Our Strategy

Accompanying, serving and advocating for forcibly displaced people, upholding their dignity and building a more welcoming Australia.

JRS Australia Strategic Plan 2026–2029

Our Strategic Plan 2026–2029 sets the direction for Jesuit Refugee Service Australia over the next three years. Rooted in our Ignatian, Jesuit tradition, the plan reflects more than 12 months of review, reflection and discernment about how we can respond to the needs of the people we accompany in a sustainable way.

Our work is centred on the lived experiences of refugees, people seeking asylum and other forcibly displaced people. We accompany and serve people in Australia while advocating for their rights and dignity, and supporting the Australian community to fulfil its responsibilities towards them.

Our Mission

We accompany, serve and advocate for all forcibly displaced people and support the Australian community to fulfil its responsibilities towards them, both globally and domestically.

Our Vision

A society in which the dignity and agency of refugees, people seeking asylum, and all forcibly displaced people are affirmed and promoted.

Our Strategic Pillars

Goal 1: To influence policy and public discourse to uphold the rights and dignity of forcibly displaced people
  • Set annual advocacy priorities informed by the experiences of the people we accompany, frontline services, sector insights and regional and global priorities.
  • Strengthen our research, policy advocacy and engagement with government, political networks, civil society and Catholic advocacy groups.
  • Build public awareness and action through our website, social media, newsletters, media engagement and campaigns.
  • Ensure our communications uphold ethical storytelling principles and amplify the voices of people with lived experience.
  • Support people with lived experience to participate in advocacy, public events and media.
  • Engage schools and communities to build solidarity, encourage action and support the work of JRS Australia.
Moh, Employment Support Officer, alongside a Casework volunteer at the JRS Christmas Party in December 2025.
Goal 2: To foster community and welcome through holistic accompaniment, practical support and capacity-building.
  • Provide food, material aid and emergency casework for people facing homelessness and other complex needs.
  • Create opportunities for community connection, social inclusion, participation and capacity-building.
  • Support people to develop skills, access employment opportunities and strengthen their economic independence.
  • Maintain and strengthen psychosocial, legal and health support for people experiencing gender-based violence.
  • Provide tailored safety planning and responsive support to people experiencing gender-based violence.
  • Adapt our services to respond to changing needs and help people access pathways to safety, stability and greater independence.
We remain with refugees, people seeking asylum and other forcibly displaced people to promote their dignity and flourishing.

Our Strategic Pillars

Goal 3: To strengthen JRS Australia’s long-term financial sustainability and impact.
  • Build and sustain relationships with donors through meaningful engagement, personalised care and communication about the outcomes of our work.
  • Grow our donor base and pursue a broader range of grant opportunities.
  • Diversify income through philanthropic foundations, bequests and strategic partnerships.
  • Develop community engagement activities that contribute to their own financial sustainability.
  • Improve the tracking and reporting of our work to demonstrate the impact of donations and grants.
  • Share regular fundraising dashboards across teams to support accountability and progress.
John Bosco, Head of Operations, collecting a donation for JRS Australia’s Foodbank for Refugee Week in June 2026.
Goal 4: To foster a shared sense of mission and identity while strengthening organisational sustainability.
  • Support mission and identity formation for staff and volunteers, grounded in the vision of JRS and its Ignatian ethos.
  • Provide staff with professional development, training, external supervision and regular work-plan reviews.
  • Gather feedback from staff, volunteers and the people we accompany to inform improvements to our work.
  • Strengthen risk management, compliance, policies and organisational accountability.
  • Provide opportunities for Board members and senior staff to deepen their understanding of the JRS mission and Jesuit tradition.
  • Maintain an active volunteer base and develop pro bono partnerships to strengthen our services and organisational capacity.

Our Commitment

We remain with refugees, people seeking asylum and other forcibly displaced people to promote their dignity and flourishing.

Guided by our Jesuit tradition, we strive to be a welcoming organisation that empowers forcibly displaced people and calls the Australian community forward in hospitality and inclusion.

Read the full JRS Australia Strategic Plan 2026–2029 here.