PROJECT SUMMARY

The lack of a consistent national policy, as currently seen in Australia’s response to humanitarian crises, can lead to uneven and unpredictable measures that create gaps in critical support areas such as health, education, and employment for the displaced.

Australia’s current Refugee and Humanitarian Program have had different responses to emergency humanitarian crises over the past few years: from coordinated evacuation from Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul in 2021 to the use of Visitor Visas and three-year Humanitarian Concern visas for Ukrainians in 2022 to limited Visitor Visas and Bridging Visas for people fleeing the Gaza Strip in in 2023 and 2024.

These different responses have meant that those fleeing have access to different level of rights and entitlements upon arrival in Australia, and in the worst-case scenario, cannot even get to Australia.

• Visa issues: Many people arriving from humanitarian crises are granted temporary Visitor Visas. Visitor Visas are not intended for this use, so meeting the requirements can be difficult for people fleeing conflict (e.g. needing to provide that the visit will be temporary or providing financial statements). Visitor Visas also prohibit access to work, study and Medicare in Australia.
• Accommodation: Suitable accommodation is the key settlement issue for arrivals. Most remain with hosting families or community members, so there is often overcrowding. Charities are helping but resources are finite. Arrangements that may have been acceptable in the short term are not suitable in the medium term.
• Financial support: Many arrivals are keen to work, but visa conditions often prohibit it. Financial assistance is also not accessible except for under strict circumstances or via limited emergency relief payments.
• Education: Access to education for children has required targeted interventions from charities to secure enrolment and to waive international student fees in primary and secondary schools (tertiary study is prohibited for many arrivals).
• Healthcare: The majority of arrivals do not have access to Medicare, so they must rely on pro bono general practitioners, pharmacies and allied health providers. The approach means there are very limited options and the practice is not sustainable. Arrivals from Gaza, for example, have acute health needs related to their experiences in the war, including malnutrition and traumatic physical injuries, that require urgent treatment, so more reliable and predictable options like Medicare are needed.
• Community stress: Tensions in families are being reporting due to so many family members living in small houses/units. Some hosts have reported starting to feel the impact of the last few months and are struggling to maintain the same level of resilience they managed early on.

As an umbrella member agency, Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is ideally placed to research and develop a coherent framework for Australia’s response to emergency humanitarian entry.

A framework would guide policymakers in determining a fit-for-purpose response and take into account factors relevant to the needs of each population, the nature of the humanitarian situation and the strengths of the receiving community. This coherent crisis response framework would outline a principled approach and predictable protocols for the collective response by Government, diaspora communities and the many organisations experienced in responding to the needs of refugees and humanitarian entrants.

A client-centred, needs-based model to replace the current ad hoc efforts would ensure that needs are met and there would be better coordination and use of resources.