The Northern Rivers has been active in settling refugees here and since August 2022 has seen 42 refugees from Syria and Venezuela settled across the region.
Local Mullumbimby refugee Walaa Al Lahham has been recoignised for her work in helping settle other Arabic speaking refugees across the region. Ms Lahha, a TAFE NSW student studying English through the Adult Migrant English Program, has just been named the CRISP Newcomer Volunteer of the Year. The award celebrates her volunteer work supporting newly arrived refugee families across the Northern Rivers.
The CRISP program is a government based program that grants humanitarian visas to eligible refugees who are based overseas. The CRISP program then matches refugees with approved Australian community support groups such as the Mullumbimby Refugee Support Group (MRSG) or Uki refugee project, Lismore Region Refugee Settlement (LRRS) group, Ocean Shores 4 Refugees (OS4R) group or many others throughout the region and country.
‘Since arriving as a refugee herself in 2024, Walaa has dedicated her time to helping other Arabic-speaking families enrol their children in school, attend key appointments, and feel welcome in their new community,’ said a TAFE spokesperson.
‘This is all while studying and volunteering at a local food kitchen. She will soon begin a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) to build on her caring work and give back to the community in a formal role.’
CRISP support
Through the CRISP program local community groups take full responsibility for helping refugee families settle into life in Australia.
‘That means we provide everything: housing, food, transport, medical care, school supplies, and more – for a full year,’ explained a spokesperson for the Northern Rivers for Refugees (NR4R).
‘It’s a big commitment, and one we’ve embraced with open hearts. But resettlement costs money. While the government covers travel and some basic services, the rest – around $20,000 per family – is up to us.’
Can you donate?
‘We need your help to continue this life-changing work! Your donation – no matter the size – will go straight to essentials like rent, school uniforms, driving lessons, and healthcare. It helps a family feel secure. It helps a child feel welcome. It helps someone begin again.’
Expand Refugee and Humanitarian Program
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Australian government to expand Refugee and Humanitarian Program.
At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum the government pledged to increase the number of refugees it resettles to 27,000 places and creating 10,000 additional complementary pathways for refugees.
‘Never before has the global crisis for refugees and displaced people been so severe. By the end of 2024, according to the UNHCR Global Trends Report,a record 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes, an increase of seven million from the previous year,’ explained a spokesperson for RCOA.
‘Conflicts in Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar are driving this unprecedented movement. Sudan alone accounted for the largest increase, with more than 14 million people displaced. In Bangladesh, the situation for Rohingya refugees remains dire, with essential services stretched beyond capacity.’
Adama Kamara, Deputy CEO of the RCOA, said that turning pledges into practice is essential to maintaining Australia’s credibility and compassion.
‘This Refugee Week, we’re reminded that the community is at the heart of the refugee experience. Welcoming people with compassion strengthens our society and affirms our shared humanity,’ he said.
‘This World Refugee Day, we urge the Australian Government to lead with purpose by turning its global promises into practical solutions and ensuring that people forced to flee have a fair chance at safety, stability and belonging.’
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