CHRIS BOWEN MP
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
SENATOR KATE LUNDY
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR IMMIGRATION
AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today welcomed experts from across the globe who are in Australia as part of discussions on international refugee resettlement services.
Mr Bowen this morning delivered the welcome address at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Working Group on Resettlement (WGR), meeting in Melbourne this week.
“This important meeting provides Australia – which consistently ranks among the top three refugee resettlement countries in the world – another opportunity to share our settlement experiences and exchange best practice on supporting refugees with other countries,” Mr Bowen said.
“Earlier this month during his visit to Australia UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres himself remarked on the excellent standard of settlement services provided to new arrivals in this country.
“Australia has been an active participant in these international meetings on refugee resettlement since the 1990s. They are usually staged in Geneva, but with Australia assuming the chair of the working group, we are proud to play host to such an important gathering of international experts in this field.”
The WGR is a forum for countries that resettle refugees, the non-government organisations which assist in the process, and the UNHCR. Participants at this WGR include representatives of 13 resettlement states, representatives from non-government organisations who assist in refugee selection and resettlement, and representatives from UNHCR.
The theme for this year’s meeting is One refugee resettled, many lives protected, reflecting the importance of every resettlement place that governments can provide. Discussions being covered include the challenges of the global displacement of millions of refugees and others in humanitarian need.
As part of his address, Mr Bowen also announced the trial of a new approach to the settlement of unaccompanied humanitarian minors (UHMs) in the community.
“The new Refugee Youth Support Pilot recognises the ability of some older UHMs to live more independently in the community, rather than the department providing 24-hour care under the current model,” he said.
Ms Lundy said the 12-month pilot would focus on assisting these older refugee youths to successfully transition to adulthood and contributing to their communities through tailored, youth specific settlement services, without round-the-clock care.
“These young people will receive youth-specific programs with a strong focus on accommodation, the development of life skills, education and employment support, while helping to create a sense of belonging within the Australian community,” Ms Lundy said.
Three organisations in three states will conduct the pilot: the Centre for Multicultural Youth in Victoria, Multicultural Development Association in Queensland and Multicultural Youth South Australia, with about 20-40 youths to be settled through the pilot in each of the states.
