Latest News

2012-13 Submission on the Refugee and Humanitarian Program RCOA's annual submission on Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program is now available for download here.

2012-14 Refugee Week theme: 'Restoring Hope' RCOA has chosen 'Restoring Hope' as the Refugee Week theme for 2012 to 2014. For further details, visit the Refugee Week website.

Plight of refugees with adverse ASIO findings raised with Canberra RCOA has written to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon on the predicament of recognised refugees who remain in immigration detention because of adverse ASIO findings. Read the letter here.

Nauru is not an option RCOA acted strongly to reject any return to offshore processing in Nauru following revelations the Federal Government was willing to negotiate with the Opposition on asylum seeker policy. Read our media release.

Refugee and asylum seeker policy on a positive pathway RCOA has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government that it had begun to wind back its policy of indefinite mandatory detention for asylum seekers who enter Australia by boat. Read our media release.

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Past celebrations

Refugee Week 2010

Refugee Week 2010 was held from Sunday 19 June to Saturday 26 June, focusing on the theme "Freedom from Fear". Major launches took place in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with keynote speakers including former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, NSW Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, and SA Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Grace Portolesi.

With more than 190 local events taking place across Australia, 2010 was the most successful celebration to date. Events included festivals, film and documentary screenings, music, dance, theatre, art and photographic exhibitions, sporting events, personal stories and speeches, public seminars, information and training sessions, rallies, book launches, a prayer vigil, tree planting, fund raising events and even river and harbour cruises.

The Principal Sponsor for Refugee Week 2010 was the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Major Sponsors were AMES Victoria and the NSW Community Relations Commission. Other sponsors were the City of Sydney, AMES NSW, ACL, Leichhardt Council and Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

Refugee Week 2009

Refugee Week 2009 was held from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June, focusing on the theme “Freedom from Fear”. Major launches were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane and more than 160 local events took place, including community celebrations, arts events, seminars, information expos, sporting events, film screenings and competitions.

At the NSW launch of Refugee Week 2009, speakers included John Gibson, president of RCOA, and Yasmeen Fatimah, a member of the Rohingya community in Sydney. Their speeches can be found on our Speeches page.

Major sponsors for Refugee Week 2009 were the Victorian Multicultural Commission and AMES Victoria. NSW sponsors of Refugee Week who offered financial and in-kind support included the NSW Community Relations Commission, ACL, AMES NSW, Leichhardt Council and City of Sydney.

Refugee Week 2008

In 2008, Refugee Week was held from June 15 to 21, focusing on the theme “A Place to Call Home”. Major launches were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane and more than 140 local events took place, including community celebrations, arts events, seminars, information expos, sporting events, film screenings and competitions. The guest speaker at the Sydney launch was Les Murray, SBS-TV football broadcaster and former refugee from Hungary. Les, who came to Australia as an 11-year-old boy, spoke of his personal experiences and of the contribution of refugees to national life. To read his speech, click here.

The theme “A Place to Call Home” aimed to encourage people to think about the global themes of protection and human rights by focusing on the fundamental right to a secure place to call home. It provoked thought about our common obligations to people who have no secure home, and also acknowledged the 700,000 refugees and humanitarian migrants over the past 60 years who have made Australia their home.

Major sponsors for Refugee Week 2008 were Victorian Multicultural Commission and AMES Victoria. NSW sponsors of Refugee Week who offered financial and in-kind support included the NSW Community Relations Commission, ACL, AMES NSW, Leichhardt Council and Mallesons Stephen Jacques.

Refugee Week 2007

Refugee Week 2007 was held from June 17 to 23. The theme of Refugee Week 2007 was “The Voices of Young Refugees”. More than 130 events were held around Australia. The theme focused attention on the contribution, ideas and concerns of refugee children, teenagers and young adults.

Refugee Week 2006

In 2006, Refugee Week was held from 22 to 28 October. The 2006 theme was “Journeys”. In NSW, Refugee Week was launched by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Councillor Clover Moore MP. To read her address, click here. In Victoria, the keynote speaker at the launch of 2006 Refugee Week was Julian Burnside QC. To read his address, click here.