Change Makers

From 2002 - 2005, the Reichstein Foundation, in collaboration with private donors, contributed $55,000.00 to the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) for their - Refugee Policy and Advocacy Project. This project was funded to combat the following social and structural issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees in Victoria.

The main aim of the project was to appoint a Victorian based Research and Policy Officer, whose role was to act as a focal point for the Council in Victoria and to meet the following objectives:

• resource Victorian-based agencies working with refugees and asylum seekers
• ensure that Victorian refugee issues were identified and taken to appropriate state or national fora
• empower Victorian-based organisations to advocate on issues of concern to them
• support development of refugee communities in Victoria
• develop capacity of refugee organisations and communities to build partnerships and improve communication across the sector
• strengthen RCOA's role as the peak national refugee organisation

Project Outcomes Included:

• Increased community education and consciousness raising
• Established stakeholder alliances and networks
• Assistance for asylum seekers denied the right to work
• Systematic changes in access to health services for asylum seekers
• National policy teleconferences have continued to be held monthly involving agencies from across Australia
• RCOA is now looking more closely at how they can involve the municipalities around Victoria who signed up to their 'Refugee Welcome Zone' initiative more effectively
• All activities involved with resourcing the sector are continuing
• Regular newsletters and email updates are sent out to members of RCOA who are also encouraged to be more active