Advocacy
JRS Australia works to influence policy and public understanding in ways that uphold the rights and dignity of people on the move around the world.
Working together for a more just and welcoming Australia.
JRS Australia works to influence policy and public understanding in ways that uphold the rights and dignity of refugees, people seeking asylum and all forcibly displaced people.
Our advocacy draws on what we learn through our frontline services, the expertise of our staff and partners, research and the lived experience of the people we accompany. We use this knowledge to inform policy, advise decision-makers and advocate for practical, lasting change.
We engage directly with government, contributing evidence and insights to policy discussions and building constructive relationships with decision-makers. We work to be a trusted partner in shaping responses that are just, sustainable, and informed by the realities facing refugees and people seeking asylum.
Connected locally and globally
JRS Australia works alongside a broad network of people and organisations, including refugee leaders, community groups, civil society organisations, Catholic networks and government representatives.
Our participation in national coalitions, including the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA), strengthens collective advocacy.
Our connections with the wider JRS network help us draw on regional and international experience and contribute to conversations about the rights and protection of forcibly displaced people around the world.
Advocacy in action
How we work for change
JRS Australia works with government, decisionmakers, refugee leaders, communities, sector partners and the wider Australian community to advance policies and practices that uphold the dignity, rights and protection of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Policy, research and government engagement: We use research, frontline experience and policy expertise to inform recommendations, advise decision-makers and advocate for practical change.- Refugee leadership and lived experience: We work alongside people with lived experience of forced displacement to shape our advocacy and uplift leaders and their communities to influence decisions, share their expertise and speak on their own terms.
Community engagement and collective action: We work with schools, parishes, faith communities and community organisations and diaspora networks to build understanding, strengthen solidarity and mobilise support for a more just and welcoming Australia.- Communications and public advocacy: We share evidence, explain policy issues and amplify the perspectives of people with lived experience through our publications, media engagement and digital platforms, with a commitment to ethical storytelling and meaningful participation.
Our advocacy priorities
Our priorities are informed by the experiences of the people we accompany, frontline and sector insights, research, and developments in Australia and internationally. We review our focus to offer support to those in greatest need, where there are gaps in services, and where JRS Australia can contribute to meaningful change.
Explore the policy issues we work on, our recommendations for change and the actions you can take to support a more just and welcoming Australia here.
Resources and Publications
We also produce a number of resources and publications each year – from our online and print LINK newsletters, our annual reports, research projects, tool kits, policy papers, and submissions to government.
Click here to view our previous publications.
