Everyone deserves safety, dignity, and fairness
But right now, people seeking asylum are being left behind, cut off from the basic support they need to survive.
This isn’t who we are. Australians believe in fairness.
Let’s fix the safety net and make sure no one is left behind, no matter their visa status.
What’s broken?
Thousands of people seeking asylum in Australia are locked out of Centrelink, work rights, Medicare, housing and more.
Over the past decade, the limited government assistance for people seeking safety has been slashed by 93%.
On the frontlines, we see the daily impact – families facing homelessness, women escaping domestic violence left with nowhere to turn, people skipping meals or going without essential medical care.
In the past year alone, half the people we supported were experiencing homelessness or at risk, and 1 in 3 had no access to Medicare.
Read our new report on fixing the safety net.
What needs to change?
Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, housing, healthcare, and basic social support – no matter their visa status.
We are calling on the government to:
- ✅ Ensure access to Medicare for all people with a claim for protection
- ✅ Restore means-tested support (SRSS) for all vulnerable people seeking asylum, at every stage in the process
- ✅ Grant the right to work to all people seeking asylum in the community
- ✅ Support states and territories to open up access to emergency and temporary housing
Savana’s* story
Savana* is a single mother raising three young children. She is a victim-survivor of domestic violence and has an AVO against her ex-partner.
When his visa was cancelled, Savana lost her own visa rights, along with work rights and Medicare access.
Her baby recently had a seizure and spent two nights in hospital. She was left with a $5,000 bill she can’t pay. Doctors warned the seizures may continue until age six. Now, Savana lives in fear she won’t be able to get help if her child falls ill again.
Cut off from support, Savana is struggling to afford rent, food, or basic necessities. The stress has left her exhausted and overwhelmed.
“I can’t sleep because I’m so scared of being homeless and not being able to feed my kids. I feel like a failure and a bad example for them. I’ve thought about giving my children to foster care because I can’t take care of them anymore, but I can’t do it; they’re my kids, and they’re all I have.”
Savana’s story is not unique. Without a safety net, families like hers are being pushed into crisis every day.
Take action
It’s time for the government to fix the safety net and give vital support to people seeking asylum in Australia.
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Support our work and help us fight for fairer systems for people seeking asylum in Australia.
Fairness takes many forms, so your donation will be used for a range of critical activities – including advocacy and access to the many support services we offer.
Together, we can fix the safety net and make sure no one is left behind.
