Latest News

Budget analysis 2012-13 Read RCOA's analysis of the Federal Budget here.

Three new reports on settlement issues released RCOA has released three new reports focusing on Job Services Australia, Income Management and Family Links. They can be accessed here.

20 years of mandatory detention Sunday, 6 May, marked the 20th anniversary of Australia's mandatory detention policy for asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a visa. Read our media release.

Homestay network supporting asylum seekers Efforts to help accommodate asylum seekers while their status is being determined have been strengthened through the Homestay network. Read our media release.

End Child Detention focus on Australia RCOA is providing strong support for the End Child Detention campaign. Through May, Australia is the first in a series of countries being highlighted by the Global Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children. Read our media release here.

 

 

Patrons & Trustees

Our Patrons

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO

Professor Bashir is the current Governor of NSW. She is both the first woman and the first person of Lebanese descent to hold the position.

Professor Bashir holds Bachelor degrees in Medicine and Surgery and has been a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists since 1971. She is a Chancellor of the University of Sydney, where she served as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney from 1993 to 2001. Professor Bashir has also served as Area Director of Mental Health Services for the Central Sydney Area Health Service, Consultant Psychiatrist to NSW Juvenile Justice facilities and Senior Consultant to the Aboriginal Medical Services, Redfern and Kempsey. In 2002, she was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine by the University of Sydney.

Professor Bashir was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2001 for her services to child and adolescent health. She was invested by Her Majesty the Queen with the insignia of a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2006. Professor Bashir was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2000 and has been recognised as a National Trust Living Treasure.

The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser, A.C., C.H.

The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia between 1975 and 1983.

He studied Arts at Oxford University before entering politics. In 1955, he was elected the Liberal member for Wannon in Victoria, becoming the youngest member of the House of Representatives. He served as Minister for the Army and Minister for Education and Science before becoming leader of the Coalition.

Following the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in November 1975, Mr Malcolm Fraser became Prime Minister, remaining in office until 1983.

After resigning from parliament, Mr Fraser served as Co-Chairman of the Commonwealth Committee of Eminent Persons against Apartheid which was formed to encourage a process of dialogue and reform in South Africa during the 1980s. In 1987, Mr Fraser formed CARE Australia as part of the international CARE network of humanitarian aid organisations, serving as its chairman of CARE Australia until 2002. He has also served as president and vice-president of CARE International.

Mr Fraser became a Companion of Honour in 1977 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1988 for his service to the government and politics of Australia. He was awarded the Human Rights Medal in 2000 for providing national leadership in the pursuit of human rights and has been recognised as a National Trust Living Treasure.

Our Trustees

Trustees ensure that the Australian Refugee Foundation complies with the stringent legal requirements imposed on trust funds. The current trustees are:

• John Gibson (Convenor)
• Maureen Adamson (Deputy Convenor)
• David Bitel
• Lionel Conyer
• Quang Luu AO