Websites
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre including the Food Justice Truck
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre started in Footscray in 2001 and now offers 30 holistic programs that protect asylum seekers from persecution and destitution, supports well-being and dignity, and empowers people to advance their own future. Independent of Federal Government funding, the ASRC is the largest provider of aid, legal and health services to people seeking asylum in Australia. They have more than 1200 volunteers and 60 staff who assist around 2,000 people each year, and in 2015 launched the Food Justice Truck.
The RCOA is the national umbrella body for refugees and organisations and individuals who support them. It has more than 200 organisations and over 900 individual members. It's work is centred around five key areas: policy, support for refugees, support for its members, community education and administration. In addition, RCOA seeks funding for specific projects that directly relate to its objectives and enhance its capacity to serve the refugee community.
RISE Refugee Survivors & Ex-detainees
RISE is the first and only refugee and asylum seeker welfare and advocacy organisation in Australia, entirely governed by refugees, asylum seekers, and ex-detainees. RISE was established to increase refugee and asylum seekers' participation and enable refugees to build new lives by providing advice, engaging in community development, enhancing opportunity and campaigning for refugee/asylum seeker rights. It acts on its members' behalf to improve government and non-government policies and to generate positive social change. RISE projects and services aim to redress social barriers and empower refugee and asylum seeker communities to actively participate in the wider society.
The St Vincent de Paul Society provides services to asylum seekers and refugees in Australia and by advocating to government on their behalf. Services include providing financial and information support to migrants and refugees, for example through home visitation, food and financial help, visits to detention centres, and homework centres. There are also dedicated Vinnies migrant and refugee centres and committees in some states, which coordinate these activities and also offer information services.
AMES Australia provides humanitarian settlement, education, training and employment services for refugees and newly arrived migrants. Not only does AMES Australia offer a range of English and training courses specially designed to teach English skills, they work with the community, business and Government to develop sustainable and effective settlement solutions for the whole Victorian community. This includes on-arrival settlement support, English language and literacy training, vocational training and employment services.
Australian Refugee Association
The mission of the ARA is to help refugees become settled and participating citizens of Australia. Their vision is an Australia where all refugees are an integral part of a thriving, prosperous community. ARA provides advice, assistance, advocacy and practical support with settlement services, migration services, employment services, youth services, public education, and policy and advocacy. It believes in the capacity and desire of refugees to be productive citizens through contributing to the social, cultural and economic life in Australia.
The Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre
The RILC is an independent community legal centre specialising in all aspect of refugee and immigration law, policy and practice. RILC's work involves provision of key legal assistance to those who could not otherwise obtain it due to financial and other forms of distinct disadvantage often related to their cultural or linguistically diverse backgrounds or experiences of torture or trauma.
Sanctuary Australia Foundation
For over 25 years, Sanctuary has sponsored, provided interest-free travel loans, and resettled Government approved humanitarian entrant refugees, helping them to rebuild their lives in Australia from war zones around the world.
Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women's Coalition
VIRWC is a peak body representing immigrant refugee women's organisations across Victoria. The coalition provides representation, capacity building support and advice for a range of organisations whose priority is the development and support of refugee women. VIRWC provides leadership courses, a friendship cafe, and a power forum. The Victorian Women's Link is aimed at building a stronger women's network with and between local and regional areas as part of the VIRWCs strategy on multicultural community women empowerment.
Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning (SAIL) Program
The SAIL Program is a volunteer-run, non-profit, secular organisation which provides free English support and community services to the Sudanese Australian community. SAIL offers tutoring to approximately 400 members of the Sudanese community, and provides free English as a Second Language tutoring for children and adults, along with the ability to learn socialisation skills. There are excursions and camps to various parts of rural and regional Australia, community and tutor talks, home help and extra-curricular short courses.
News articles
New app to help refugees resettle in Australia
Former refugee launches "I came by boat" campaign to highlight migrant contribution
Refugee resettlement adds $40 million to struggling Victorian town's economy