Australia
Australia
Australia hosts almost 60,000 refugees and 80,000 asylum seekers. Most are from the Middle East or Asia. It’s estimated that 8,000 people are stateless.
UNHCR’s Office in Canberra promotes refugee rights in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
UNHCR supports Australia in developing national refugee legislation, increasing refugee status determination capacity, and introducing protection safeguards in immigration procedures. UNHCR also works with Australia on resettlement and building complementary pathways.
For over a decade, Australia has had offshore transfer arrangements with PNG and Nauru for those who seek asylum by boat. UNCHR advocates in relation to the legal and protection concerns of these arrangements and in seeking solutions for those remaining.
Additional information
For information about our work in Australia:
- Visit the regional website - UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra (English)
- Donate to Australia for UNHCR
- Learn about UNHCR's work in the region
- Read the latest regional press releases, news and stories
- Read the latest regional publications
Are you a refugee or asylum-seeker in Australia? Find information about your rights and available services on our HELP site.
Visit the UNHCR Australia website for more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.
For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld.