Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2022 – 2023 Discussion Paper

People from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds experience disproportionately high rates of physical and mental health concerns compared to the wider Australian community.

People often arrive to Australia experiencing conflict, persecution, family dislocation, torture, trauma, and disruptions to the basic resources required for health. YourCH witness these poor health and wellbeing outcomes that are often compounded by Australian settlement processes, particularly in relation to visa processing, prolonged detention (onshore and offshore) and lack of post-settlement support. YourCH’s submission calls for a more flexible, responsive and generous Humanitarian Program to meet international humanitarian obligations and improve the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds. Specific recommendations include:

• Increasing the size of the Humanitarian Program to respond to the growing global need for resettlement
• Permanently ending offshore processing and establishing sustainable settlement solutions
• Releasing asylum seekers currently in Australian onshore detention
• A more transparent, equitable and timely process for claiming asylum
• Increased resettlement support and flexible funding models to ensure client-centered care