Refugees

Refugees and Displaced People

The National Program on Refugees and Displaced People (NPRDP) operates under the Christian World Service Commission of the NCCA. It is concerned with policy relating to refugees, asylum, settlement, access and equity. It is also involved in awareness raising, education, community development and advocacy. This work is done in partnership with the State Councils of Churches, which each have a refugee program that maintains close links to the community and involves member churches in providing services to refugees and asylum seekers.

Refugee Work in Western Australia

The Council of Churches of WA support refugees in a number of ways. They are a founding member of CARAD - the Coalition for Asylum-Seekers, Refugees and Detainees - who gather together the work of churches, volunteers and community groups in Perth. CCWA provide the services of the General Secretary as one of the Management Committee of CARAD.

The Council offers a very limited Migration Agent service through the General Secretar, to refugees for no charge. The council also operates a No Interest Loan Scheme to assist refugees to purchase air tickets so that their family members, who are granted Humanitarian Visas overseas, may come to Australia.

The Council of Churches assist Churches to be knowledgeable about refugee issues. The National Council of Churches coordinates the “Refugee and Migrant Sunday” kit and the “Refugee and Migrant Sunday Media Competition”, which are both distributed via parishes and schools through the Council of Churches of WA.