Petition Concerning Long Delays in Processing Family Visa Applications

Monica O’Wheel, Chair of Circle of Friends Australia Inc. (COFA), and other members of the COFA Management Committee, have received an invitation to sign an important petition to the Commonwealth House of Representatives concerning the administrative mistreatment of permanent residents who are former asylum seekers, and their families. Asylum seekers who have been granted permanent residence visas can sponsor spouse …

Rapid Response for Refugees Circle Appeal

Help us to continue supporting refugee families over Christmas Warmest thanks to all our donors who have enabled us to keep going this year – you are our lifeblood. Unfortunately we need to call on the generosity of Australians once again. The Rapid Response for Refugees Circle (Circle 110) has a crucial role within the Circle of Friends Organisation to …

Home Affairs Moves it Responsibilities to Community

Over October and November this year, more than 500 Refugees and Asylum Seekers across Australia are being moved out of community detention and onto Final Departure Bridging Visas. This will give them, for the first time since they attempted to enter Australia to seek asylum in 2013 or 2014, the right to work. Yet at same time it removes all …

Iranian Women’s Association Campaign for Permanency

The Iranian Women’s Association has launched a petition that says that since COVID-19 has temporarily stopped migration, now is the time for the Australian government to provide permanent visas to refugees and asylum seekers. The petition points out many of the refugees have lived in our community for many years and have demonstrated their commitment to the Australian way of …

Support of refugee student scholarship holders

A partnership between COFA and the University of Adelaide. The Guest Speaker at this year’s AGM was Alexander Reilly, Professor of Law, Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide. He spoke about how the Universities the value of asylum seekers gaining access to tertiary education. Yet the government classifies asylum seekers as foreign students making University fees for these students are …