Review of Community Support Program for refugees confirms need for radical change

Amnesty International Australia welcomes the findings of the Department of Home Affairs’ review of the Community Support Program (CSP) for refugees hoping to make Australia home.  The review highlights the issues that Amnesty, through its My New Neighbour community campaign, has been asking the Government to address for more than three years: The cost of …

It’s time to welcome back refugees – new poll finds strong support for community sponsorship

As new Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, prepares to announce important reforms to Australia’s Community Sponsorship of Refugees, a poll commissioned by Amnesty International Australia has found the majority of Australians (55%) support communities being able to directly sponsor refugees into their neighbourhoods. Amnesty Campaigner, Shankar Kasynathan, who came to Australia as a community sponsored refugee, …

Monash Council pushes for refugee sponsorship reform

A national campaign to improve the Federal Government’s Community Sponsorship Program for refugees moved a step closer towards success last night, after Monash City Council voted in favour of putting a motion to the floor of the Australian Local Government Association assembly in June asking for support from all 547 local governments in calling for …

Amnesty International Australia talks to Wonthaggi resident, Sylvia Davey, about the wonders of sponsoring a refugee family

As part of the My New Neighbour series of events celebrating the stories of refugees welcomed into communities across Australia, Amnesty International will be talking to Sylvia Davey, whose sponsorship of a Burmese family more than 10 years ago transformed her life. The event will be held at the Warragul Library on November 6, between …

Bipartisan ACT milestone brings Australia closer to refugee solution

The Australian Capital Territory today marked a significant milestone in Australia’s response to the global refugee situation, with Labor, Liberal and Greens MLAs voting unanimously to call on the Federal Government to broaden the refugee community sponsorship program. “The ACT Parliament is the first at any level of government in Australia to get behind expanding …