Please note we do not necessarily endorse the contents of all resources from outside the Catholic Church and provide them for your information only.
The Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic Organisation that undertakes services, accompaniment for refugees internally displaced people, people seeking asylum and other forcibly displaced people.
The House of Welcome works to welcome, shelter and empower people seeking asylum and refugees while advocating for justice and promoting self reliance. One of the ways of doing this is through their catering social enterprise which offers food inspired by the people seeking asylum and refugees who have created it.
The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (based in Melbourne) provides practical assistance and support to people seeking asylum based on the Brigidine motto of Strength and Kindness.
For ideas about how to get more involved in advocacy or to start or join a Catholics for Refugees group have a look at Catholics for Refugees.
The St Vincent de Paul Society provides a range of services such as housing support, emergency food as well as assistance with settling in Australia.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office provides a helpful toolkit and other information for Migrant and Refugee Week.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement for 2015-2016 was entitled “For those who’ve Come Across the Seas Justice for Refugees and Asylum Seekers” and their Ten Steps leaflet has practical suggestions on how to get involved.
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has an entire section on its website of documents and updates as they relate to refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
Catholic Religious Australia also advocates for better treatment of people seeking asylum and refugees.
The Edmund Rice Centre provides assistance, mentoring and empowerment to people seeking asylum and refugees by conducting research and providing pro-bono legal assistance through their Asylum Seeker Advice Project, advocating for better policies, raising awareness and and organising events to improve attitudes to refugees.
The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum campaigns for better treatment for people seeking asylum based on the values of solidarity, compassion and respect for human dignity.
The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce is working to have a Christian voice in compassion and hospitality when welcoming people seeking asylum and refugees.
Amnesty International advocates for better policies and treatment for people seeking asylum and refugees around the world and in Australia. One of its most recent reports Punishment not Protection: Australia’s Treatment of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Papua New Guinea tells the real story of those still left on Manus Island.
Refugee Council of Australia has very detailed information about the situation of people seeking asylum and Refugees in Australia and overseas.
The Asylum Seekers Centre provides support and advocacy for people seeking asylum in Australia
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (based in Melbourne) also advocates for better conditions for people seeking asylum and refugees. Their report Visit to Manus in November 2017 describes the awful conditions inside the Regional Processing Centre after the Australian Government withdrew basic necessities.
The End Child Detention Coalition is a coalition of 23 organisations with expertise in the area that advocates for the release of children from immigration detention because detention is never in the best interests of the child.
The Refugee Action Coalition Sydney is an organisation for ordinary people to persuade politicians to enact more humane policies for people seeking asylum.
The Australian Refugee Action Network has a comprehensive platform for better treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum including: abolishing mandatory detention (onshore and offshore), increasing Australia’s intake of refugees, a fairer process and permanent protection and ending the policy of turning back boats.
Settlement Services International is a community organisation which supports newcomers to Australia, including refugees, people seeking asylum.
The UN High Commission on Refugees publishes up to date information and ways to get active in response to the situation of refugees all around the world.
For a current list of Status Resolution Service providers, please see here.