Advocate

Work with us to promote the rights of people seeking asylum in Australia and around the world!

Bring your community together for change.

Change happens when communities come together around a shared purpose.

JRS Australia works with parishes, schools, universities, unions, faith communities and other organisations to build relationships, mobilise support and advocate for a more just and welcoming Australia alongside refugees and people seeking asylum.

Whether you want to join a campaign, bring people together around an issue or engage your local representatives, we would love to support you.

Join a campaign

JRS works alongside refugee leaders, community partners and supporters to build public support for change.

Our campaigns connect people with opportunities to speak up, engage decision-makers and advocate for the rights and dignity of refugees and people seeking asylum. Explore our current campaigns below to find out what we are working towards and how you can take part.

Back to School Children face barriers to education in Australia. You can change that.
Back to School
Crisis in Myanmar The people of Myanmar are facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Learn more here.
Girl students in the Dzaleka refugee camp. (Jesuit Refugee Service)
Crisis in Myanmar
Learn more about our advocacy at JRS
Community Organising is about returning power to people. It prioritises personal relationships, membership of institutions rooted within the community and a pragmatic approach to influencing people who hold power in government, business or public life.
Citizens UK 

Community Organising at JRS

JRS Australia is committed to community organising as a practice of building relationships and capacities for action in diverse local communities, and as a means for engaging decision-makers on the rights and dignities of forcibly displaced peoples in Australia. 

JRS Australia works closely with dioceses, parishes, schools, unions, universities, other faith groups, and charities in geographies across NSW to:

  • Build understanding through community conversations, events and opportunities to hear from refugee leaders.
  • Take practical action through food drives, fundraising, volunteering and other community initiatives.
  • Engage decision-makers by building relationships with local representatives, organising meetings and raising issues that matter to the community.

JRS Australia has built relationships in more than fifty parishes across metropolitan Sydney, supporting community leaders to host lunches, food drives, community conversations (table talks), speak at masses, and public meetings.

JRS Australia has also supported community leaders to build relationships, organise delegations, and host activities in ten federal and state electorates in New South Wales. 

“This is what I’ve been waiting for, an organised and strategic approach to this issue by getting parish groups in different areas to be on the same page and working towards a common goal.
Parishioner from SJ Around the Bay engaged in constituent MP delegations

Bring your community on board

Would your parish, school, workplace or community group like to get involved in a campaign or organise an activity with JRS?

You might host a community conversation, invite a refugee leader to speak, organise a local action or bring your networks together to contact decision-makers.

Get in touch at communities@jrs.org.au to discuss how your community can take part.