HR P 3 Flashcards
To achieve this purpose, the RCOA has a number of key aims
(a) To act as a unifying organisation and to represent its members.
(b) To promote the empowerment of refugee communities and individuals in Australia and internationally and support the capacity building of Australia’s refugee sector.
(c) To monitor, research and present information on issues relating to the needs and circumstances of refugees and asylum seekers.
(d) To assist governments and inter-governmental organisations to formulate policy and improve support and services for refugees and asylum seekers.
(e) To increase public awareness and media sensitivity towards refugees and asylum seekers.
The priority activities for RCOA a
They centre on conducting research, policy analysis, representation, training and community education. We are funded through membership fees, by project grants, by trusts and foundations, by undertaking consultancies and through donations.
RCOA maintains close ties to
many international organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and refugee councils in other countries.
Since 2009, RCOA has had Special Consultative Status with
the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
n November 2010, the RCOA Board adopted a
five-year strategic plan for the organisation. The plan is based around five goals and 17 objectives related to these goals:
- Promoting better opportunities and improved services and support for refugees settling in Australia
1 Provide opportunities for refugee services and community organisations to inform RCOA about key settlement issues and to share information on issues, policy and practice.
- 2 Support refugee community representatives in their efforts to raise community concerns and ideas.
- 3 Conduct research into high priority refugee settlement issues, exploring examples of good practice in responding to the issues identified.
- 4 Maintain constructive dialogue with government on issues facing refugee and humanitarian entrants and the services which support them.
- Promoting fairer government policies people seeking asylum in Australia
- 1 Maintain networks to provide members and supporters with opportunities to inform RCOA’s work on asylum policy issues.
- 2 Monitor and conduct research into critical issues affecting people seeking asylum in Australia.
- 3 Maintain constructive dialogue with government on asylum policy issues.
- Promoting more effective systems of international protection for refugees and asylum seekers
- 1 Gather information from national and international networks on issues of international refugee protection relevant to Australian policy and communities in Australia.
- 2 Maintain constructive dialogue with UNHCR and (as appropriate) other governments and international bodies on relevant refugee protection and resettlement issues.
- Promoting increased public support for refugees
- 1 Provide information on refugee issues to members, supporters and the general public, including through regular publications, websites, social networking and (as appropriate) emerging technologies.
- 2 Engage with the Australian media, encouraging balanced reporting of refugee and asylum issues and giving RCOA’s perspectives on relevant issues of public interest.
- 3 Provide opportunities for supporters to become actively involved in supporting the work of RCOA and its members.
- 4 Inform Australians about international protection needs and enhance support for Australia’s continued involvement inrefugee protection and resettlement, through public activities (e.g. Refugee Week), awareness-raising strategies (e.g. promotion of Refugee Welcome Zones), presentations and provision of information to the public.
- Enhancing the capacity of RCOA to achieve its organisational goals
- 1 Strengthen the financial viability of RCOA and ensure compliance with legal obligations.
- 2 Increase public financial support through membership and fundraising, working closely with the Australian Refugee Foundation.
- 3 Maintain an effective staff team, supported by a human resources strategy which monitors workload and provides appropriate training and support to staff.
- 4 Increase the board’s capacity to undertake its roles in governance, policy setting and representing a diverse, national membership.
The efforts of RCOA and our members to argue for
larger humanitarian intake were rewarded this year with the program expanded to 20,000 places, the biggest increase in 30 years. T
Despite strong advocacy by RCOA and other organisations and individuals,
Parliament passed legislation to reintroduce offshore processing in Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and expanded the excision policy to the mainland while the Opposition responded with equally tough policies and commitments to turn back asylum boats and reinstitute temporary protection visas. Although the realities of Australia’s divisive domestic political environment made the task of advocacy extremely difficult, RCOA continued its dialogue with Government, meeting members of Parliament and senior departmental officers and using the meetings to press for the release of children from immigration detention and alternatives to detention for recognised refugees detained because of adverse ASIO security assessments.
This year, RCOA continued to explore and create more
opportunities for refugee community members to influence international dialogues on resettlement and refugee protectio
he Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is a national, not for profit organisation with more than 800 organisational and individual members
purpose is to promote the adoption of humane, lawful and constructive policies towards refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons by the Australian and other Governments and their communities.
