Refugee Humanitarian Issues June11

Refugee and Humanitarian Issues
Australias Response
June 2011
Refugee and Humanitarian Issues

Australias Response
June 2011
Commonwealth of Australia 2011 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-Generals Department, Robert Garran Ofces, National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 or posted at www.ag.gov.au/cca. ISBN 978-1-921662-03-4 ISBN 978-1-921662-04-1 (online version) How to provide feedback on this publication The department welcomes your feedback on this publication. Please send any comments tohumanitarian.branch@immi.gov.au. Cover photo credits Front: Congolese refugees who have been living in the Burundian refugee camp of Gihinga, population2400, since 2004 UNHCR / C. L. Grayson / September 2006 Back: thousands of internally displaced people ee the area surrounding Kibati, north Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo UNHCR / P. Taggart / November 2008
Contents
Chapter One: Australias role in international protection Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program Chapter Four: Resettlementthe offshore component of the Humanitarian Program Chapter Five: Adjusting to a new life in Australia assistance for humanitarian visa holders 7 19
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Foreword
Australians generally consider themselves fortunate. We live in a country that champions democratic principles and provides opportunities for individuals to succeed through education, training andemployment. Australias Humanitarian Program is a great example of this countrys compassion and willingness to help others. Through it we demonstrate our commitment to protect and support those who nd themselves in less fortunate circumstances thanourselves. In return for opportunities provided to them, humanitarian entrants have contributed to our nation in many different ways. They have gained employment, commenced businesses that employ others, played in our sporting teams, shared their life experiences through art and entertainment, and contributed to our cultural enrichment. It is very important that we recognise and celebrate theseachievements. Refugee issues are the subject of much debate, particularly in relation to boat arrivals. It is important in any debate on these issues that we have our facts right and that we have the complete picture. An informed discourse is critical to evolving and progressing public policy, and I sincerely welcome constructive discussion in thisarea. This booklet contains an excellent overview of the background and issues surrounding Australias response to global humanitarian crises. It includes personal accounts from some recent arrivals, details of their journeys, the grave situations they faced in their home countries and the challenges ofresettlement. This year, we and our international partners celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Australia was the sixth country to ratify the convention and since that time we have played an important role in increasing the capacity of the global community to respond to refugee and humanitariansituations.
4 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response
It is particularly important that Australians take pride in what we, as a nation, have done to help the more than 750 000 people who have come to Australia as humanitarian migrants since the end of World War II. These are people who have ed from unspeakable atrocities and suffering, who have sought our protection, and whom we have assisted to rebuild their lives and their childrens lives inAustralia. I encourage everyone who is keen to gain a comprehensive understanding of refugee and asylum seeker issues, to read thisbooklet.
The Hon Chris Bowen MP Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response
From Bhutan Gauris story

Many people are surprised to hear that there are refugees from Bhutan. Although the tiny kingdom has a reputation as the last ShangriLa where environmental and cultural heritage has been preserved from outside inuences and globalisation, this has come at the expense of minorities that do not share the Buddhist, Tibetan based culture of the majority. Most Bhutanese refugees are descendants of Nepali people who immigrated to Southern Bhutan in the late 1800s. Despite living in Bhutan for many generations, Nepalispeaking Bhutanese are often not recognised as citizens. Since 1990 more than 100000 people have been forced to seek refuge in eastern Nepal due to ethnicpersecution.
DIAC / N. Holt
Gauri and her husband were among those forced to ee to Nepal. After leaving their home in 1992, they spent almost 17 years living as refugees in Nepal. During this time Gauri, who had trained as a nurse, worked for Save the Children UK as a health worker and training coordinator in a Bhutanese refugeecamp. In 2009, Gauri and her family were granted visas for resettlement in Australia. Having been active in the refugee camp community, Gauri was keen to continue to volunteer and quickly became involved with the Migrant Resource Centre where she now works parttime. Gauri has continued to work in healthcare, rst on a campaign with the Hepatitis C Council of South Australia to raise awareness on liver friendly food, and now for the Migrant Health Service as a community health worker, a job that she says makes her very happy because she is able to helppeople. Gauri has pursued further education since arriving in Australia, adding a CerticateIV in Community Services to her masters in community health nursing. Along with her husband she has bought a house and her son is studying to be a chef, a future that they could never have hoped for living asrefugees. I would like to say thank you to the Australian people for your sensitivity and support. Australians are very kind people, we can talk freely without being worried, we are relaxed, safe.
Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

Who is a refugee?
In the devastating aftermath of World War II, nations came together in Geneva to work out codied and binding international standards for the treatment of refugees and the obligations of countries towards them. The United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the RefugeesConvention) is the key legal document in dening who is a refugee, their rights and the legal and moral obligations ofstates. The RefugeesConvention denes a refugee as a person outside their country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return because of a wellfounded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular socialgroup. The RefugeesConvention only applied to post World War II European refugee situations. TheUnitedNations 1967Protocol (the 1967Protocol) removed these limitations to allow the convention to cover refugee situations in any country. The RefugeesConvention and 1967Protocol remain as the cornerstones of refugee protection throughout theworld. Australia signed the RefugeesConvention on 22January1954, the sixth country to do so, and ratied the 1967Protocol on 13December1973. In accordance with Australias refugee protection obligations under the RefugeesConvention and 1967Protocol, Australia has established a legal framework for the protection of refugees in domesticlaw.
The Refugee Experience Common experiences for refugees include seeing their homes and communities destroyed and spending many years living in refugee camps or in volatile urban situations. Mobility and opportunities for employment are limited, and displaced people often do not have access to health or education services. Many have been subjected to rape and torture, witnessed friends and family being murdered or been separated from family when eeing theirhomes. These experiences are impossible to forget, but Australia contributes in many ways to ensure a safe and peaceful future for refugees and theirfamilies.
A mother carries her children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Forcibly displaced women face grave threats and abuse in the volatile region. MONUC/M.Frechon/September2008
The global refugee situation

One of the major challenges facing the world today is protecting refugees who have been forced to leave their homes by armed conict and human rightsabuses. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the end of 2009 there were 43.3million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Of these, 15.2million people were refugees. UNHCR was responsible for the protection of 10.4million refugees, and 4.8million Palestinian refugees were protected under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The worldwide displaced population also includes 983000 asylum seekers and 27.1million internally displaced persons (IDPs). In addition, UNHCR estimated that the overall number of stateless persons could be as high as 12millionpeople. The overwhelming majority of refugees were located in developing countries suchas: Pakistan, with around 1.7million refugees from Afghanistan Syria, with more than 1million refugees from Iraq Iran, with 1million Afghan refugees registered by the Government of Iran andafurther 1million unregistered refugees Kenya, with close to 360000 refugees from Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan Bangladesh, with nearly 230000 Rohingya refugees fromBurma. Some 5.5million refugees were in a protracted refugee situation. UNHCR denes a protracted refugee situation as a refugee population of 25000 or more, who have been in exile for at least ve consecutive years. Australia has consistently been a strong supporter of international efforts to address protracted refugee situations around the world. Each year more than half of the refugees accepted for resettlement under Australias Humanitarian Program are likely to come from protractedsituations.
Figure 1: UNHCR-mandated refugee population by region, end 2009

UNHCR Region Refugees People in refugee-like situations 24 100 33 900 43 500 1 189 400 293 200 5 600 1 589 700 Total
Central Africa and Great Lakes East and Horn of Africa Southern Africa West Africa Middle East and North Africa Asia and Pacic Americas Europe Total
945 200 779 200 143 400 149 000 1 962 400 2 666 600 519 100 1 641 900 8 806 800
969 300 813 100 143 400 149 000 2 005 900 3 856 000 812 300 1 647 500 10 396 500
Source: UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2009 (published December 2010) Note: gures do not include 4.8million Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, who are protected under the mandate ofUNRWA.
Australia and UNHCR The UNHCR was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 14December1950. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees. Itstrives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and nd safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help statelesspeople. Australia has a long history of supporting UNHCR and the international protection of refugees. Australia was a member of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Refugees (19511954) and of the United Nations Refugee Fund (UNREF) Executive Committee (19551958) before joining UNHCRs Executive Committee at its inception in1958. For more information about UNHCR and the RefugeesConvention, please visit www.unhcr.org.
The system of international refugee protection

As a member of the international community, Australia shares responsibility for protecting refugees worldwide and resolving refugee situations through the system of international refugee protection. Thissystem has a number of elements, whichinclude: Preventative measures. These involve providing development assistance, helping with conict resolution, peace keeping and rebuildinginfrastructure. Temporary protection in a country of rst asylum. If preventative measures fail, humanitarian crises can cause people to leave their home country and seek asylum elsewhere, usually by crossing borders to a neighbouring country (also called a country of rst asylum). These refugees need immediate protection until a durable (or longterm) solution can befound. Durable solutions promoted by UNHCR. Three solutions provide for the longterm protection needs of people displaced by humanitarian crises. Theyinclude: Voluntary return (repatriation) to their home country in conditions of safety and dignity. This is the most desirable outcome for the individual, their society and the international community. Most refugees want to return to their homes when it is safe to do so. Support for reconstruction, reintegration and reconciliation helps ensure the success of repatriation as a durablesolution.
Author and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Khaled Hosseini, hears how refugees returning from Iran and Pakistan get mine awareness training, medical assistance, legal aid and a start-up cash package when they arrive in UNHCR centres. UNHCR/T. Irwin/September 2007
A young Afghan girl shows the Voluntary Repatriation Form that her family was given when they returned from Pakistan. UNHCR/R. Arnold/March 2009
Local integration in the country of rst asylum. This may be an option if voluntary repatriation is not possible. Helping countries of rst asylum to increase their capacity to offer longterm protection helps to stabilise the situation for refugees. It also increases the likelihood that refugees may be permitted to remain in the country of asylum permanently. Because the countries of rst asylum are usually in the same region as the refugees home country, cultural ties can make the integration processeasier. Resettlement in a third country is used to provide protection to refugees whose life, liberty, safety, health or fundamental human rights are at risk in their country of asylum. This option is normally only promoted by UNHCR when returning to their home country or local integration may not be suitable, or as part of a responsibility sharing arrangement. Due to the number of ongoing protracted refugee situations, resettlement has become a key element in the system of international refugee protection. During 2009, UNHCR submitted more than 128000 refugees for consideration by resettlement states. A total of 84000 of those referred by UNHCR were accepted and, along with people accepted for family reunion or under other humanitarian programs, around 112400 refugees were resettled in 19 resettlement countries, including the United States of America (79900), Canada(12500), Australia (11100), Sweden (1900) and Norway (1400). (UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2009, December 2010)
Australias commitment to international refugeeprotection

Australia is an active contributor to the system of international refugee protection, working with UNHCR and the international community to ensure comprehensive, integrated responses to refugee situations. We express this commitment in a number ofways.
Inuencing international policy and action on refugee situations

Australia engages in a number of international forums with intergovernmental organisations and nongovernment partners to address international protection issues. This includes active participation in UNHCRs governance and policy discussions, resettlement meetings and informal consultations on emergingissues. For example, as a member of UNHCRs Executive Committee Australia meets with other members every year to review and approve the agencys programs and budget and to discuss a wide range of international protection and otherissues.
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Refugee children from Burma wait at the UNHCR ofce in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a resettlement interview for the Czech Republic. Australia has been a strong supporter of emerging resettlement countries through forums such as UNHCRs Working Group on Resettlement. UNHCR/Y. Ismail/July 2008
Australia is also an active participant at the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR), which was formed in 1995. The consultations bring together UNHCR, resettlement states and nongovernment organisations (NGOs), providing the opportunity to address a range of policy and procedural matters, including advocacy, capacity building and operational support. In addition to the yearly ATCR meeting, there are two Working Group on Resettlement (WGR) meetings each year. The WGR meetings focus on policy and operational issues relating to resettlement, such as caseload specic issues and the challenges faced by emerging resettlement countries. States chair the ATCR/WGR meetings on a rotating basis, working with an NGO partner from the same country. Australia will take over the chair of ATCR/WGR in July2011 with the Refugee Council of Australia as the partnerNGO.
These meetings also provide a forum for planning cooperative action on refugee issues by resettlement states and UNHCR. A range of policy responses have been generated by the working groups that have resulted in effective strategies to unlock a number of challenging protracted refugee situations, including: Commencement of a joint large-scale resettlement of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal following a decade of political deadlockAustralia has been a key participant in the Bhutanese Core Group, rst established in 2005 to resolve the impasse between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal over the plight of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal as a protracted situation. The efforts of the Bhutanese Core Group in engaging with the Government of Nepal have paved the way for largescale Bhutanese refugee resettlement in Australia and other countries since2008. Joint resettlement activity for Burmese Rohingya in BangladeshAustralia has been an active participant in the steering group focusing on the plight of Rohingya refugees, who have languished in camps in Bangladesh for decades. The Rohingya have been stripped of their citizenship by the Burmese Government and face severe persecution if they attempt to return home. Anumber of strategies have been implemented to improve conditions for the Rohingya, including the provision of new housing, health and education services in the camps. Durable solutions such as local integration and the resettlement of a small number of refugees in particular need of protection are also being explored. Australia has resettled small numbers of Rohingya refugees since200809. Working in cooperation with other resettlement countries and UNHCR on a number of priority refugee situations. These refugee situations have been identied by UNHCR as in need of a focused, coordinated approach by resettlement states to nd ways to assist refugees in the country of asylum and to develop robust strategies that will help identify viable and durablesolutions. In addition to participating in broader international forums, Australia is a leader in refugee policy and action within our own region. Because refugees and other displaced people are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by people smugglers and people trafckers, Australia has reinvigorated efforts to work closely with countries in our region to address the challenges of people smuggling and ensure that refugees are not subjected to dangerous sea journeys. This includes: commitment to working with regional partners through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafcking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime practical support for the care of people intercepted in transit countries while any claims for protection are considered the development of a Regional CooperationFramework.
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Regional Cooperation Framework Recognising that irregular migration is a global issue requiring an international response, on 30March2011, ministers at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafcking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime agreed to establish a regional cooperation framework to enhance the regions response to irregular migration. This is a key milestone in the regions response to this challenge and demonstrates a clear recognition by Bali Process members of the need for cooperative international arrangements to improve the treatment of asylum seekers and to undermine the people smuggling trade. The framework promotes enhanced consistency in asylum processing, sustainable return of people found not to be owed protection and durable solutions for those determined to berefugees. Its establishment reects the culmination of signicant Australian diplomacy to engage with key regional partners and international organisations to secure the endorsement of a cooperative approach. It also builds upon a UNHCR discussion paper on regional cooperative approaches to refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migration that was considered in November 2010 at a Bali Processworkshop. The regional cooperation framework is based on the concept of burdensharing and cooperation between source, transit and destination countries. The framework lays the foundation for the implementation of practical arrangements to undermine people smuggling and create disincentives for irregular movement. On 7May2011, the Governments of Australia and Malaysia announced they would enter into a burdensharing arrangement as an initial step under the regional cooperationframework. Representatives from 32 member countries of the Bali Process have agreed to work to develop the detailed practical arrangements that will underpin the framework, whether they are bilateral arrangements between participating states, or broader subregional activities. Australia will continue to work closely with regional partners and international organisations to examine and develop the measures that might be implemented in the nearterm. Details of the framework, set out in the Bali Process CoChairs Statement, are available from the BaliProcess website at www.baliprocess.net.
International development assistance

Australia helps to ease the plight of refugees and displaced persons through targeted development assistance provided by Australian Government agencies, including the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Department of Immigration andCitizenship. UNHCR remains a key partner of Australia for their unique mandate to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Australias aid and immigration programs contribute both nancially and practically to UNHCR and other key humanitarian agencies to support the protection of refugees and improve their conditions. In 2010, Australia provided over $50million toUNHCR.
Classes provided by UNHCR in one of the elementary schools for Congolese refugees in the Kala refugee camp, Zambia, with instruction in French to ease their return home. UNHCR/J. Redden/March 2006
Australia provides approximately 150 000 wheat equivalent tonnes of food assistance every year to people in crisis in countries such as Burma, Niger, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Australias humanitarian aid program includes projects targeting disaster risk reduction and preparedness; conict prevention, management and reduction; peace building; and postemergency recovery and reconstruction. In 201112, AusAID has committed around $325million for humanitarian, emergency and refugee programs (Portfolio Budget Statements 201112: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, May 2011).
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Bhutanese refugees in Sanischare camp, Nepal. While UNHCRs main focus is the provision of primary education, the UN refugee agency also tries to facilitate the access to secondary and tertiary education, mainly through scholarship programs. UNHCR/J. Rae/December 2007
Australia also contributes to the longterm resolution of refugee situations and the stabilisation and protection of displaced populations through the Displaced Persons Program. In 200910, Australias assistance included projects delivered through international organisations and NGOs such as: support for a longterm strategy for protection capacity building in Indonesia assistance for vulnerable returnee families in Afghanistan medical support for registered refugees in Iran care and maintenance of Afghan refugees in Pakistan improvement of basic living conditions for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh reinforcing UNHCR registration and refugee statusdetermination.
Asylum
The onshore component of Australias Humanitarian Program fulls Australias obligations under the RefugeesConvention and the 1967Protocol by granting Protection visas to applicants within Australia who are found to be refugees. Further information is provided in ChapterThree.
Resettlement
Some countries receive large numbers of asylum seekers, and focus their efforts on assisting those who claim their protection under the RefugeesConvention. As Australia receives comparatively few asylum seekers, we go beyond our international obligations and work closely with UNHCR to help protect refugees in other countries throughresettlement.
Australia is one of just a handful of countries that operate wellestablished and successful resettlement programs. Our program is designed to help people who are in greatest need and is one of the largest of its kindAustralia, Canada and the United States are the top three resettlement countries in the world. In addition to the countries with consistent programs, others also resettle refugees on a less regular basis. This means the total number of resettlement countries changes from year to year, with 19 countries resettling a total of 112400 people in2009. Australias refugee caseload varies over time, to reect changes in the global refugee situation. The Humanitarian Program offers resettlement to refugees and others overseas who have links to Australia, who are subject to human rights abuses in their home countries, are in need of assistance and for whom other durable solutions cannot befound. Working closely with our international partners is critical to the success of our resettlement program, and Australia has responded on a number of occasions to UNHCR appeals seeking emergency assistance with specic refugee caseloads in urgent need of protection. Recent examples are: Australia is resettling Somali refugees who have been stranded in isolated desert camps in Eritrea for many years in 2009, Australia, together with other resettlement countries, cooperated to resettle Palestinian Iraqi families trapped in desolate camps on the border of Iraq andSyria. Since 2010, the government has signicantly increased resettlement of refugees within our region. This recognises the increase in asylum seekers arriving from outside the region, and the need for countries to work cooperatively to share the burden of refugeeprotection. Further details are provided in ChapterFour. Figure 2: Third-country resettlement of refugees by destination in 2009*
United States 79900 Canada 12500 Australia** 11100 Germany 2100 Sweden 1900 Norway 1400 Other (13countries) 3500 Total 112400
Source: UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2009 (published December 2010) * UNHCR statistics are based on a calendar year, while Australian statistics are based on the nancial year. Statistics for the USA, Canada and Australia may also include persons resettled for the purpose of family reunion or under other humanitarian programs. ** In the 200910 program year Australia resettled 9236 people from overseas and granted 4534 visas to onshore protectionapplicants.
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From Afghanistan Nasrullahs story

For more than 30 years Afghanistan has been a key refugee source country. Tribal warfare, Soviet occupation, religious oppression, persecution of ethnic minorities and the ongoing war between the Taliban and Coalition forces have plagued the population and currently more than 3.2million Afghans are forcibly displaced within Afghanistan and in neighbouringcountries. In the midst of this conict and instability, Nasrullah was separated from his family. For more than 15 years he lived in exile, unable to return to Afghanistan or contact his family Grifth City Council/R. Braniff and uncertain if they were alive or dead. He searched for them throughout Pakistan and Syria before he nally received news his sons were alive and living with his parents inAustralia. In 2010, after 15 years apart, Nasrullah was reunited with his family. It was difcult for me when I rst arrived in Australia. I had moved from country to country and had nally reached my destination. I was coming to be with my family. My children are with me now. Living in Grifth, rural New South Wales, Nasrullah is working hard to use his artistic skill as a glass engraver and designerlaunching an exhibition of his artwork during Refugee Week2011. I had to start workI have been working for most of my life! I have these skills that I would like to share with anyone thats interested. I want to show the community and the world what I am capable of. Step by step, I will get there. I am learning English and cant wait to be uent! Anyone coming to Australia should be patient and take the time to learn. Once you become accustomed to life in Australia, there are endless opportunities. I am learning and one day will start my own company. I want to work in my eld and pass on my skills. I want to teach and employ many people. I have a goalI love Australia and want to offer something new and different. It will take time, but I will get thereit will be great for me and for Australia.
Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program

What is the Humanitarian Program?
The Australian Government has two permanent immigration programs. The Migration Program caters for people who wish to work in Australia or be reunited with their families. The Humanitarian Program assists refugees and others in humanitarian need to resettle in Australia and rebuild theirlives. The Humanitarian Program has two important functions. It offers: protection for people in Australia who are found to be refugees according to the RefugeesConvention (known as the onshore protection/asylum component) resettlement in Australia for people overseas who are in the greatest need of humanitarian assistance (known as the offshore resettlement component). Chapters Three and Four of this booklet provide further details on the onshore and offshore components of the HumanitarianProgram.
Planning the Humanitarian Program

Australias Humanitarian Program follows the nancial year 1 July to 30 June. Each year, the Australian Government decides the size and regional composition of the program, taking into consideration advice from UNHCR on global resettlement need and priorities. These decisions also take into account the views of the Australian public and Australias capacity to support new entrants to settle inAustralia. The Humanitarian Program is characterised by its exibility. Each year, the size and focus of the program changes in response to evolving humanitarian situations and changes to the global need forresettlement. From 199697 to 200304, Australias Humanitarian Program was set at 12 000 new places each year. In200405 the Humanitarian Program was increased to 13000 new places and remained at this level until 2008. In200809 the program increased to 13500 new places, with a oneoff increase of 500 places for refugees affected by the conict inIraq. From 200910 the program was further increased to 13750 places per year for the following four years to201213. This includes 6000 places for refugee resettlement and 7750 places for people in refugeelike situations overseas who have strong links to Australia, and for people who are granted Protection visas withinAustralia. In May 2011, the government announced that the program would be expanded by 4000 places over four years as part of the commitment outlined in Chapter One to enter into a burdensharing arrangement with Malaysia under the regional cooperation framework. This means that the program will include 14750 places in 201112. This new annual intake will be the highest since 199596.
Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program 19
The consultation process

The government has a comprehensive consultation process to inform decisions about the size and composition of the program. This process can include: preparation of a discussion paper on the Humanitarian Program that identies key issues and is made available on the departments website consideration of UNHCR advice on global resettlement needs and priorities a submission from the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) incorporating the views of more than 140 member bodies intergovernmental consultationsthe Department of Immigration and Citizenship undertakes broad discussions with many Australian Government departments, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Health and Ageing and AusAID an invitation from the Minister to state and territory premiers and chief ministers and their opposition counterparts to provide submissions on behalf of their jurisdictions consultations with peak bodies engaged in the sector the views of the Australian public expressed in letters, submissions and meetings throughout theyear. Once this consultation has been completed, the government decides how many people will be accepted under the Humanitarian Program, and what the program priorities will be. These decisions are usually announced as part of the Federal Budget inMay.
A short history of Australias Humanitarian Program

The foundations of the program
Since the end of World War II, Australia has accepted more than 750 000 refugees and people in humanitarian need for resettlement andprotection. Humanitarian resettlement in Australia began with around 170 000 EasternEuropeans who had been displaced by World War II, and who arrived between 1947 and 1954. The next two decades welcomed thousands of refugees from crises throughout Europe, including the Hungarian uprising of 1956 and the Warsaw Pact military intervention in Czechoslovakia in1968. There were many changes to global politics during the 1970s and therefore changes in the groups needing resettlement. The 1973 coupdtat in Chile brought General Augusto Pinochet to power and saw the rst of more than 16000 people from Central and South America begin to arrive in Australia. Another signicant year
Afghan refugees in Roghani camp, near Chaman in Pakistan. UNHCR/P. Benatar/December 2001
was 1975, with civil war compelling 18000 Lebanese to migrate to Australia and the end of the Vietnam War sparking massive outows of Lao, Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum in SouthEast Asia and directly inAustralia. The Indochinese refugee crisis prompted the government of the time to introduce a clear refugee policy and administrative machinery in 1977. Before this, Australias approach to refugee resettlement was largely to respond to specic international events as theyarose. The key components of the new policy announced by the then Immigration Minister Michael MacKellar were: the decision to accept refugees should always remain with the Australian Government while honouring our international obligations Australia should increasingly engage with the international community to resolve global refugee issues a regular and planned Humanitarian Program should be established, based on community consultation and Australias capacity to assist (there was recognition that unlike other migrants, refugees need a program specically tailored to their special needs) enhanced administrative mechanisms to deal with refugee issues should be established, with the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (the portfolio at the time) as the lead agency an efcient and fair mechanism to determine onshore protection claims should beestablished. These basic principles have remained fundamental to Australias refugee policy for more than 30 years and have been exible and robust enough to respond to evolvingcircumstances.
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Key legislative and policy changes

Until late 1981, almost all arrivals under the Humanitarian Program were refugees. The Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) was introduced in 1981 to provide resettlement in Australia for people who were living outside their home country, had suffered substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights in their home country and who had family or community ties toAustralia. The Indochinese situation was the focus of Australias Humanitarian Program for close to a decade, but by the mid1980s the program had become global, with priority being given to applicants who had family or other close links with Australia. The program had diversied with up to 40 nationalities represented, including signicant Eastern European, Latin/Central American and Middle Easterncaseloads. By the late 1980s the SHP had steadily become the main category in the program. In 1989, which was a signicant year in the evolution of the Humanitarian Program and associated policy, further changes were made: immigration decisionmaking moved from a policy/discretion based system to a regulatory environment involving an application and a legal decisionmakingprocess Australia played a key role in the development and operations of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) for Indochinese remaining in camps in South East Asiaby the end of the action plan in 1996, Australia had resettled approximately 19 000 Indochinese under the CPA and 150 000 in total since1975 the Woman at Risk and Emergency Rescue visa subclasses were introduced and onshore Protection visa grants were included in the Humanitarian Program for the rsttime The aftermath of the Gulf War of 1991 resulted in a signicant increase in the Middle Eastern caseload. The 1990s also saw growing resettlement following the war in the former Yugoslavia. At the same time there was ongoing community support for aiding other ethnic groups with close links to Australia whose lives were severely affected by conicts in their countries, but who did not meet the traditional humanitarian resettlement criteria. The governments response was the introduction of the Special Assistance Category (SAC) in April1991. Overall, ten SACs were introduced. These included the following groups: Soviet minorities East Timorese living in Portugal, Mozambique or Macau citizens of the former Yugoslavia Burmese
Vietnamese Cambodians Sri Lankans Sudanese. The major growth in the SAC program occurred after the SAC for citizens of the former Yugoslavia wasintroduced. In January 1993, the government separated the Humanitarian Program from the Migration Program to provide a better balance between Australias international humanitarian objectives and the domestic, social and economic goals guiding the annual MigrationProgram. In 199596, SACs provided visas to 6910 people and more than half of the Humanitarian Program comprised either SAC or onshore protection grants. A review of the SAC program in 1996 determined that all the categories would be gradually brought to a close by the end of2001. Other changes introduced in the 1990s included: linking the onshore and offshore components of the Humanitarian Program in 1996 to improve program management incorporating split family provisions within the SHP in 1997 to enable permanent refugee and humanitarian visa holders to propose members of their immediatefamily. Since the end of the 1990s there have been many changes for the Humanitarian Program. A spike in the number of people arriving in Australia by boat and applying for asylum in 19992000 led to a range of operational and legislative measures introduced in 1999 and 2001. These included: penalties for people smugglers Temporary Protection visas (TPVs) the excision of some Australian territory from the migration zone the offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrived at theselocations. Following the 2007 federal election, the incoming government closed the Offshore Processing Centres on Nauru and in Manus Province in Papua New Guinea and abolished TPVs. While maintaining excision, the government also enhanced the processing arrangements for asylum seekers arriving at excised Australian territories. These arrangements include access to publicly funded migration assistance, access to independent merits review and oversight by theOmbudsman.
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In 2011, the government made further changes to reception and processing arrangements for irregular maritime arrivals. The rst is a new streamlined Protection Obligations Determination (POD) process to assess asylum claims made by irregular maritime arrivals. The new framework is intended to ensure cases are resolved as quickly as possible while continuing to provide procedural fairness and access to independent merits review. The second change is designed to discourage people from risking their lives in the dangerous sea journey to Australia, by no longer guaranteeing that asylum claims would be assessed in Australia. Further details are provided in ChapterThree.
Source countries for the humanitarian intake

In recent history, the overall size of the Humanitarian Program increased in response to the global need for resettlement, from 12000 places in 199899 to14750 places in 201112. Initially, Europe was the largest source region with around half those resettled between 1998 and 2001, but at the same time the proportion of resettlement from the Africa region increased from around 16percent in 199899 to a peak of 70percent between 2003 and2005. The main countries of birth for these entrants included Sudan, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sierra Leone. Resettlement from this region dropped off again after 2005 due to improvements to the situation in some African conict areas and successful UNHCR repatriation efforts, but Africa remains a key focus of the Humanitarian Programtoday. Due to various conicts in the Middle East and South West Asia (predominantly Afghanistan and Iraq) this region has also seen large numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance. Since 199899 Australia has, on average, offered around one third of the available resettlement places each year to people from theseareas. Since 200506 the focus of the program has gradually shifted to also include Asia, due to the increased access to refugee groups such as the Burmese in Thailand and, more recently, Bhutanese in Nepal and Rohingya in Bangladesh. In 200910, 39percent of the offshore humanitarian visas were granted to people from thisregion. Australia has a long and proud tradition of resettling refugees and people in humanitarian need. The fundamentals of the Humanitarian Program and associated policy that were established more than 30 years ago have served the Australian Government and community remarkably well and have assisted many thousands of refugees to nd safety and rebuild their lives. Importantly, the Humanitarian Program has also been able to evolve over time to respond to changing domestic and international environments and to accommodate changes in governmentobjectives.
Figure 3: Historical resettlement to Australia
4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 12 14 15 10 11 16 13
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Around 750 000 people in humanitarian need resettled since 1945
1. More than 3400 people from Sierra Leone resettled since1999 2. Around 3000 Liberians resettled since 2004 3. More than 2800 Congolese (Democratic Republic) since 2005 4. 170 000 displaced persons from Eastern Europe between 1947 and 1954 5. Almost 6000 Czechs resettled after the Prague Spring in 1968 6. 14 000 Hungarians resettled after the 1956uprising 7. Around 42 000 people resettled from theformer Yugoslavia since 1991 8. 18 000 Lebanese resettled after the 1975civil war 9. Around 29 000 Sudanese resettled since1996
10. More than 3600 Ethiopians resettled since2000 11. More than 3500 Somalis resettled since1996 12. Around 52 000 people resettled from the Middle East and South West Asia since thelate 1970s 13. 14 000 White Russians from China resettled between 1947 and 1985 14. Nearly 2700 Bhutanese resettled since2008 15. Almost 12 000 Burmese resettled since 2004 16. More than 155 000 Vietnamese resettled since 1975 17. More than 16 000 people from Central and South America resettled since 1973
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From Iran Zarahs story

Zarah grew up in Iran during the 1980s, a period dominated by the IranIraq War when the country was being established as an Islamic Republic following revolution in 1979. During her lifetime Iran has become known for political authoritarianism and the oppression ofwomen. Zarahs book My Life as a Traitor tells the story of how she was imprisoned following student protests in 2001. After being subjected to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the prison guards, she was nally released and sought help from a friend to escape the country. After she arrived in Australia on a visitor Photo courtesy of Zarah visa she applied for asylum and was found to be a refugeebeing granted a permanent Protection visa in2003. I left my family and friends, and everything I knew about life in Iran. An Australian journalist I met in Tehran helped me when I rst arrived in Australia and I lived with him and his wife until I found a home and ajob. I have met amazing people who have helped me get to where I am now, but I have also faced many obstacles such as racism at work and even in the supermarket. However, such experiences have motivated me to write and express my views more strongly, to introduce my birth country and culture in positive light. I have lived in Australia for many years now and have a mixed group of friends from various walks of life. I try very hard with my preschool aged son to ensure that he accepts people for who they are and not for what they looklike. There are people all around the world who struggle to put bread on the table for their families. It is sad I dont get to see my family, but they know I am safe and I feel gratitude towards life. I inspire myself! Zarahs story and achievements are also featured in the departments publication A Signicant Contribution which summarises the ndings of a research report by ProfessorGraemeHugo on the economic, social and civic contributions of rst and second generation humanitarianentrants.
Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program

Australias obligations to refugees
Australias main obligation under the RefugeesConvention (see Chapter One) isto provide protection to people who are in Australia and who face persecution in their home country on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. This includes not returning refugees to places where their lives or liberties are in danger (non-refoulement). An asylum seeker is someone who is seeking international protection but who may not necessarily be found to be a refugee. A refugee is someone who satises the grounds provided under the RefugeesConvention. The RefugeesConvention denition of a refugee does not cover people who leave their country because of generalised civil disturbance or war, famine, natural disasters or in order to seek a better life, if they are not also persecuted for one of the ve grounds for protection specied in theconvention. A little more than half of the asylum seekers who sought protection in Australia in 200910 arrived by air and the remainder were irregular maritime arrivals (IMAs). There is no offence under Australian law that criminalises the act of arriving in Australia or the seeking of asylum without a valid visa. However, different legal and administrative arrangements apply depending on the method and location ofarrival. In general, those who arrive by air may apply for a Protection visa (PV) directly and have their claims assessed. Irregular maritime arrivals who are processed in Australia rst have their claims considered (known as a refugee status determination or RSD) and, if found to be a refugee and subject to the Ministers approval, are then eligible to apply for a Protectionvisa. Figure 4: Asylum seekers in 200809 and 200910
Program year 200809 200910 Non-IMA PV applications lodged 5074 5978 IMA Refugee status determination requests 686 4597 Total 5760 10575
Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship
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Figure 5: Protection visa applications lodged (non-IMA) and refugee status determination requests (IMA) in 200910 by top ve countries of citizenship
Citizenship China (PRC) Fiji Iran Zimbabwe Pakistan Other Total PV applications lodged (non-IMA) 1288 559 376 371 342 3042 5978 Citizenship Afghanistan Sri Lanka Stateless Iraq Iran Other Total Refugee status determination requests (IMA) 2654 920 457 252 198 116 4597
Refugee status determination in Australia for irregular maritime arrivals Changes to Australias refugee status determination process for IMAs commenced on 1 March 2011, to ensure a more robust and efcient process for resolving asylum seekers claims. The Protection Obligations Determination (POD) process replaced the refugee status assessment process used for IMAs. The changes were in response to the High Courts decision of 11November2010 that all IMAs are able to seek judicial review of a negative assessment of their claims for refugeestatus. The process consists of two parts: a Protection Obligations Evaluation (POE) conducted by a departmental ofcer and an Independent Protection Assessment (IPA) conducted by an independent protection assessor. All IMAs are assisted by a migration agent to prepare their statement of claims and any submissions to support theircase. Where the ofcer considers the person is owed protection under the RefugeesConvention, a recommendation will be made to the Minister to allow the lodgement of a Protection visa application. The grant of a Protection visa is subject to the applicant meeting other immigration criteria such as health, character andsecurity. If the POE ofcer concludes that they are not satised that the person is owed protection, the case will be immediately referred to an independent protection assessor for anIPA. The independent protection assessor will consider the case and make a recommendation as to whether a person is or is not owed protection. The independent protection assessor will conduct a further interview, unless they are in a position to make a recommendation that the person is owed protection based on the information available tothem.
Protection visas
A person who applies for a Protection visa is asked to explain in writing the reasons why they are seeking asylum. The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) helps asylum seekers who are in detention, or who are disadvantaged, with immigration advice or assistance in preparing theirapplications. After an application is lodged the case is assigned to a trained departmental ofcer and the person is invited to attend an interview to discuss their claims and provide further information ifrequired. The claims made by the person are then assessed against the criteria contained in the RefugeesConvention and, in accordance with Australian legislation, case law and uptodate information on conditions in the applicants country of origin. For procedural fairness, applicants are given a chance to comment on any information under consideration that may be adverse to their case and to update their claims if conditions in their country of originchange. Information consulted by decisionmakers comes from a range of sources: the departments Country Research Service, which gathers information from sources such as the international media, academics, international agencies, human rights groups, Australian immigration ofces overseas and foreign governments relevant departmental guidelines and advice on the law, policy and procedures the applicants visa application and any further comments provided in writing or in an interview (with the assistance of an interpreter if necessary). In general, the department aims to reach a decision on Protection visa applications within 90 days of receipt. Sometimes this is not possible, including for reasons outside the departments control such as delays caused by the applicant or in obtaining health, security or characterclearances. Figure 6: Protection visas granted in 200809 and 200910
Program year 200809 200910 Non-IMAs 2173 2367 IMAs 209 2148 Total 2382 4515
Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship Note: shows nally determined grants after review processes have beencompleted.
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Figure 7: Protection visa grants and grant rates in 200910 by top ve countries of citizenship
Citizenship China (PRC) Zimbabwe Pakistan Iran Sri Lanka Other Total Non-IMAs 492 255 212 211 190 1007 2367 Grant rate 42.1% 85.3% 83.8% 97.7% 76.0% 41.2% 51.1% Citizenship Afghanistan Sri Lanka Stateless Iraq Iran Other Total IMAs 1425 315 170 134 64 12 2120 * Grant rate 90.5% 84.2% 88.1% 85.9% 92.8% 66.7% 88.9%
Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship Note: shows nally determined grants after review processes have been completed. * Due to the different methodologies employed, the count of Protection visa grants to IMAs in this table varies by 28 persons from the ofcial total in Figure6.
Review rights
If a Protection visa application is refused, the applicant may apply to the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) for a review of the merits of the case, or to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if the application was refused for character reasons. Applications for review must be lodged within 28 days of the primary decisionnotication.
The Refugee Review Tribunal

The RRT is an independent statutory body with the power to review decisions on Protection visa applications that do not involve character matters. The RRT examines the applicants claims against the provisions in the RefugeesConvention, providing an informal nonadversarial setting to hearevidence. The RRT has the power to do one of the following: uphold the primary decisionagreeing that the applicant is not entitled to a Protection visa refer the matter to the department for reconsiderationthe department makes a fresh assessment of the application, considering the RRTs directions and recommendations set aside the departments decision and substitute a new decisionif the RRT nds that the applicant is entitled to a Protectionvisa. A decision by the RRT to set aside a primary refusal does not necessarily indicate an error in the earlier decision by the department. The RRT considers each Protection visa application afresh and takes into account any new claims or information advanced by the applicant and any changes in country information which have occurred since the initialdecision.
During 200910, the RRT upheld the departments decision in 75percent of all cases for review decided, while 25percent were either referred to the department for reconsideration or set aside. Further information is available at www.mrtrrt.gov.au.
Judicial review
Unsuccessful applicants may also appeal to the courts in certain circumstances. Judicial reviews are available to consider whether legal errors occurred during the decisionmaking process, but not to reconsider the claims made by anapplicant.
Ministerial intervention
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has a set of powers under section 417 of the Migration Act 1958 which allows the grant of a visa, if it is in the public interest, to certain people who have been found by a review tribunal not to satisfy the criteria for a Protection visa. These powers are called the public interest powers or, more commonly, ministerialintervention. Through this process Australia meets it obligations under a number of international treaties to afford protection to people who are not refugees but who nevertheless may not be returned to their country of origin because they would face a real risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or violation of the right tolife. These treaties are the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of theChild. The Minister may grant a visa under this process for a range of reasons. Very few Protection visas are granted through thisprocess.
Assistance for asylum seekers whilst their application isprocessed

The department provides funding to assist eligible asylum seekers living in the community. Funding is also provided to clients in community detention, which is a form of immigration detention that enables people in detention to reside and move about freely in the community without needing to be accompanied or restrained by an ofcer under the Migration Act1958. This funding scheme is currently administered by the Australian Red Cross, which is contracted by the department as the lead agency for service provision. Thenancial component of this assistance does not exceed 89percent of the Centrelink SpecialBenet.
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Other services are also provided to support eligible asylum seekers living in the community, and clients in community detention, to access basic and essential health and mental health services and to source culturally appropriate links and essential services in thecommunity.
Assistance for asylum seekers who are found to berefugees

People granted a permanent Protection visa have the same rights as all other permanent residents, including being eligible to apply for the same benets as all other permanent residents and being able to apply for Australian Citizenship following the required period of residence inAustralia. Refugees have faced extremely difcult circumstances and most arrive in Australia with no money and no belongings. For this reason refugees are exempt from the standard waiting period that applies to migrants seeking to access social security payments or concessioncards. Refugees also receive shortterm support from the department aimed at helping them to settle effectively. This support could include meeting them when they arrive, help nding suitable accommodation, initial orientation and a package of basic household goods such as simple furnishings, linen, some white goods and kitchen equipment. They are provided with English language classes through the Adult Migrant EnglishProgram. Refugees must meet the same requirements as other Australian citizens and permanent residents to be eligible for public housingrefugees are not given preferential treatment and are placed on waiting lists like other eligiblepeople.
Statistics and analysis

More detailed statistics and analysis of asylum in Australia are available on the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/asylum.
A Rohingya refugee woman from Myanmar collects drinking water from a spring on a nearby hill. Concentration of large numbers of refugees often imply a overuse of limited water-resources, that exposes refugee/IDP populations and host community to health and security concerns. CoxsBazaar District, Bangladesh. UNHCR/G.M.B.Akash/June2006
Chapter Four: Resettlementthe offshore component of the Humanitarian Program
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From the Democratic Republic of Congo Valentines story

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a violent history. Following the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, ethnic tensions spread to other countries in the regionleading to the Second Congo War which raged from 1998 to 2003, involved eight nations and caused the deaths of more than 5.4million people. Thisconict devastated the DRC, now plagued by widespread disease and famine. Despite peace agreements, conict and human rights abuses continue and refugees still ow from the DRC into neighbouringcountries. This is the environment where Valentine and his DIAC / A. Maria wife were raising their ve eldest sons. Among the broader population they were luckyValentine has a degree in literature, speaks ve languages and worked as a public servant for the DRCGovernment. This life changed forever in 2004, when Valentine found out that the Government was trying to kill a Pastor who had been preaching antiGovernment messages. When Valentine saved the Pastors life by helping him escape the country, he was arrested and thrown into prison. After being held for a week and tortured severely, Valentine was able to escape. It was not safe to stay in the DRC, so he ed with his family to a refugee camp across the border inZambia. The family spent ve years living in this refugee camp. It was very hard because we had to leave everything behind when we edall our money, our car, our house, our clothes. We had to survive with nothing, and it was not until we were accepted by Australia that we had the opportunity to begin rebuilding, Valentinerecalls. Since arriving in Australia a year ago, things are looking up. His sons are attending school and he hopes that they will all go on to university. Valentines skill at languages helped him learn English fast, and he is using his talent working at the local Migrant Resource Centre, interpreting for newarrivals. I am very happy here. I want to continue studying and improve my skills so that I can contribute to Australia. My hope is to work to help the Australian people who have helped me, and to help new arrivals coming to Australia so they can do thesame.

The offshore component of the Humanitarian Program helps people who are subject to persecution or substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home countries and have ed their homecountry. In the last decade, more than 100 000 refugees have been resettled in Australia, representing over 50differentnationalities. Figure 8: Humanitarian Program visa grants by category
Category Refugee Special Humanitarian Onshore Protection Temporary Humanitarian Concern Total 200506 6 022 6 836 1 272 14 14 144 200607 6 003 5 275 1 701 38 13 017 200708 6 004 5 026 1 900 84 13 014 200809 6 499 4 511 2 492 5 13 507 200910 6 003 3 233 4 534 13 770
Humanitarian visa categories and subclasses

Within the offshore Humanitarian Program there are ve visa subclasses. Four subclasses fall within the Refugee category and one within the SpecialHumanitarianProgram (SHP).
Refugee category
The Refugee category assists people who are subject to persecution in their home country and have a strong need for resettlement. Persecution may be targeted on the basis of race, nationality, religion, membership of a particular social group or political opinion and involve harassment such as arbitrary arrests and interrogation, detention, damage to property, physical abuse including assault and, in extreme cases, torture. In selecting people under this category Australiaworks closely with UNHCR which refers most of the successful applicants for resettlement inAustralia. The visa subclasses within the Refugee category are: Refugeefor applicants who have ed persecution in their home country and are living outside their home country In-country Special Humanitarianfor applicants living in their home country who are subject to persecution
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Palestinian refugee boy from Baghdad living in no mans land between the Iraqi and Syrian border at Al Tanf Refugee Camp. UNHCR/J. Wreford/January 2007
Emergency Rescuefor applicants who are living in or outside their home country and who are in urgent need of protection because there is an immediate threat to their life and security Woman at Riskfor female applicants and their dependants who are subject to persecution or are people of concern to UNHCR, are living outside their home country without the protection of a male relative and are in danger of victimisation, harassment or serious abuse because of their gender. This subclass recognises the priority given by UNHCR to the protection of refugee women who are in particularly vulnerablesituations. In 200910, 13.4percent of the Refugee category allocation was granted to Woman at Risk applicants, exceeding the nominal annual target of 12percent (seeFigure 9). Since the Woman at Risk visa subclass was established in 1989 a total of 10 404 Woman at Risk visas have beengranted. The Australian Government fully funds the travel for successful applicants under the Refugeecategory.
Figure 9: Woman at Risk grants

Grants Percent Total Refugee grants 3 997 Afghanistan 4 160 Afghanistan 4 376 Afghanistan 4 134 Afghanistan 5 511 Liberia 6 022 Afghanistan 6 003 Afghanistan Top 5 countries of birth
200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 200607
402 478 504 393 841 995 980
10.1% 11.5% 11.5% 9.5% 15.3% 16.5% 16.3%
Yugoslavia (Former) Yugoslavia (Former) Sudan Sudan Afghanistan Liberia Burma
Croatia Iraq Liberia Iraq Iraq Burundi Congo (Democratic Republic) Congo (Democratic Republic) Iraq Congo (Democratic Republic)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sudan Iraq Liberia Sierra Leone Burma Burundi
SierraLeone SierraLeone Yugoslavia (Former) Sierra Leone Burundi Iraq Iraq
200708
819
13.7%
6 004 Afghanistan
Burma
Iraq
Somalia
200809 200910
788 806
12.1% 13.4%
6 499 Afghanistan 6 003 Burma
Burma Afghanistan
Somalia Iraq
Burundi Ethiopia / Somalia
Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship Note: this table measures Woman at Risk grants as a proportion of all Refugee visas granted
The Special Humanitarian Program

The SHP is for people who have been subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home country, are living outside their home country at the time of application and have links with Australia. Substantial discrimination involves the deprivation of their basic human rights such as access to education and employment, freedom of speech and freedom to practise onesreligion. The SHP also provides for the immediate family of persons who have been granted an SHP visa overseas or a Protection visa inAustralia. Applications for SHP visas must be supported by a proposer in Australia. If the application is successful, SHP proposers help the applicant organise and pay for their travel to Australia and assist with their accommodation and initial orientation in Australia. SHP proposers must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen over the age of 18, or an organisation operating inAustralia. People who would like to propose an SHP applicant can nd more information, including application forms, on the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/ visas/humanitarian/offshore.
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No interest travel loans scheme (NILS)

To assist SHP visa holders and their proposers fund the cost of travel to Australia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operates a no interest travel loanscheme. While refugee subclass visa holders have their passage to Australia fully funded by the Commonwealth, SHP entrants (and in effect their proposers) are responsible for funding their owntravel. Proposers, whose family members have been granted a subclass 202 visa, are eligible to apply for a loan which provides up to 75percent of the travel costs interest free. A deposit of 25percent is paid prior to the travel arrangements being made. The loan is repaid after the familys arrival in Australia over a period of 24months, using Centrelinks Centrepay Deductionfacility. As well as helping with the cost (and booking) of travel, IOM also provides advice and support before, during and after the familys journey to Australia. IOM has access to discounted fares not readily available to other travellers and provides assistance in attaining any documentation necessary to facilitate departure to Australia. Dedicated staff are also present at most points of transit to ensure a smooth transition betweenights. Further information, including NILS application forms, can be found at www.iom.int/australia/projects.html.
Amina ed Tripoli with her son and husband after gangs looted their house and threatened them with violence. UNHCR/A.Braithwaite/2011
The International Organization for Migration Established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organisation to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has now grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world. Acting with its partners in the international community, IOM upholds the human dignity and wellbeing of migrants; encourages social and economic development through migration; assists in meeting the operational challenges of migration and advances understanding of migrationissues.
Source: IOM website
Assessment of an application
People who apply for resettlement in Australia must meet criteria set down in Australian law. Each applicant is individually assessed against these criteria, which are designed to ensure that visas are granted to applicants with the most compelling need for humanitarian resettlement. Requirements also include health, character and national security checks. Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply and when the application isnalised. While all refugee applications are processed by Australian immigration staff in overseas ofces, most SHP applications from people in Africa and the Middle East (including South West Asia) are lodged at the departments Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centres in Sydney and Melbourne. After initial assessment, these applications are either declined or referred to the appropriate overseas ofce for further processing. For details on application lodgement procedures please refer to the departments website www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian. Figure 10: Number of applications lodged for the past ve program years
200506 Refugees Special Humanitarian Total 12 090 69 592 81 682 200607 19 957 60 329 80 286 200708 12 880 34 451 47 331 200809 12 453 34 457 46 910 200910 12 552 34 570 47 122
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Health, character and national security checks

As outlined in Chapter Three, all visa applicants must satisfy public interest criteria intended to protect the Australian community. These criteria include health, character and national securityrequirements.
Pre-departure medical screening

Predeparture medical screening (PDMS) is a voluntary health check typically undertaken around three days before travel to Australia. This check is in addition to the stringent health check applicants must undertake before a visa can be granted. It ensures that visa holders are t to travel to Australia, recognising the possibility for changes in their health between the initial health assessment and theirdeparture. Depending on the location, PDMS may include testing for communicable diseases, a physical examination and assessment of the visa holders general health status and tness totravel. If any health problems identied at the PDMS compromise the visa holders tness to travel, medical treatment is provided free of charge. Their visa status is not affected and they can travel to Australia as soon as they are considered t to do so. PDMS also links clients to the healthcare services they need after they arrive inAustralia. PDMS was rst introduced in East and West Africa in August 2005 and has since been expanded to cover North and South Africa; the Middle East and Turkey; and a range of locations across Asia. The location of PDMS services will continue to reect the source locations of the refugee and humanitariancaseload.
Application processing times

The department appreciates the difculties faced by humanitarian visa applicants while their applications are processed, and gives a high priority to nalising theseapplications. Service standards require that 75percent of all offshore humanitarian applications are nalised within twelve months oflodgement. Application processing times will vary according to circumstances in the country of residence, the results of medical checks, any character concerns prompted by the applicants personal history and other variables that are outside the control of the departments visa decisionmakers.
A twenty-eight year-old mother proudly holds her ve-year-old daughter in their modest shelter in Erbil, Iraq. She is an Arab Shia who relocated from Baghdad to the Kurdish region with her Kurdish husband in 2004. Her husband died last year in a car accident while she was pregnant with her second child. She survives thanks to charity and her salary as a cleaner in a sewing centre. UNHCR/H. Caux/2010
Family reunion
During humanitarian crises and ights to safety, families sometimes become separated. The Humanitarian Program provides a means for separated immediate family members of humanitarian entrants to reunite with their family inAustralia. An immediate family member is either the proposers spouse, dependant child or, ifthe proposer is not 18or more years of age, the proposersparents. If prior to visa grant a humanitarian visa holder declared the details of their immediate family to the department the visa holder can propose their family for family reunion under the split family provisions, provided the application is made within ve years of their visa being granted. Eligible family members do not need to meet the persecution or substantial discrimination criteria, but they must prove that they have an immediate family relationship and meet the health, character and national securityrequirements. Applicants accepted under these provisions are usually granted the same visa subclass as their immediate family member in Australia. Holders of Protection or Resolution of Status visas are also eligible to be reunited with immediate family members under the Humanitarian Program. These applicants are granted SHPvisas.
41
Applicants who do not meet the family reunion criteria are also assessed against the SHP and Refugee categories to determine whether they meet the persecution and substantial discrimination criteria in their own right. SHP applicants do not need to prove an immediate family relationship to the proposer, but the proposer must undertake to help the applicant meet the cost of travel to Australia and provide initial settlement assistance after theyarrive. Humanitarian entrants may also apply to sponsor family members under other family migration categories in Australias Migration Program. Further information on these categories can be found at www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family.
Every day, we eat dry bread with tea. Occasionally, some families can buy vegetables. Meat is too expensive US$3 a kg we cant afford to eat it even once a month. A Pashtun returnee woman during a meeting with UNHCR staff. UNHCR/R.Arnold/March2009
Current regional focus of the program

Africa
Africa remains a priority region for resettlement internationally and in Australia. Many people throughout the Africa region have been affected by armed conict and civil disorder. Political instability and the management of population ows present signicantchallenges. In 200910, around 29percent of all people granted visas under the offshore Humanitarian Program were from the Africa region, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but also Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi, Republic of Congo andTogo.
The Middle East (including South West Asia)

Over the last decade Australia has taken signicant numbers of refugees from the Middle East region (including South West Asia) as a result of the Gulf War, conicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the targeting of minority ethnic groups for human rightsabuses. In 200910, around 32percent of people granted visas under the offshore Humanitarian Program were from the Middle East (including South West Asia), particularly Iraq andAfghanistan.
Asia
Over the last ve years, an increasing percentage of offshore humanitarian visa grants have been made to persons from Asia. This is a result of consideration of UNHCRs regional priorities and reects greater access to resettlement for refugee groups in our region. These have included Burmese refugees who have been living in protracted situations in Thailand and Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal. Rohingya refugees from Burma who have been living in camps in Bangladesh for many years were included in the Humanitarian Program for the rst time in 200809. In 200910, countries in Asia and the Pacic represented around 39percent of visagrants.
Europe and the Americas

In line with global resettlement needs, less than onepercent of offshore humanitarian visas were granted outside the above priority regions in 200910. Figure 11 provides the regional breakdown over the last twelve years 199899 to 200910.
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Figure 11: Resettlement Program grants by region from 199899 to 200910

Rank 1 199899 Europe 49.7% 199900 Europe 45.6% 200001 Europe 43.3% 200102 Africa 33.1% 200203 Africa 48.3% 200304 Africa 70.8% 200405 Africa 70.1% 200506 Africa 55.7% 200607 Africa 50.9% 200708 Middle East & SW Asia 35.3% Middle East & SW Asia 33.5% Asia 38.6% 2 Middle East & SW Asia 30.6% Middle East & SW Asia 29.8% Middle East & SW Asia 27.0% Middle East & SW Asia 32.4% Middle East & SW Asia 39.9% Middle East & SW Asia 24.3% Middle East & SW Asia 26.2% Middle East & SW Asia 34.0% Middle East & SW Asia 28.0% Asia 33.7% Africa 33.2% Middle East & SW Asia 31.8% 3 Africa 16.3% Africa 22.7% Africa 25.4% Europe 32.0% Europe 9.9% Europe 3.0% Asia 3.4% Asia 9.9% Asia 20.7% Africa 30.5% Asia 33.1% Africa 29.2% 4 Asia 3.1% Asia 1.6% Asia 4.0% Asia 2.2% Asia 1.8% Asia 1.9% Europe 0.2% Europe 0.4% Europe 0.4% Europe 0.6% Europe 0.1% Europe 0.3% 5 Americas 0.3% Americas 0.3% Americas 0.3% Americas 0.2% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas <0.1% Americas 0.1%
200809
200910
A young girl waits to be registered and receive an ID card at Umpiem camp in Thailand. Like many Karen, she ed Myanmar because of fear of persecution. UNHCR/D.Lom/June2005
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From Sudan Anetas story

Aneta is from Sudan. She studied Organisational Management and currently works as a Cultural Liaison Ofcer with TAFE QLD English Language & LiteracyServices. My family and I have moved around a lot. We lived in Uganda for eight years before coming to Australia in 2003. In Uganda I was employed with UNHCR as a community support worker. I am passionate about working with refugees and progressing womens issues. I am very proud of my openness and how I have overcome the challenges working in thiseld.
DIAC / P. Allan
Every culture has something to offer. My children are uent in English and my eldest son plans to study Architecture at university next year. It is important that I also teach my children my native language Madi, our traditions and our different foods. We grow special vegetables in our garden. A we can do attitude is critical along with seeing myself in a positive light. I believe that being a refugee does not disadvantage anyone in a country that values you for who you are. My experiences have allowed my active participation in helping communities to comfortably settle in Australia. I feel that refugees from my community who have recently arrived in Australia have listened to me and I have been able to help them. The community often nominates me to act on their behalf in various forums. I aim to be a role model in my community, particularly for the rights of women andrefugees. I especially encourage youth to take advantage of the opportunities Australia offers. Believe in yourself, dont sit and wait, because anything is possible. Aneta was nominated for the Everyday women, extraordinary lives gallery run by the Department of Community Services where Queenslanders have an opportunity to recognise the quiet achievers in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International WomensDay.
Chapter Five: Adjusting to a new life in Australia assistance for humanitarian visa holders
Moving to a new country is often a difcult and stressful experience. This is particularly the case for humanitarian entrants who have experienced extreme hardship andtrauma. The Australian Government views successful settlement as a key objective of the Humanitarian Program and is committed to ensuring that people settling in Australia have the support they need to rebuild their lives and become fully functioning members of the Australiancommunity.
The Australian Cultural Orientation Program

The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) program is the beginning of the settlement journey. It is an orientation course for refugee and humanitarian visa holders preparing to settle in Australia, delivered overseas before they travel toAustralia. The course provides entrants with a prearrival introduction to aspects of Australian life which will help create realistic expectations for their life in Australia, enhance their settlement prospects and help them to learn about Australian culture. AUSCO supplements the onarrival services provided through the Humanitarian Settlement Service (HSS) outlined on page49. The AUSCO course is available to all refugee and humanitarian visa holders over the age of ve and is designed for and delivered to four main groupsadults, youth, children and preliterate entrants. Family Day sessions have also been developed. These enable all members of the family attending AUSCO to attend one joint session that focuses on family related issues such as the shift in family dynamics and gender roles. Where possible, the AUSCO course is delivered over ve days to ensure all the topics are covered in sufcientdetail. A wide range of topics are covered in the curriculum, such as: an overview of Australia, including the government, geography and climate travel to Australia, including arrangements for the airport, the ight, transitandarrival settling in, including onarrival assistance, cultural adjustment, communication and behaviour healthcare, including Medicare, hospitals, immunisation and preventative health education, including learning English, schools, tertiary and community education nding a job, including Centrelink, Job Network, recognition of overseas qualications and experience and Australian working conditions
Chapter Five: Adjusting to a new life in Australiaassistance for humanitarian visa holders
47
IOM
money management, including banking, budgeting, taxation and credit housing, including renting and household management arrangements public transport and drivers licences Australian law, values and citizenship access to torture and traumacounselling. Since the beginning of the program in 2003 and up to the end of June 2010, more than 2000 courses have been held in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Romania, the Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, assisting around 37000people. In 2010, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was awarded the contract to deliver AUSCO globally. The contract commenced on 1 September 2010 and is valid until 31 August 2013, with the possibility of a one year extension. IOM also held the previous AUSCOcontract.
Travel to Australia
The IOM is contracted by the department to organise travel for refugee visa holders. These travel costs are paid for by the AustralianGovernment. The IOM also organises travel for SHP visa holders who have received loans under the nointerest loan scheme. Further information is provided in ChapterFour.
Settlement services for humanitarian entrants

Adjusting to a new life in another country presents signicant challenges. For refugee and humanitarian entrants, the difculty of adjusting often comes from their traumatic prearrival experiences. For this reason, Australias assistance to refugee and humanitarian entrants does not end when they arrive inAustralia. The Australian Government, through the department, has put in place a range of services to support refugee and humanitarian entrants once theyarrive. This assistance, provided within their rst ve years of settlement, is designed and administered through specialised settlement programs and services which: provide settlement information and orientation address English language learning, translating and interpreting needs provide support to the community development of new cultural groups respond to specialist needs, such as torture and traumacounselling.
Specialised services available to permanent humanitarian visa holders

Humanitarian Settlement Services
The Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) program assists humanitarian clients in their early settlement period in Australia. HSS replaces the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (or IHSS) and like its predecessor, HSS provides a suite of services delivered through a coordinated case managementmodel. In supporting humanitarian clients to begin their new lives, the HSS program focuses on capacity buildingbuilding clients condence and their ability to participate economically and socially in the wider Australian community and equipping them with the knowledge and skills they will need to access services in the future. Support through the HSS is tailored to individual client needs, including the specic needs of youngpeople. Services provided through a coordinated case management approach under the HSS program may include: on arrival reception and induction help with locating shortterm and longterm accommodation information about and referral to mainstream agencies and to other settlement and community programs an onshore orientationprogram. The HSS program works with other settlement and mainstream services to assist clients with their settlement needs beyond the HSSperiod.
49
The Complex Case Support Program

The Complex Case Support (CCS) program was established to further assist newlyarrived humanitarian entrants to build a new life inAustralia. The CCS provides specialised and intensive case management support to humanitarian entrants with special or complex needs that extend beyond the scope of the existing settlement and mainstream services. A panel of service providers, known as the Humanitarian Services Panel, deliver exible and tailored services to CCS clients on a needsbasis. Clients are eligible for CCS services for up to ve years after arrival in Australia. Special consideration will be given to extend this timeframe in exceptionalcircumstances.
The Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors Program

Unaccompanied humanitarian minors (UHMs) are children who are not Australian citizens, and who arrive in Australia without a parent to care for them. Some UHMs have a relative over the age of 21 years to provide care and they are called nonwards. Children who do not have a suitable relative to care for them become wards of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (IGOC Act). The Ministers functions as guardian under the IGOC Act are delegated to ofcers of the department and to ofcers of the state welfareagencies. The Australian Government and state and territory governments work together to provide settlement and welfare services to UHMs. The UHM program seeks to ensure effective care and welfare supervision and settlement support for these minors. It is funded through costsharing agreements between the federal and state and territory governments. Some support is also provided by notforprot service providers under contract arrangements with the Department of Immigration andCitizenship.
Longer-term settlement services available to all migrants

Permanent humanitarian visa holders have access to the following longerterm settlement services that are offered to all migrants:
The Adult Migrant English Program

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is the Australian Governments largest settlement program. TheAMEP reects the Governments commitment to longterm sustainable settlement outcomes for newly arrived migrants through integrated, targeted and well designed programs that support clients in their transition to life in Australia. The Australian Government considers that gaining English language prociency is a key factor to successfully settling inAustralia.
The AMEP offers free English language courses to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants in Australia. The number of hours of free English courses offered depends on the individual clients circumstances. AllAMEP clients have access to up to 510 hours of English courses for ve years from their visa commencement date, or the number of hours it takes to reach functional English, whichever comesrst. In recognition of the special needs of humanitarian entrants with limited education or difcult premigration experiences, such as torture or trauma, additional hours of tuition may be offered through the SpecialPreparatoryProgram (SPP). Humanitarian entrants under 25 years of age may be eligible for an additional 400hours of English courses, and clients 25 years of age and over may be eligible for an additional 100 hours of Englishcourses. Participation in the workforce is an integral part of the settlement process. To assist with the transition to work in Australia, additional tuition is available to AMEP clients through the SettlementLanguagePathways to Employment and Training (SLPET) program. SLPET provides AMEP clients with 200 hours of tuition (which includes up to 80 hours of work experience placements) in addition to their AMEP entitlement of 510 hours. The SLPET offers clients an employmentfocused course to assist them to learn vocationalspecic English while gaining familiarity with Australian workplace culture andpractices. Further information on the AMEP can be found on the departments website at www.immi.gov.au/livinginaustralia/helpwithenglish/amep. Information on other English language programs offered by the Australian Government is available on the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website at www.deewr.gov.au. The Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program provides up to 800 hours of language, literacy and numeracy training to eligible job seekers who are having difculties nding employment due to low literacy or English languagecompetency. The Workplace English Language and Literacy Program provides funding to employers for training their workers in English language, literacy and numeracyskills. The English as a Second LanguageNew Arrivals Program provides funds to state and territory nongovernment education authorities to assist with the cost of delivering intensive English language tuition to eligible, newly arrived migrant students in independent primary and secondaryschools.
51
The Translating and Interpreting Service

The department provides an interpreting service (TIS National) for people who do not speak English and for English speakers who need to communicate with them. TIS National is accessible from anywhere in Australia and is available to any person or organisation requiring interpreting services. Telephone interpreting is available 24hours a day, seven days aweek. Through TIS National, the department provides free interpreting services to nonEnglish speaking permanent residents and citizens to communicate with a range of approved groups and individuals. These include: medical practitioners pharmacies nonprot, nongovernment, communitybased organisations Members of Parliament local government authorities trade unions Emergency ManagementAustralia. The department has recently extended feefree interpreting services to nominated real estate agents as part of a pilot program to assist humanitarian entrants to secure accommodation in the private rentalmarket. The department also supports positive settlement outcomes in the areas of education, employment and community participation by providing eligible new arrivals with feefree translations of personal, settlementrelated documents. For further information about translations, go to: www.immi.gov.au/livinginaustralia/ helpwithenglish/learnenglish/client/translation_help.htm.
The Settlement Grants Program

The Settlement Grants Program (SGP) provides funding to help humanitarian entrants and migrants become selfreliant and to participate equitably in Australian society as soon as possible afterarrival. The SGP services are available to permanent residents who have arrived in the last ve years, and are targeted to meet the settlement needs of humanitarian entrants, family stream entrants with low English prociency and dependants of skilled migrants with low English prociency who have settled in a regionalarea. Services funded under the SGP include Generalist services and Specialistservices.
Generalist services comprise: Orientation to Australiaaims to promote selfreliance in individuals and families through the development of Australian life skills. Orientation may take the form of providing information or referrals to appropriate agencies and casework with individuals andfamilies. Participation in Australian Societyaims to assist new arrivals to interact with and understand the broader Australian society and encourage collaboration initiatives with mainstream Australian communities and governmentorganisations. Specialist services include immigration assistance, housing services and ethnospecic funding for newly arrivedcommunities.
Beginning a new life in Australia

The Beginning a Life in Australia booklet welcomes newlyarrived migrants and humanitarian entrants to Australia. It provides useful national, state/territory and local settlement information for migrants, humanitarian entrants, their sponsors and settlement service providers. This information is available to download from the departments website in English and 37 community languages. To download the booklet go to www.immi.gov.au/livinginaustralia/settleinaustralia/beginninglife/.
The Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council

The Australian Governments Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC) was established in 1997 and reappointed for a sixth term from July 2010 to June 2013. RRAC advises the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on matters relating to the settlement of migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants. Council members are appointed by the Minister on the basis of their individual experience, expertise and commitment to settlement issues, in particular in relation to humanitarian entrants. RRAC members do not represent individual states, territories or communityorganisations. RRAC advises on the delivery of settlement services and facilitates information ow on settlement policy between the government and the communitysector. RRACs sixth term priorities include providing advice on: improving settlement outcomes, including input into the delivery of humanitarian settlement services the settlement needs of refugee youth supporting settlement in rural and regional locations improving employment outcomes for refugee and humanitarianentrants.
53
Kite festival organized by UNHCR mission in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to celebrate World Refugee Day 2006. UNHCR/D. Sansoni/20 June 2006
How can you help?

Become a volunteer
Volunteers play an important role in providing humanitarian entrants with the knowledge, condence and support they need to participate in the social, cultural and recreational life of their local community. They can provide friendship and social support as well as links to local ethnic, religious and other community support organisations. Volunteers also provide information, guidance and practical assistance to help people adjust to life inAustralia. For more information about volunteering go to www.immi.gov.au/livinginaustralia/deliveringassistance/volunteers.
Become an interpreter
TIS National welcomes enquiries from people who have an interest in working as interpreters, and who can uently speak English and at least one other language. Where possible, TIS National contracts interpreters who are accredited or recognised by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. To nd out more about contracting with TIS National as a professional interpreter, please contact one of TIS Nationals Contractor Managers on 1300 132621.
Become a Home Tutor

The Adult Migrant English Programs (AMEP) Home Tutor Scheme, assists eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants to learn English, usually oneonone with a trained volunteer in the clients home. Alternatively, volunteers may assist in AMEP
classes delivered by AMEP service providers. Home tutors receive initial and ongoing training as well as support and access to teaching resources through AMEP serviceproviders. For further information on how to become a home tutor visit the departments website or contact your local AMEP Service Provider. For details go to www.immi. gov.au/livinginaustralia/helpwithenglish/amep/teachingenglish/hometutor.htm.
Become a donor or fundraiser

There are many longestablished NGOs in Australia that help refugees to rebuild their lives through social and economicprograms. For more information, visit the websites of organisations such as the Refugee Council of Australia (www.refugeecouncil.org.au), the Australian Council for International Development (www.acd.asn.au) or the Australian Red Cross (www.redcross.org.au).
Make a donation to UNHCR

Most of UNHCRs budget comes through donations from governments, NGOs and individuals. Donations can be made through Australia for UNHCR, UNHCRs Australian fundraising agency. For details: visit www.unrefugees.org.au write to Australia for UNHCR, Reply Paid 428, Queen Victoria Building NSW1229 email info@australiaforunhcr.org.au telephone 1300 361288. If you would prefer to fund a project, UNHCR can match your interests, objectives and budget from more than 10000 projects ranging in cost from $1000 to $200000. For more information visit www.unhcr.org.
Organise a Refugee Week or World Refugee Day event

Refugee Week is held in Australia each year to coincide with World Refugee Day on 20 June. Events in the community, schools and workplaces are a great way to raise awareness and show support for refugees. Information on organising an event, or nding events in your area, is available through the Refugee Council of Australia at www.refugeecouncil.org.au.
Be informed
Find out the facts about refugees in Australia and share them with your friends, colleagues andclassmates.
55
From Burma Kyi Kyis story

Kyi Kyi spent her early childhood in a village in Burma. Due to ghting between rebel groups and the government there were frequent raids on her village where soldiers would steal food supplies and force villagers to work as slaves, carrying their heavy bags. During these raids Kyi Kyi and her family would hide in the forest, often for many days at a time. When Kyi Kyi was eight years old her parents knew it was no longer safe for them in Burma, and they moved across the border into Thailandas have more than 100000 other Burmesepeople. For 18 years Kyi Kyi and her family lived in DIAC / A. Maria refugee camps on the ThaiBurma border. These camps have existed for so long that they could be mistaken for normal Thai villagesuntil you see the armed soldiers guarding the entrances and barbed wire fences. Children in the camps attend school and after nishing her education KyiKyi completed two years in a Special English Program. She then worked as a primary school teacher, but knew that there was no freedom or future for her family if they remained in the camp. Kyi Kyi applied for resettlement and, in 2008, she arrived in Australia with herfamily. Kyi Kyis family now live in MountGambier, SouthAustralia, where regional settlement for humanitarian entrants has been trialled and found to be a great success. The many benets of regional settlement include avoiding overcrowding in major capital cities, affordable housing, job availability (particularly jobs suitable to the skills of refugees from rural backgrounds) and smaller communities where refugees can be welcomed and supported. More families continue to arrive in MountGambier, and Kyi Kyi is now a bilingual settlement worker helping them as they begin their newlives. Here in Australia we have freedom. It is a peaceful country and we have hope for the future. My children can be educated and choose their careerwhatever they want to be. Before we were not really Burmese and not Thainow we are Australians and I want to thank the Australian people for the opportunity they have given us.

Refugee Humanitarian Issues June11

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Refugee and Humanitarian Issues

Refugee and Humanitarian Issues

4 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

The Hon Chris Bowen MP Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

From Bhutan Gauris story

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

The global refugee situation

Figure 1: UNHCR-mandated refugee population by region, end 2009

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

The system of international refugee protection

10 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Australias commitment to international refugeeprotection

Inuencing international policy and action on refugee situations

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

12 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

14 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

International development assistance

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

16 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter One: Australias role in internationalprotection

From Afghanistan Nasrullahs story

Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program

Planning the Humanitarian Program

The consultation process

A short history of Australias Humanitarian Program

20 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program

Key legislative and policy changes

22 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program

Source countries for the humanitarian intake

24 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Figure 3: Historical resettlement to Australia

Around 750 000 people in humanitarian need resettled since 1945

Chapter Two: Australias Humanitarian Program

From Iran Zarahs story

Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program

Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program

Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

28 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program

The Refugee Review Tribunal

30 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Assistance for asylum seekers whilst their application isprocessed

Chapter Three: Protectionthe onshore component of the Humanitarian Program

Assistance for asylum seekers who are found to berefugees

Statistics and analysis

32 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Chapter Four: Resettlementthe offshore component of the Humanitarian Program

From the Democratic Republic of Congo Valentines story

Chapter Four: Resettlementthe offshore component of the Humanitarian Program

Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Humanitarian visa categories and subclasses

Chapter Four: Resettlementthe offshore component of the Humanitarian Program

36 Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australias Response

Figure 9: Woman at Risk grants

200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 200607

402 478 504 393 841 995 980

10.1% 11.5% 11.5% 9.5% 15.3% 16.5% 16.3%