Australian settlement services are working towards a future where all people of migrant and refugee backgrounds belong, thrive and experience fulfilling lives. Migrants and refugees contribute to Australia by enriching its cultural diversity, driving economic growth, and strengthening social cohesion. They bring skills, resilience, and diverse perspectives.
While debates about immigration simmer, the Settlement Council of Australia hosted a multi-partisan event celebrating those who are keeping multiculturalism alive and well in Australia.
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) welcomes the Migration, Pathway to Nation Building Report, concluding a two-year inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. The report sets out 73 key recommendations and proposes significant reforms.
This document outlines a set of guiding principles to enhance research and advocacy efforts within the migration and refugee sector. The principles were developed by a group of organisations that work with migrant and refugee communities and are based on their experiences in conducting research and partnering with academic institutions. They are designed to complement standard ethics processes required by universities and organisations involved in research. This document provides a supplementary framework specifically tailored to address the unique challenges and responsibilities associated with research involving migrants and refugees.
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) calls on all politicians to refrain from securitisation and politicisation of refugees seeking safety.Under Article 14 of the...
The Settlement Council of Australia appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the Review of Regional Migration Settings.
The Settlement Council of Australia, which is the peak body for migrant and refugee services, has congratulated Minister Andrew Giles for his achievements as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
Ms Melissa Monteiro, Chair of the Council, said “In his time as Minister, Australia has resolved years of limbo for 19,000 asylum seekers who were proven to be refugees and owed protection under international law; increased Australia’s humanitarian intake offering safety to thousands more refugees; and commissioned a generational review of Australian multiculturalism.”
CEO of the Council, Ms Sandra Elhelw, said “Minister Giles brought an in-depth knowledge of the complexities of the space, having worked in the migration space for many years prior to leading the immigration portfolio.
It has been a pleasure to work with Minister Giles over the last several years to progress a range of reforms aimed at ensuring Australia is a welcoming nation where everyone can belong and thrive.”
The Council also welcomed Minister Burke, Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite, and Assistant Minister Hill to the portfolio. The Hon. Tony Burke MP has previously served as the Minister for Immigration, and The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite was previously Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs. The Hon. Julian Hill MP represents one of the most diverse electorates in Australia, home to a large number of new arrivals.
Ms Monteiro said “Minister Burke, Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite, and Assistant Minister Hill have a long history of understanding the challenges facing migrant and refugee communities, and we look forward to working closely with them to address the contemporary challenges of multicultural Australia.”
The cabinet reshuffle also saw a new position created, with The Hon. Peter Khalil MP taking on the role of Special Envoy for Social Cohesion.
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) welcomes the Multicultural Framework Review report which provides an incisive analysis on the state of Australian multiculturalism and charts a path forward for all Australians to get behind.
SLPET is an AMEP sub-program which provides clients with employment-focused classroom tuition and an opportunity to gain work skills and valuable local work experience in Australia in an industry of their choice. The program offers:
SCOA welcomes the recent expansion of humanitarian places to 20,000 places in the 2023-24 Humanitarian Program. We also welcome the government’s commitment to maintain a program of 20,000 places in 2024-2025. This demonstrates progress towards the Labor Party’s 2021
commitment to expand the Humanitarian program to accommodate 27,000 people. The benefits of a larger intake include upholding Australia’s moral obligations to assist those in need, long-term economic contributions, and cultural diversity.