

Asylum seekers recognised as refugees, 20131 Lebanon 739,772 7 Ethiopia 55,293

2 Jordan 671,931 8 Chad 52,227

3 Turkey 491,955 9 Uganda 40,420

4 Iraq 173,479 10 Mauritania 31,464

5 Egypt 124,760

6 Dem. Rep. of Congo 57,164

Refugees resettled, 20131 United States 66,249 7 New Zealand 840

2 Australia 13,169 8 Finland 674

3 Canada 12,173 9 Denmark 515

4 Sweden 1,902 10 Netherlands 311

5 United Kingdom 966 Others (11 countries) 679

6 Norway 948 Total 98,426

Australia’s role in refugee protection, 2013Global total Australia

Refugees under UNHCR mandate, 31 December 2013 11,703,179 34,503 0.29% (48th)

Asylum applications received in 2013 3,411,962 11,741 0.34% (33rd)

Asylum applications pending, 31 December 2013 1,171,762 13,559 1.16% (18th)

Asylum seekers recognised as refugees, 2013 2,821,115 5,035 0.18% (36th)

Refugees resettled from other countries, 2013 98,426 13,169 13.38% (2nd)

Refugees recognised, registered or resettled, 2013 2,919,541 18,204 0.62% (17th)

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international links

15

RCOA arranged with senior managers of UNHCR. RCOAworked closely with the Centre for Refugee Research,University of NSW in planning the joint advocacy efforts ofthe Australian delegates and in providing support to refugeerepresentatives. RCOA also invited submissions from refugeecommunities on issues to raise at the UNHCR-NGOconsultations. Submissions were received from communitiesfrom Burma including the Rohingya, Oromo, Eritrean, Iraqi,Bhutanese and Syrian communities and were incorporatedinto briefing papers and raised at the UNHCR meetings.

Annual Tripartite Consultations onResettlement

The 2014 Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement(ATCR) was held in Geneva in June and hosted by Denmark.Australia was represented by refugee representative JosephYouhana, RCOA chief executive officer Paul Power, AMESrepresentative and RCOA board member Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin, Settlement Council of Australia chairperson CedricManen and Paris Aristotle from Foundation House. Thescale of the Syrian refugee crisis and the vast unmet needfor refugee resettlement continued from the previous yearas dominant themes.

The 2013 ATCR also took place in 2013-14. It was held inJuly and drew government and NGO representatives from29 resettlement countries. The Australian NGO movementwas represented by Paul Power, Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin,Cedric Manen and Alfred Kamara as Australia’s refugeerepresentative. While the refugee crisis in the regionsurrounding Syria was a dominant theme, delegatesdiscussed ways of improving access to resettlement forparticular refugee populations, including those fromAfghanistan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo andColombia. Discussion also focused on separated children,women and girls at risk, gay and lesbian refugees, mentalhealth issues and refugees’ access to employment.

Regional refugee protection issues

The prospects for effective refugee protection for asylumseekers and refugees in the Asia-Pacific region remainedbleak. RCOA continued to advocate on behalf of refugeesand asylum seekers living in appalling conditions in parts ofSouth-East Asia, identifying 10 incremental measures toimprove refugee protection and imploring the AustralianGovernment to encourage countries in the region to workcooperatively on finding better solutions to the challengesdriving irregular movement in the region. RCOA expressedits disappointment at the lack of progress on regionalrefugee protection after 13 countries, including Australia,met in Jakarta in August for the Special Conference onIrregular Movement of Persons. While the 13 countries

issued a Declaration on Addressing Irregular Movement ofPersons which recognised the need for a protection-sensitive regional approach to irregular movement, greateraccess to legal migration pathways, harmonisation ofassessment processes and timely search and rescueoperations to reduce deaths at sea, these points were givenless emphasis in a communique which viewed a growinghumanitarian crisis in terms of border control.

UNHCR Executive Committee

In October, RCOA President Phil Glendenning was one oftwo non-government observers on the Australiandelegation to the annual UNHCR Executive Committee(ExCom) meeting in Geneva. In the lead-up, RCOA outlinedthe key refugee protection challenges that should be centralto discussions by representatives of the 87 nations whichmake up UNHCR’s ExCom. These included the need toencourage the world’s wealthiest nations not to turn theirbacks on refugees; cooperating on a regional level toprotect refugees; and developing alternatives to detention.

International Policy Network

RCOA’s International Policy Network met four times to reviewfeedback and outcomes from the 2013 June StandingCommittee meeting, UNHCR-NGO consultations and AnnualTripartite Consultations on Resettlement, Australian NGOparticipation and outcomes at the Executive Committeemeeting of UNHCR and to plan for 2014 meetings.

Other networking

RCOA chief executive officer Paul Power travelled to NewZealand in April to explore ways of strengthening links withNGOs working on refugee issues and spoke at meetingsorganised by the NZ National Refugee Network. The NZNational Refugee Network and RCOA co-chair theAustralia, New Zealand and Pacific Working Group of theAsia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). In March,Paul Power was invited to present at a conference on highseas interdiction of boats of asylum seekers held at YaleLaw School in New Haven, United States where Australia’sinterception of boats of asylum seekers was scrutinised byrefugee law experts from the USA, Europe and Australia.

Submissions

RCOA made a submission to the Joint Standing Committeeon Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into humanrights issues confronting women and girls in the IndianOcean-Asia Pacific region and to the Attorney-General’sDepartment on the Draft Fifth Report by Australia on theConvention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman orDegrading Treatment or Punishment.

Cohesion Program, Face to Face saw the training in 2013-14 of 12 presenters of refugee background to work withRCOA staff to deliver presentations to students, teachers,parents and carers in schools in the Greater Sydney,Wollongong and Melbourne areas. In its first five months,the program involved 22 presentations to more than 3300people. In addition, RCOA staff gave more than 60 otherpresentations on matters of refugee policy, to conferences,seminars, community groups, interagency networks,university and NGO audiences.

Refugee Welcome Zones

The Refugee Welcome Zone initiative gathered momentumin 2013-14 with almost 100 councils having signed up toexpress a commitment in spirit to welcome refugees intothe community. With the addition of the City ofPalmerston, the first council in the Northern Territory tojoin, there are now Refugee Welcome Zones in everyAustralian state and territory with a local governmentstructure. Other councils to declare themselves RefugeeWelcome Zones in 2013-14 were: Hawkesbury City andLeeton Shire (NSW); Derwent Valley and West Tamar

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RCOA bolstered its efforts to counter the myths andmisinformation about asylum seekers and refugees andcreated more opportunities for humanitarian entrants to telltheir stories. In a first for RCOA, a schools incursionprogram “Face to Face” was launched with speakers ofrefugee background trained to present at schools under apilot program, which has since been expanded.

RCOA launched “Bright Ideas” to publicise best-practiceinitiatives in refugee settlement. Refugee Week provided aconstant in the annual calendar for former refugees topromote and celebrate the contributions of the more than800,000 people who have arrived as humanitarian entrantssince Federation.

Schools program and publicpresentations

RCOA’s new schools program, “Face to Face”, waslaunched at Magdalene Catholic High School, at Narellan inSydney’s south-west, with William Wol, who fled Sudan asa child sharing his story with year 10 students. Supportedby the Australian Government’s Diversity and Social

information and community educationThe national public debate about refugees in Australia remained fixated on the Government’s harsh and

brutal deterrence policies. Political leaders insisted on incorrectly labelling asylum seekers as “illegal”incorporating the term into official government terminology and policy.

In February, Magdalene Catholic High School at Narellan in south-west Sydney was the first school to participate in our Faceto Face program, providing students with the opportunity to hear directly from former refugees like William Wol, picturedwith Year 10 students.

(Tasmania) and; Queenscliffe, Moira Shire and Hobsons BayCity (Victoria). In December, RCOA published a researchpaper to profile the positive programs of selected RefugeeWelcome Zones and share information for councilsconsidering signing up for the initiative.

A Just Australia

The “A Just Australia” campaign on refugee and asylumseeker issues provides members with an opportunity tosupport RCOA’s positions on key issues. In 2013-14,campaigns encouraged members to contact electioncandidates to demand fairer and humane refugee policiesand to lobby Members of Parliament and Senators to voteagainst the reintroduction of Temporary Protection Visas.Campaigns also urged an end to the immigration detentionof children while members were also encouraged to attendPalm Sunday rallies that called on Australia to treat refugeesand asylum seekers with dignity. Work also started ondeveloping a new “Write To Be Heard campaign” toencourage AJA members to write at least once a month toelected representatives on issues of concern.

Refugee Week 2014

Australia celebrated the rich contributions of humanitarianarrivals at more than 230 events during Refugee Week. Inthe final year of the “Restoring Hope” theme, eventsincluded breakfasts, soccer tournaments, artexhibitions, film festivals and booklaunches. RCOA coordinated Refugee Weeklaunches in Granville, Sydney (in partnershipwith STARTTS and Settlement ServicesInternational) and in Ballarat (in partnershipwith the City of Ballarat, Ballarat RegionalMulticultural Council and the Centre forMulticultural Youth). Guest speakers at theSydney launch included former refugee AliAli and RCOA President Phil Glendenning.The Sydney launch also featured the DarioPalermo Refugee Art Exhibition andpresentation of 2014 NSW RefugeeHumanitarian Awards. The Victorian launchat Ballarat included speeches from KonKarapanagiotidis OAM, founder and CEO ofthe Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, BallaratCouncillor Belinda Coates and SadikiMukasa, a young refugee of Congolesebackground and recipient of City ofBallarat’s 2013 Youth of the Year Award.Our wonderful and generous Refugee Weekambassadors were busy speaking at eventsand appearing in a number of mediainterviews to promote Refugee Week.

Statements, publications and socialmedia

During 2013-14, RCOA produced numerous publicstatements, bulletins, reports and briefings on a wide rangeof topical issues related to asylum, refugee settlement andinternational refugee policy. The 46 media releases issuedduring the year was a greater number than for any year inRCOA’s history. RCOA’s presence on social media platformsFacebook and twitter continued to grow, providing anotheravenue for RCOA to distribute its publications andstatements, as well as share a wide range of stories,research reports and information about refugees andasylum seekers.

As a strategy to promote best-practice initiatives insettlement, RCOA launched the “Bright Ideas” series,highlighting local strategies to support refugees and asylumseekers. Initiatives highlighted throughout 2013-14included: Asylum Seeker Swap-Meet Dinners; the AfricanAustralian Inclusion Program; the Optimising Health andLearning Project; Music for Refugees; Youth EmploymentForum; the Bridging Visa Social Club; Real Estate andNESAY Tips to Encourage Rental Success (RENTERS)Program; Water Well Project; Spoken English Classes; FlyingMountain Project; Work and Welcome; and the AfghanMen’s Exercise Group.

The Victorian launch of Refugee Week was celebrated in Ballarat in Junewith the City of Ballarat Youth of the Year Sadiki Mukasa (right) sharinghis story on the “Restoring Hope” theme.

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Our sources of income

Donations and memberships $521,072 54%

Core funding from Federal Government $140,000 14%

Federal Government contracts $120,213 12%

Grants from non-government sources $92,787 10%

Australian Refugee Foundation $50,000 5%

State Government grants $20,000 2%

Consultancies $16,013 2%

Interest and other income $6,614 1%

TOTAL $966,700

our organisation

Add your support to our work

RCOA cannot continue its work as an independentcommunity voice for fair treatment of refugeesand asylum seekers without the support ofAustralians who share its goals. Tax-deductibledonations to RCOA are always needed andgratefully received. For more information, contactRCOA on (02) 9211 9333 or visit our website –www.refugeecouncil.org.au

Support for our work

On 30 May, RCOA launched a public appeal forfinancial support after Immigration Minister ScottMorrison removed our organisation’s core funding twoweeks after allocating funds in the Federal Budget. Wewere very grateful for the generous public responsewhich enabled us to cover the $140,000 in lost corefunding for 2014-15 and provided us additional fundsfor otherwise unfunded programs.

RCOA will respond to this overwhelming show of supportby being even more active in community education, policydevelopment and representation in 2014-15. We willcontinue to seek public financial support as we now haveto rely on donations and membership fees for our income –and we are determined to remain focused on being acredible and strong community voice for sound refugeepolicy. Thank you to the many people who donated, thosewho promoted our cause to friends and through socialmedia and the organisations which made public statementsor wrote letters about the removal of our funding includingAustralian Council of Social Service, Federation of EthnicCommunities’ Councils of Australia and Asia PacificRefugee Rights Network.

The $464,138 in donations received from the public waseasily the largest amount received in RCOA’s 33-yearhistory, being more than double the amount received in anyprevious year. In addition, RCOA’s membership reached anhistoric high, growing by 17% on the previous year to1076. As at 30 June 2014, RCOA had 196 organisationalmembers, 877 individual members and three life members.

Najeeba Wazefadost (second from right) shares her ideas as Australian refugee community and NGO delegates refine theiradvocacy plans prior to meeting senior UNHCR officials in Geneva in June.

In June, I travelled to Geneva withthe Australian National Committeeon Refugee Women to participate inUNHCR’s global NGO Consultations.Our work was supported by theRCOA which consulted with refugeecommunities and gathered concernsfor us to discuss with UNHCRofficials. RCOA’s research on nationaland international refugee issues isimpressive. We need to supportRCOA to make sure this continues.

Najeeba Wazefadost

Hazara Women’s Association

Honorary life membersProfessor Marie Bashir

Harold Grant (died 23 August 2013)

Tuong Quang Luu

Barbara Young

Organisational members4Walls

Access Community Services Ltd

ActionAid Australia

Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Australia

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia

Alice People Services

AMES

Amnesty International Australia

Anglican Diocese of Adelaide

Anglicare Migrant and Refugee Services (Sydney)

Anglicare North Coast

Anglicare Refugee and Migrant Settlement Services (NT)

Armidale Sanctuary

Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors(ASeTTS)

Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Health

Assyrian Australian Association

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Asylum Seekers Centre

Auburn Diversity Services Inc

Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office

Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

Australian Council For International Development

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Australian Education Union

Australian Karen Foundation

Australian Karen Organisation

Australian Lutheran World Service

Australian National Committee on Refugee Women

Australian Red Cross

Australian Refugee Association Inc

Ballarat Community Health

Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council

Balmain for Refugees

Baptist Care Australia

Barnabas Relief Education and Development

Bhutanese Organisation In Australia Inc

Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group

B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand

Brotherhood of St Laurence, Ecumenical Migration Centre

Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia

Cabramatta Community Centre

Canberra Refugee Support Inc

Caritas Australia

CASE for Refugees

Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba, Social Justice Commission

Catholic Immigration Office

Catholic Religious Australia

Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace

Centacare Catholic Family Services SA

Centacare Tasmania

Centacare Wagga Wagga

Centre for Multicultural Pastoral Care

Centre for Multicultural Youth

Centre for Refugee Research, University of NSW

Centrecare Incorporated

ChilOut

Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees

Communicare

Communify Queensland

Community Migrant Resource Centre

Companion House

Diompillor Kissia SA

Diversitat

Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the SolomonIslands

Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education

Edmund Rice Centre Mirrabooka

Executive Council of Australian Jewry

FamilyCare

Federation of Liberian Communities in Australia

Fitzroy Learning Network

Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors ofTorture)

Fremantle Multicultural Centre

Friends of HEAL Foundation

George Street Neighbourhood Centre Association Inc

God’s Dwelling Place Bethany City Church Inc

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand

Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency (HARDA)

House of Welcome

Illawarra Multicultural Services

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RCOA members

The desolate Al Zaatri camp in Jordan was home to 89,000 Syrian refugees when RCOA chief executive officer Paul Powervisited in June. During 2013-14, the number of registered Syrian refugees in the Middle East grew by 1.3 million to 2.85million – the largest movement of refugees in two decades.

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Immigrant Women’s Speakout

Immigration Advice and Rights Centre

Inala Community House

Institute Mission Team, Sisters of Mercy in Australia

International Commission of Jurists, Australian Section

International Society for Human Rights Australia Inc

ISHAR Multicultural Women’s Health Centre

Islamic Relief Australia

Jesuit Refugee Service Australia

Jesuit Social Services

Jewish Aid Australia

Josephite Community Aid

Kildonan Uniting Care (formerly UnitingCare Cutting Edge)

Lao Community Advancement NSW Co-op Ltd

Lentara UnitingCare Asylum Seeker Program

Liberians for Empowerment and Development Inc

Life Without Barriers

Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre

Liverpool Women’s Health Centre

Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services

Lutheran Community Care South Australia

Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative

Macedonian Australian Welfare Association of Sydney

MacKillop Family Services

Mandaean Australian Community Cultural Club Inc

Marist Sisters

Marist Youth Care

Melaleuca Refugee Centre

Melbourne Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office

Mercy Community Services SEQ

Mercy Works Ltd

Metro Migrant Resource Centre

Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre WA

Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT

Migrant Resource Centre (Northern Tasmania)

Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania)

Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia

Milpera State High School

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency

Multicultural Council of Tasmania

Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga

Multicultural Development Association

Multicultural NSW

Multicultural Services Centre of WA

MultiLink Community Services

Muslims Australia - Australian Federation of Islamic Councils

National Council for Churches in Australia

Neighbours and Friends Inc

Nepean Migrant Access

New Hope Foundation

North Yarra Community Health

Northern Settlement Services

NSW Council for Civil Liberties

NSW Refugee Health Service

NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Tortureand Trauma Survivors

NSW Teachers Federation

RCOA members

In January, Parsuram Sharma-Luital, a former refugee fromBhutan, was honoured by the Victorian Australia DayCouncil as the inaugural winner of the New Australian ofthe Year Award. RCOA nominated Parsuram for the awardfor his extraordinary efforts over 10 years as a communityworker, volunteer for numerous organisations and pioneerof new methods of mushroom cultivation.

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Occupational Opportunities for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship

Oromia Support Group in Australia

Oxfam Australia

Pax Christi Australia (NSW)

Pratt Family Foundation

ProEmpowerment International

Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, Liverpool Hospital

Queanbeyan Multilingual Centre

Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Tortureand Trauma

Refugee Advice and Casework Service

Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre

Refugee and Immigration Legal Service

Refugee Claimants Support Service

Rural Australians for Refugees, Braidwood

Salvation Army

Sanctuary Australia Foundation

Save the Children Australia

SCALES Community Legal Centre

Settlement Services International

Sisters of Charity of Australia

Sisters of St Joseph of Orange California

Sisters of the Good Samaritan

South Australian Refugee Health Network

Southern Ethnic Advisory and Advocacy Council

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre

Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre

Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau

St Anthony’s Family Care

St Bede’s Social Justice Group

St George Migrant Resource Centre

St George Youth Services

St James’ Church, King St, Sydney

St Macartan’s Parish Social Justice Group

St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW

St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland

St Vincent de Paul Society Refugee and Migrant Committee(WA)

Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families

Sudanese Online Research Association and SudaneseAustralian Integrated Learning Program

Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance andRehabilitation Service (STTARS)

Sydney Multicultural Community Services

SydWest Multicultural Services

Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission

Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Support

Townsville Multicultural Support Group

Unitarian Church of South Australia

Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod

Uniting Church National Assembly

UnitingJustice Australia

Victorian Arabic Social Services

Victorian Multicultural Commission

Waverley Council

Western Region Ethnic Communities Council

Whittlesea Community Connections

Wimmera Development Association (Wimmera SettlementAssociation)

Women’s Health in the South East

World Vision Australia

World Wellness Group Ltd

Wyndham Community and Education Centre Inc

22

Hausi Abdul-KarimLarry AbelJoan AddisonNicholas AdlerClarissa AdrielAdam AitkenRebecca AlburyAbdul AleemJoan AlexanderPeter and Jill AllanWilliam AllportDennis AltmanJames AltmanElizabeth AmeerMichael AndersonRobyn AndrewBrett AndrewsMartha AnsaraChris AnstedCatherine AppletonGillian AppletonBill ArmstrongMaureen ArnottHumphrey ArundelM J V ArundelSainimere AtecaAlexandra AtkinMatthew BachleAnne BadaSunil BadamiGordon BakerJohn BallGene BanducciGlen BarclayLiz Barclay-CrothersRebecca-Lea BarnettRoss BarnettVicki BarrySteven BatemanRon BaumannLawrie BeilinPhillipa BellemoreMolly BennettsRachel BermanCarolyn BettsLinda BettsRoss BettsAlexandra BhathalJohn BiggsElizabeth BiokGray BirchWendy BirmanEva BitelIvor BitelRobert BlackburnPhilip BlissJoan BloomJohn BlountElspeth BluntBruce BoellJulie BogottoLes BohmCarol Bolton

Geoffrey BoltonGary BonderskiChrystine BoufflerJennifer BourkeDon BowenKim BoyerLesley BranaganWilliam BranchBob BredemeyerMark BrennanRosie BrennanJohn BrentnallLinda BrightfordMary BrittJill BrookKate BrooksAlan BrothertonAnne BrownGavin BrownKatherine BrownMichelle BrownPauline BrownPeter M BrowneBrigid BruerPatricia BrushAnna BuchWayne BuckmanRosemary BudavariDaniele BurckhardtAnthony BurgessPriya BurgessTim BurgessMeredith BurgmannJean BurkeVanessa BurnRobin BurnsWaldo BushmanRobert ButcherAlison CaddickStephen CaduschJanet CallenClare CameronAnne CampbellJeanette CampbellRosemary CampbellTeresa CannonLucy CarterStacey CarterChris CartledgeVivienne CassWilliam CastledenMary CastleyBernard CatchpolePhilippa CatchpoleSonia CatonKatherine ChambersClara ChanMary ChanRenee ChanJohn ChapmanRobin ChappleI-Hao ChengH T Andrew Cheung

Neha ChhatbarRamesh ChinnappaEnoch ChoyJanet ChristensenDenise ChristensenRaffaele CicconeCarmel ClarkColin ClarkJohn ClarkKaleb ClarkMichael ClarkSandy ClarkVal ClarkCatharine ClementsAnne CloonanJune CloseJennifer ClutterbuckVickie CoatesBob CochraneElaine CohenChris CohenJill ColemanBernard CollaerySophia CollingDorothy CollingsLiam ConnollyCath ConnorMary ConsidineLionel ConyerDebbie CoombsBernard CooneyPhilip CooteChristine CoreyRosemary CorkDoris CornfordBrian CosgraveMarge CosgraveBryony CosgroveMichael CouchSue CourseGillian CowlishawPeter CranwellRobert CrawshawLynne CrilleyMary CrockMaxine CroftJon CrothersTanya CrothersAileen CryleRobert CunneenLeonie CurranAnn CurthoysClaire CurtinEmily CutlerHilary Da CostaPeter D’AbbsMary DaleBarry Dale Mary DaleyHelen DaltonQuynh DaoEmily DarlingPeter Dart

Amber DavidsonSonja DavieHeather DawsonMichael DawsonCaroline de CostaSky de JerseyHenriette de JongAlice de JongeMary Justine de MerindolLis de VriesPeter DeadyGladys DemissieSteve DenenbergPaul DesmondRuth DeSouzaPeter DeutschmannMary-Louise DevesonSusan DikemanRenieke DoddridgeGillian DooleyNicholas DoumaniLealah DowMarion J DowneJune DrakeGraeme DraperVirginia DuiganGabi DuiguAnna DuncanMargaret DunlopPatricia DunnHelen DunstanJohn DurackRobyn DurackShane DuranTristan DurieK J DurkinJudith DwyerRosemary ElberySuzanne EntnerBruce ErrolOwen EvansChristine EyersMiriam FaineVicki FairfaxRuth FarmerPaul FaveroPhilip FeinsteinToby FianderDerek FieldingJustine FinlayMark FinnaneDavid FisherMarie FisherMelissa FitzgibbonCaroline FleayJan FlemingRaelene FloodBess FloresIan FluxDamian FlynnPaul FlynnMary FogartyClaire Foley

individual members

23

Caitlin FootPatrick FormanDion ForstnerHang ForstnerKeith FosterKerry FosterLuke FowlerMeredith FrancisChristopher FraserGreg FraserMalcolm FraserRon FraserDavid FreesmithFergus FrickeRuth FriedmanColin FryerBev FryerDesiree GaillardLinda GaleCindy GalloisCynthia GanesharajahRenee C GardinerLisa GarrettMarcela GarrettSeana GarrettDavid GarriochAmelia GatesMurray GeddesJoel GedeonEva GerencerAnne GibbinsRobin M GibsonJenny GoldingJacques Goldman

Andrea GoldsmithJoan GoodJohn Raymond GoodlassRuth GoodsirJill GordonDiane GosdenKeren GouldSunili GovinnageMary GraceRon GrantRoger GrealyCharles GreenHazel GreenMichael GreenJohn Henry GreenwellJanet GrevilleaMargaret GreyPauline GriffinDarryl GriggMichael GrimesValerie GroganGerald Frank Grove-WhiteCatherine GuinnessBob GunterBernadette HaagenMartin HaagenDenise HadleyMargaret HaenkeRuth HaigMegan HaleAnna HallJustin HallCathie HallidayDeborah Hambleton

Frances HannaPamela HannamMyree HarrisPaul HarrisSusan Harris RimmerDoris HartWendy HarteAnne E HarveyPenelope HarveySelva HassanWarwick HattonBeth HattonJoanna HayterLynne HealyMargaret HealyChris HeazlewoodAparna HebbaniKarla HeggieLatifa HekmatRobyn HendersonPaul HenningMarguerite HeppellMark HerbertKerryn HermanLawry HerronFleur HerscovitchJohn HighfieldDianne HilesJohn HillerMary HinchcliffeKim HinckfussEric HinderElizabeth HindmarshRoss Hindmarsh

Bob HoJan HoLydia HoLibby HogarthBruce HogbenSally HopkinsPatricia HopkinsIvan HoracekMary HoracekNeil HorburyJulia HorneDavid HotchkissDavoren HowardMatthew HowardHelen HoyPeter HoyRosemary Hudson-MillerAndrew HughCynthia HughesGeraldine HughesLiz Hughes-BrownAmy HunterAnita HunterDavid HunterJulia HuttenPeter HuttenKim HuynhDoreen HyderKatherine IliopoulosJohn IngramJohn IrelandAntonia IsaacsonEleanor JackaElizabeth Jacka

In June, Joseph Youhana addressed representatives of 26 nations involved in refugee resettlement at the 2014 AnnualTripartite Consultations (ATCR) in Resettlement in Geneva. A former refugee from Iraq who was resettled to Melbourne fromSyria in 2006, Joseph was nominated to participate in the ATCR gathering by RCOA and sponsored by the AustralianDepartment of Immigration.

24

Deborah JacksonSigrid JakobNorman JamesBarbara JeffersonKate JefferyJean JohnGareth JohnsonGillian JohnsonMarie JohnsonLyn JonesRobin JonesAmanda JordanGaynor JordanAnn-Mari JordensNicholas JoseLee JoyceJon JureidiniUlrike KalthausBernadette KaneRachel KatterlJatinder KaurDavid KayBrian KearneyAntigone KefalaSean KelleherHarry KentAndrew KenyonRowan KerneboneTracey KerrParesh KevatHenry KhaPinthinee KhluiprasertJulie KimberNicholas KimptonPaul KindermannSanjai KissunDenis KleinMaree KlemmSamantha KnealeSusan KneeboneGraham KnellRodney KnockMonika KrajcovicovaNga KwanJoy KyriacouKathryn LaiRob LakeDiane LampertRichard LampertAnne LaneGovinda LangeBeryl LangerDaphne LascarisPatricia LawrenceNatasha LaytonAnne Layton-BennettMarion LeEdwin Le SueurJillian Le SueurJoan LeaChelsea LeachDeborah LeePamela Lemoine

Rob LeslieElsie L’HuillierDianne LiddellHelen LightHilary LinsteadCatherine LioKevin ListonPenelope LittleDavid LloydJenny LobatoAnnmarie LocheryRonda Lock LeeAndreas LoeweSandi LoganDean LombardNance LoneyMaureen LongAngelo LoukakisBonnie LuckDavid LuntTerry LustigMichela LuzziAndrew LynchBarbara LynnCatherine MacCormackSean MacCormackBeatrice MacFarlaneStephen MacfarlaneBetty MacGregorJoan MacLaganAshely MacphersonMark MaddenDonna MaegraithWilliam MaleyAnne ManciniNan ManefieldJanet MansfieldRichard MansfieldPhilippa MansorJulie MarcusSarah MaresAnastasia MarkakisJohn MarltonVicky MarquisSally MarshAnne MartinGail MartinMeredith MartinAdele MasseyPatricia MatherElizabeth MathewMichael MathewThomas MathewRobyn MathisonMargaret MatthewsDolores MaundThomas MautnerElaine MayerKathryn McArdleMargaret McCaskillEileen McCormackAnna McCormackCaitlin McCulloch

Sandra McCulloughMaureen Angela McDonaghJoan McDonaldAlison McDougallCas McIntyreMichael McKenzieLee McKerracherJoanna McLachlanJudy McLallenAnnelie McLaughlinJoanne McMahonMary McMahonDavid McManusMarj McMullenPeter McPheeHilary McPheeJean McPhersonJohn Menadue Luke MeneyUma MenonSusan MetcalfeBryan MichaelsPino MigliorinoClaire MillerVictoria MillerOliver MillingtonCrys MillsGrant MitchellMerle MitchellMargaret MolanPaul MolonyMarie Annette MooneyRobyn MorrisPeter T. MorrisTessa Morris-SuzukiAlan MorschelJohn MotenFerdinando MuccilliSiobhan MullanyAnnie MullarveyMichael MullerworthW Dennis MulvihillSharyn MunroGrainne MurphyKerry MurphyMargaret MurphyKaye MurrayEdward MyersGermaine NaruhanaLynette NasirAmy NetheryJohn NettleThu NguyenKim-Anh NguyenCoralie NicholsEmma-Kate NicholsonSharlene NipperessTrevor NolanPenny NoonanMichael NordstromEmma NorrieAnn NugentAli Nur

Lesley OakleyMargaret OatesDaniel ObiokolieLorraine O’BrienNoel O’BrienPhillipa O’BrienAnne O’ByrneClaire O’ConnorCarmel O’DwyerClaire OgdenCathryn OllifLeanne O’NeillKate OrmanBill James OsborneTarna OsborneMoya PaceyMichael PacilloAnne PageRobert ParatoreVeronika ParatoreAlison PardoeJohn PardoeCameron PatersonKevin PatersonKim PatersonGwenda PattonLynette PayneJoanne PearceMichael PearcePenny PearceSarah PearceKate PearsonMichael PeggNatalie PelhamJennifer PerryJonathan PersseMairi PetersenMelanie PetranovicVolker PfannenbergJohn PhillipsMelissa PhillipsCarolyn PhilpottNarelle PhippsCarolyn PickeringRuby PilvenJanice PinderMargaret PiperCathie PlowmanBrent PlowrightMaria PoulosNina PoulosNigel PowellTherese PowerJeremy PrattHelen PrestonCathy Preston-ThomasPeta PriceElizabeth PriceRosalind PriceGareth ProsserSusanne ProvisBen PyntSophia Rainbird

Individual members

25

Malcolm RamageNola Randall-MohkMark RaperJohn RatcliffeMark RaueGeraldine ReadJoyce RebeiroJudith ReenSally ReidAmanda Reid-YoungAlex ReillyJames ReillyRobert Quentin ReillyBronia RenisonWendy RichardsAmber RichardsonJill RiddellElisha RiggsSheridan RobertsBeth RobertsonKenneth RobinsonLouise RodbournLyla RoganAlain RondotGabrielle RoseJessica RoseMarion RosetzkyBill RouttDiane RouttPeter RouwTreaisa RoweTim RowseTom RubinGillian RubinsteinJim RussellJoanne RussellSusannah RussellEmily RutherfordFrances RyanPeter SainsburyNouria SalehiWayne SandersonLeslie SandyRamdas SankaranBeth SargentMarian SawerRobin ScharaschkinTherese SchiltChrista SchwoebelCoral SeabornAva Lisa SedwickRobin SevenoaksGreg ShalitJames SharpMargaret SharpinPeter SharpinVera ShaulDenise ShawLinda ShawHelen ShepherdMargaret SheppardSusan SheridanSally Shrubb

Nizza SianoJeff SiegelCatherine SilsburyPam SimmonsKate SimpsonKeith Simpson-LyttleAnne SinclairHazel SinclairRobyn SirrKeith SkeltonWendy SlonimAlicia SlossAnn Grace SmithBarry SmithCarolyn SmithCarolyn SmithJulie L SmithKathleen SmithLouise SmithMargaret SmithMargaret SmithPeter SmithRobert SmithRoger SmithPaul SomervilleGregg SonnenburgBrendan SoutheyFleur SpitzerPeter SpykerErika StahrRichard StaynerGary SteadmanDuncan SteedFrederika SteenHarvey SternRobyn SterrettMarc StettnerKiera StevensJenny StewartMargaret StewartPeter StewartAinsley StockSally StockbridgeDon StokesFiona StokesMatthew StokesJenny StonierJennifer StraussBill StringerElizabeth StroudMary StuartTim SullivanRoshana SultanKeith SuterRonald SwansonLiz SweaneySimon SyedAntony SymonsPaul SyvretRob TaggartKapil TalwarCarolyn TanPaul Tanner

Ann TaylorSavitri TaylorJames TedderMargaret TedderJohn TedgeColin TelferJane R. ThomasGreg ThompsonJanet ThompsonJoanne ThorpeMargaret ThorsborneJonathon ThwaitesColin TimberlakeJanice TimmsGertrud TissenJennifer ToisutaAnne TonkinMargaret TonkinMonica TooheyGalen TownsonClair TrainorBinh Tran-NamJanis TrevaskisSally TrevenaJack TrezisePhilip TubbKen TunnahHelen TweeddaleMarina Tyndale-BiscoeLeda Isis TyrrelFrances ValentineEllie ValierDiana van BellMarian Van EnstJulian Van LeerAlex Van VuchtLina VaronRuja VaronScott VawserSonia VignjevicAngela VillellaJoel VincentPenny VineShyla VohraFrances VoonYoland WadsworthEileen WahabKeila WaksvikColin WalesStephanie WalkerVirginia WalkerSheila WalkerdenBrian WallAmalina WallaceLynn Wallace ClancyElizabeth WalpoleMargaret WaltersPaul WandJennifer Wantoch-SmithAndy WardShirley WarlandRenate WatkinsonLinda Watson

Sandy WatsonNgaire WatsonJosephine WeekleyElizabeth WellingtonRobbie WensleyFred WestwoodAndrew WhalanDaniel WheadonIlke WhiteJohn R WhiteRichard WhitingVanessa WhittingtonVicki WightonBill WiglesworthDeb WiglesworthHelen M WilliamsJill WilliamsLee WilliamsNicolaas WilliamsSara WillsCherily WilsonDawn WilsonJane WilsonRobin WilsonTony WilsonSylvia WintonMarianne WisemanRonald WittonRosalie WodeckiClyde WoodJanet WoodMargaret Joan WoodHal WoottenKim WormaldKath WrayLaura WuAnne YardleyAnna YeatmanPeter YeldhamJoseph YouhanaAnne YuilleMarzia ZamirAnne ZevisDaniel ZuLeo ZubevichAlexandra ZubrzyckiRoxana Zulfacar

26

Refugee Council of Australia Inc – ABN 87 956 673 083

Profit and loss statement – for the year ended 30 June 2014

2014 2013$ $

Income

Consultancies 16,013 7,533

Federal Government contracts 260,213 209,046

Donations from Australian Refugee Foundation 50,000 48,615

Interest income 6,614 6,139

Member subscriptions 56,935 61,474

Grants 112,787 46,327

Donations 464,138 180,206

Total income 966,700 559,340

Less: Expenses

Audit fees 2,810 2,400

Bank charges 5,497 3,511

Board expenses 11,970 11,411

Computer expenses 21,882 13,435

Conference and seminar costs 8,272 464

Consulting and professional fees 7,291 9,333

Depreciation 6,156 4,818

Electricity and water 2,435 1,829

Insurance 3,473 3,439

Office rent 31,660 29,500

Leave pay provisions 35,417 (8,709)

Other employee costs 404 315

Postage 8,087 6,288

Printing and stationery 9,002 10,001

Refugee Week expenses 5,878 7,506

Repairs and maintenance 1,004 1,727

Salaries 409,474 336,804

Staff training 1,449 1,864

Subscriptions 2,485 2,176

Sundry expenses 2,785 303

Superannuation contributions 37,876 30,281

Telephone and fax 10,602 8,957

Travel 19,345 7,860

Workers compensation insurance 2,745 3,720

Total expenses 647,999 489,234

Profit before income tax 318,701 70,106

financial report

27

Statement of Financial Position – 30 June 2014

2014 2013

$ $

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 613,083 206,652

Trade and other receivables 19,160 9,450

Other assets 27,396 0

Total current assets 659,639 216,102

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment 10,532 15,354

Total assets 670,171 231,456

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 39,267 14,671

Provisions 42,081 30,664

Other Liabilities 60,000 0

Total current liabilities 141,348 45,335

Non-current liabilities

Employee benefits 24,001 0

Total liabilities 165,349 45,335

Net assets 504,822 186,121

EQUITY

Retained earnings 504,822 186,121

Total equity 504,822 186,121

Audited financial statements

The Refugee Council of Australia accounts for 2013-14 were audited by DFK Laurence Varnay, Chartered Accountants,Sydney. The audited financial statements are available from the Refugee Council’s Sydney office or online atwww.refugeecouncil.org.au/a/arpt.php

www.refugeecouncil.org.auTwitter: @OzRefugeeCounc

Sydney OfficeSuite 4A6, 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Ph: (02) 9211 9333

Fax: (02) 9211 9288

Email: admin@refugeecouncil.org.au

Melbourne OfficeLevel 2, 313-315 Flinders Lane

Melbourne VIC 3000

Phone: (03) 9600 3302

Email: melbourne@refugeecouncil.org.au

Incorporated in ACT ABN 87 956 673 083

Over the past seven years, RCOA has created numerous

opportunities for me to share the concerns of refugee

communities in Victoria with senior leaders of UNHCR

and at global dialogues on refugee resettlement. I am

just one of many women and men of refugee

background to be supported by RCOA in this way. Lots

of organisations talk about empowering refugees but

few are as effective as RCOA in putting it into action. Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin

Board member Refugee Council of Australia

I really value RCOA’s work in educating young people

with integral knowledge of what refugees experience,

broadening their awareness of the world. I’m pleased to

be involved because these presentations to school

groups are effective in challenging the many myths

about refugees and asylum seekers. The public debate

about refugees has never been worse so I can’t

emphasise enough the critical role RCOA is playing in

promoting fairer refugee policies and the benefits to

Australia of being a nation which welcomes refugees.

Abdi AdenEducator, motivational speaker and

partner in RCOA’s Face to Face schools program