Partners
Walk with us in our mission to accompany, serve and advocate for people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations.
Together, we change lives
At JRS Australia, we believe real change happens when we work together.
Our partners are an essential part of our community: helping us respond to urgent needs, walk alongside people seeking asylum and refugees, and build a more welcoming and inclusive Australia.
Without core funding, we rely on our partnerships to make our direct support and advocacy work possible. Together, we are able to share responsibility, combine strengths, and extend the reach of our impact.
We work with a wide range of partners, including local communities, parishes, schools, social justice groups, our sector allies, and our Jesuit network.
Partner with us today!
Whether you would like to work with us on an event, run a fundraising initiative, support our Foodbank, host a school workshop, or become an employment partner, we would love to hear from you! We are always open to new relationships and ways of working together.
- For schools, parishes and community groups, contact Kristen Lazarus at schools@jrs.org.au or community@jrs.org.au.
- For employment and training partnerships, contact Tamana Mirzada, Employment Program Manager, at tamana.mirzada@jrs.org.au.
- For fundraising and corporate partnerships, contact philanthropy@jrs.org.au
- For advocacy or media partnerships, contact Molly Jackson at communications@jrs.org.au.
To learn more about partnering with JRS Australia, please contact jrsreception@jrs.org.au, or give us a call at (02) 9356 3888.
Ways Your Community Can Get Involved
There are many ways your parish, workplace, or community group can walk alongside refugees and people seeking asylum – from hosting a Refugee Leader, to running a food drive or fundraising for JRS Australia, to advocating for change.
To learn more, contact us at community@jrs.org.au
Host a Refugee Leader
One of the most powerful things your community can do is create space for encounter. Invite a JRS Australia’s Refugee Leader – someone with lived experience of forced displacement – to speak at your parish evening, community forum, workplace event or group gathering.
When people hear directly from those with lived experience, barriers are broken down, perspectives shift, and communities are moved to act. We see this time and time again.
Our Refugee Leaders share their stories, contributions, and aspirations for a more humane and compassionate Australia. Audiences are then invited to critically reflect on their values and positions and are encouraged to ask questions to the speaker and JRS Australia representative. Most importantly, audiences are encouraged to explore concrete actions they can take to support people seeking asylum in their community.
Support the JRS Foodbank
Each week, the JRS Australia Foodbank supports 200 families seeking asylum with essential groceries and household items – families who often have limited or no access to Federal Government support while they seek protection in our community. A food drive is one of the most practical and immediate ways your community can stand in solidarity with these families.
Community groups can collect non-perishable groceries and household essentials, or supermarket gift vouchers, which give families the dignity and flexibility to choose what they need most.
You can donate to the JRS Foodbank year-round or participate in our Lenten Drive or Advent Drive.
Thinking of running a food drive? Contact us at community@jrs.org.au and we will let you know which items are most needed and provide everything you need to run a successful drive, including posters and resources for your community.
Visit our Community Space!
Bring a group to our office in Parramatta for an immersive half-day experience – meet JRS staff, participate in a workshop and hear from a Refugee Leader, and get hands-on by volunteering in the JRS Foodbank.
Fundraise for JRS Australia
When you fundraise for JRS Australia, you become a powerful advocate for justice and belonging. Every dollar raised makes a real difference for people who have been forced to flee their homes and are rebuilding their lives here in Australia. Your support helps JRS Australia continue to provide casework, emergency relief, food, employment assistance, and support for women on temporary visas experiencing gender-based violence – ensuring everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.
Community groups have supported JRS Australia through parish appeals, workplace fundraising events, morning teas or community lunches, or online giving campaigns. Fundraising is a perfect opportunity for your community to harness its passion and change the lives of those living on the margins.
We would love to support your fundraiser every step of the way, including meeting your group to deliver a talk or help launch your initiative.
Get in touch at community@jrs.org.au and we will provide you with the resources, ideas, and support to make your fundraiser a great success. You may also choose to participate in some our existing community fundraising campaigns!
Advocate with Us
We invite parishes to join us in calling for policies that uphold dignity, protect human rights, and reflect Australia’s commitment to justice and compassion. By raising your voice for refugees and people seeking asylum, you help shift hearts, minds, and – ultimately – policy.
There are many ways your community can advocate alongside JRS Australia:
- Write to your local Member of Parliament about the treatment of people seeking asylum in Australia
- Share JRS Australia’s stories and campaigns to raise awareness in your networks
- Host a community conversation about Australia’s asylum system and what a more humane alternative could look like.
JRS Australia can provide resources, talking points, and support to help your community take meaningful action. Contact us at community@jrs.org.au to find out more.
Volunteer at JRS Australia
JRS Australia is home to volunteers of all kinds, who work alongside people seeking asylum to create more welcoming communities. Click here to learn more about volunteering opportunities at JRS!
Refugee Week and Migrant and Refugee Sunday
Refugee Week and Migrant and Refugee Sunday are important times to honour the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes, and to celebrate the contributions they make to our communities.
These special occasions represent natural opportunities to engage your community with questions of justice, belonging, and what it means to welcome those seeking safety.
Keep an eye on these dates for 2027, and let us know if you would like us to partner with you for an event!
- Refugee Week will take place from 20-26 June 2027.
- Migrant and Refugee Sunday will be marked on Sunday, September 26, 2027.
Communities Standing in Solidarity with Refugees and People Seeking Asylum
Honouring World Refugee Day with St Patrick’s Parish Mortlake
On World Refugee Day 2025, our dear friends at St Patrick’s Parish in Mortlake brought together local parishioners, schools and community members for an educational session about the refugee context globally and in Australia. State Member for Drummoyne, Stephanie Di Pasqua, and Mayor of the City of Canada Bay, Michael Megna, joined the conversation about how communities can better support refugees and people seeking asylum.
Macquarie Bank Staff Support the JRS Australia Foodbank
During Refugee Week, JRS Australia visited Macquarie Bank in the Sydney CBD as staff came together to pack over 100 boxes of essential food and personal care items – each decorated with care and containing warm wishes of welcome. Through the JRS Australia Foodbank, every box was distributed to a family seeking asylum in our local community. It was a powerful reminder of what workplaces can do when they put their values into action.
Singing, Dancing and Australian Wildlife with Inner West for Refugees
In April 2026, our friends at Inner West for Refugees hosted a wonderful Australian Wildlife school holiday event for children in the JRS community – a day filled with singing, dancing, and, for many children, their very first encounter with native Australian animals. It was a joyful celebration, and a beautiful reminder of what community looks like when it opens its arms.
(Pictured above, website header)
Together, we can build a society that welcomes and protects those forcibly displaced.
When communities come together to serve, learn, and advocate, we build a culture of welcome and inclusion for people seeking asylum and refugees in our community.
To learn more about how your community can get involved, please contact: community@jrs.org.au
