Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce

Local church communities anywhere in Australia can now sponsor and welcome a refugee family from overseas. Finally, everyday Australians can help refugees in a practical, meaningful and satisfying way, through a new national ‘community sponsorship’ program. Based on the popular 40-year-old Canadian model, locals form a group to welcome and support a refugee household through this federal government-backed program.

They meet the new arrivals at the airport and help them settle into their new home and community. Ongoing support might include help with navigating Centrelink, driving lessons or or introducing them to a local business that you know is looking for staff.

Church congregations and faith groups have long been at the forefront of welcoming refugees to Australia. Now your congregation can take the next step and welcome refugees referred by the UNHCR into their hearts and lives.

‘CRISP’ program: the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot

New federal program

After years of research and advocacy by concerned groups including the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, in December 2021 the federal government announced its new ‘CRISP’ program: the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot. From 2022 to 2025, this four-year program will support 1,500 refugees referred by the UNHCR to the Australian government for resettlement. Under the ALP’s national policy platform, community sponsorship of refugees has the potential to enlarge Australia’s refugee resettlement quota in this term of government. Now is the time to get involved at a practical level to help a refugee family build a new life here and, while doing so, show the Albanese government that everyday Australians are willing and able to welcome more refugees when given a chance.

How you can help

Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) is delivering the CRISP (Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot) program and is seeking local groups of five or more adults to put their hands up community groups to welcome new refugees from overseas, with families starting to arrive from August 2022. Local clubs, businesses and faith groups can instigate the formation of these groups and support those individuals in this important work in a variety of ways.

Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia is asking local churches around Australia to make their congregations aware of this new program and encourage them to participate.

Please share information about the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot program and invite your parishioners to attend an online public information session or watch the recorded information session to find out more.

How does it work?

A group of five or more adult volunteers (known as a ‘Community Supporter Group’ or ‘CSG’) will provide 12 months of practical hands-on support to a refugee household from their date of arrival in Australia. CSGs can be based in a community anywhere in Australia, provided they can demonstrate capacity to provide appropriate support to a refugee household within that community.

Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) will approve, train and support CSGs and connect them with a refugee household referred into the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot.

Refugee participants in this program will be those referred to Australia for resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees having been identified as in urgent need of resettlement. They could come from a wide variety of countries and may have been waiting for the opportunity to resettle in a safe new country for a long time.

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) is an activity of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

We believe our faith calls us to welcome the stranger and care for the people who find themselves displaced, marginalised or homeless, and those in need of protection. We want to see a compassionate and generous response to welcoming refugees into Australia.