The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission regarding Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2025–26. Australia’s commitment to protecting and resettling refugees is realised through its Humanitarian Program. These settlement services play a critical role in ensuring that humanitarian entrants are equipped to begin their new lives in Australia.
SCOA as the peak body for settlement services in Australia and a leading national voice for refugees and migrants values the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to the Humanitarian Program. This commitment is a reflection of Australia’s enduring humanitarian values and our willingness to contribute to global responsibility-sharing, while also enriching the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our own communities.
SCOA’s recommendations in this submission reflect the expertise of our 130 member organisations and the lived experiences of the communities they serve. To inform this submission, SCOA convened a meeting of the CEO Collective, bringing together over 50 CEOs and senior leaders from settlement and multicultural community organisations across the country. This consultation captured perspectives from metropolitan, regional, and rural areas, ensuring the submission is grounded in the practical realities, challenges, and opportunities experienced by those delivering settlement services on the ground.