Fact Sheets
View latest | View all
Refugees in Australia
Australia is committed to playing a significant role in assisting refugees and other victims of displacement and human rights violation build a new life free from discrimination and harassment. It is one of the world's top three countries providing resettlement opportunities for refugees. It also makes a significant monetary contribution each year to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) programs operating outside Australia.
Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration policy. This means that anyone from any country regardless of ethnic origin, nationality, gender, colour or religion can apply to migrate to Australia.
Australia's immigration program has two components:
o Migration (non-Humanitarian) for skilled and family migrants
o Humanitarian for refugees and others with humanitarian needs. The Humanitarian Program comprises an offshore component for the resettlement of people from overseas, and an onshore component for those people already in Australia who have arrived on temporary visas or in an unauthorised manner, and who claim Australia's protection.
Australia has a long history of accepting and resettling refugees. Since the end of World War II, over 675 000 refugees and people in humanitarian need have been resettled in Australia. Many had close family or other ties to Australia.
In 2005-2006, 14,144 Humanitarian Program visas were granted. 12,758 were granted to refugees and other offshore applicants not yet in Australia and the remaining places were for people found to be refugees already in Australia. Priority regions targeted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for refugee selection were those recommended by the UNHCR, Africa, the Middle East and South West Asia.
In 2006-2007 the Humanitarian Program includes 13,000 places.The regional focus of the program will be the same as 2005-2006.
|
