Refugees Welcome Australia – Matching offers of accommodation from locals in Australia with refugees.

Why shouldn’t refugees and people seeking asylum be able to live in shared housing arrangements instead of detention and solitary accommodation?

We thought so too and found a way to make it happen.

How it works

We get in contact with you for further information. We then enter a preparation stage together and when you feel ready, introduce you to your future guest. We'll support you to get to know each other.

Currently, we do not have the resources to help you financially. What we can do, is help you find ways to cover your costs if necessary.

Your guest moves in for an initial trial period, and if you are both happy stays for an agreed length of time. We'll support you along the way.

Sign-up as host How it works Donate

Who are we?

Refugees Welcome is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organisation that offers a homestay housing alternative to refugees and people seeking asylum living in Australia. We believe people-to-people connections are paramount to successful integration and social cohesion.

Currently, an increasing number of people seeking asylum living in our communities are without any access to housing and support systems. Research indicates more and more people will be without work rights and cut off support in 2017 and 2018.

You can play your part by offering to share your home with someone who needs a place to live.

Refugees Welcome Australia is a division of Refugees Welcome International. Refugees Welcome was founded in 2015 by a group of people in Berlin – who wanted to do something practical to help refugees and asylum seekers. Since then Refugees Welcome has expanded to 14 countries across Europe, Canada and Australia.

Refugees Welcome Australia works in close partnership with Enough Room in Sydney. Visit www.enoughroom.org for more information.

Help us spread the word about Refugees Welcome Australia and other similar initiatives in the country.

We need your help to reach potential hosts.

Tweets by RW_Australia

Refugees Welcome Australia is not affiliated with any political party or religious group. We support and allocate accommodation based on needs. We do not discriminate according to the legal status of the asylum seeker, country of origin and certainly not based on religion.

The facts

There are currently 28.738 people seeking asylum living in our communities. Housing is a number one concern for most of these people, especially to the large group ineligible for government support services. The highest number of people seeking asylum currently living in Australia originate from: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Malaysia, Egypt, Fiji, Lebanon.

We know that people in Australia have a lot to offer. Sign-up as a host, a volunteer, or donate and help us connect refugees and asylum seekers with welcoming homes.

Becoming a host is an opportunity for you to show solidarity to people in need and help in a very real and practical way. play a significant part in the difficult process of resettlement and integration.

1. Sign up as a host

Sign up as a host and share some basic information about yourself, your expectations and the type of accommodation you offer. There is no commitment expected from you at this point, we will contact you in person first. If your circumstances change or you change your mind we totally understand.

2. Match host and guest

We get in contact with you and discuss the program in more detail. We gather more details about your expectations and accommodation offer so we can find a suitable match. For security purposes, we will request you to complete a regular police clearance check.

Once a match is found, we set up a meeting over a cuppa between you and the potential guest. You both have the chance to get to know each other. We will discuss the ins and outs of your arrangements and take it from there.

3. Find ways to help you financially

Refugees Welcome Australia is entirely self-funded and volunteer-based. Unfortunately, we are not capable to support you financially at this stage. However, if you do need financial support we can help find ways to cover some of the costs.

4. Guest comes to stay

When both you and a guest are comfortable about the match, your guest moves in for a one week trial. You continue to share accommodation for an agreed length of time, for a minimum of 3 months or more. If either of your decide the arrangement is not working, Refugees Welcome will be responsible to find another home for your guest.

Your support network

From the moment you first meet with us and your future guest, you are assigned a trained ’buddy’ who will be the direct contact person for you and your guest. Our buddies are trained volunteers who provide assistance with communication, logistical arrangements, and any issues you experience along the way.

Funds

Refugees Welcome is entirely self-funded and volunteer-based.

We have been operative for more than 12 months without financial support and are in need for funding in order to get the project going. If you would like to help realise this project and support our work you can fund our Crowdfunding campaign by the donate button below.

Donate funds

Time

We link our hosts and guests with buddy volunteers. If you want to be part of our buddies program, you can complete this form here.

There are many other opportunities to support refugees and people seeking asylum by donating some of your time. Please see a list of current opportunities here or email volunteer@refugeeswelcome.org.au for more details on current projects.

Donate time

Who can sign up as a host?

Anyone can sign up as host as long as you can offer a suitable room. This can be in your family home or a flat or house you share with friends. It can work if you own your home or if you are renting your home from a landlord who approved of the stay.

Does the host cover cost of rent?

Yes, you will need to cover the costs involved in providing accommodation to your guest which may include rent if you are a tenant.

How long does our guest live with us?

In order to avoid further uncertainty for the guest we prioritise placements for a period of 3 months or more. Initially there will be a trial week so both the host and guest can get to know each other before they commit to the 3 month stay.

What if I can only offer accommodation for a very short period of time?

We need some hosts to act as back-up to cover emergency or temporary situations. So you can still get involved even if you can only offer accommodation for short periods of time.

What if I can offer a vacant apartment?

The principle aim of our project is to promote the experience of living together, but we are happy to forward your offer to other relevant organisations in the region.

Can I sign up if I can offer a place to sleep in our living room?

It is important that your guest lives in the same conditions as the other residents of your home. They need privacy, dignity and stability so we can only accept hosts offering a bedroom.

What do I need to be able to provide in order to offer accommodation?

You should have a spare bedroom in a flatshare or family home with a bed, wardrobe, desk, lamp, shared bathroom and living room, and window.

What happens if we don’t get along?

Before you move in together, you and your future flatmate meet up and get to know each other and see how you get along. Should problems arise during the time of co-habitation, the same rules apply as with any other flatmate – you try and find a solution, if needed with our assistance. If it doesn’t work out, you can cancel the agreement.

Does the residence status of the refugee make difference?

All applications from potential hosts will be assessed and offered and prioritised based on need, regardless of their status.

Contact us

If you are a journalist and would like some more information or an interview, please contact: admin@refugeeswelcome.org.au

Media Coverage

The founders of Refugees Welcome in Berlin have gathered together some of the international press and media coverage for you to view.

Press photos

We are looking for volunteers with media experience to work on their own projects to help promote the work of Refugees Welcome Australia.

For more information contact: volunteer@refugeeswelcome.org.au

Some of the media that previously wrote about us:

A personal insight into the world of people seeking protection

We have started to receive messages from people around the world stuck in places of war,

torture and distress.

This blog will tell the story of the people seeking asylum who we are unable to help.

We hope that by releasing these stories into the wider world, the lives of these

people are not forgotten.

You can follow our blog here.

Deepak Khemchandani
Co-initiator & Information Technology
Deepak has a background in economics and is currently developing an online brokerage platform and marketplace for the legal industry as an early stage start-up. He is committed to helping asylum seekers and refugees find compatible hosts as the first step in forging their new lives in Australia, and ultimately, contributing to society through their resilience and progressive independence.
Ruby Lee
Co-initiator & Legal
Ruby is a lawyer who has worked closely with refugee support organisations and is an advocate for more effective legal and human rights practices and protections in Australia. Ruby has contributed research in identifying issues in the Immigration Law and Family Law frameworks for refugees and minors respectively, to support Legislative reform proposals in addressing the issues of trafficking and slavery.
Saul Kavonic
Co-initiator & Finance
Saul has a background spanning economic development policy, the resources and private equity sectors. He currently works at Wood Mackenzie, where he leads coverage of the global LNG EPC sector and Australian M&A, and delivers strategic consulting projects for major listed Australian and international companies across the energy, infrastructure and logistics value chain.
Suus de Groot Heupner
Co-initiator & Project Management
Suus reached out the Refugees Welcome in Germany with the intention to challenge public perception and sentiments of fear towards people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia. Being concerned about the effects of cultural and social segregation, she is dedicated to defend the fundamental rights of people fleeing persecution and promote tolerance and mutual understanding.
Theo Campbell
Adelaide Representative
Theo has a background in community development and has implemented a number of initiatives in the social and arts sectors. He is currently working at the Adelaide City Council in the community development team while studying a Bachelor of Social Work. Theo continues to advocate for South Australia’s social enterprise sector at a local and state government level.
Hannah Lai
Sydney Representative & Grants
Hannah began as a youth worker and caseworker for unaccompanied teenagers transitioning to independence and also worked closely with adults who had just been released from detention. She witnessed the hardships faced by the refugee and asylum seeker community but also the eagerness, gratitude and cultural diversity that each newcomer brought to Australia. Hannah joined RWA in 2016 and assists with writing grants and proposals, along with managing social media accounts.
Stacey McMillan
Social Media
Stacey has completed a double degree in law and arts (sociology and politics). She worked with refugees and asylum seekers in Europe in 2015. Stacey has a strong commitment to defend human rights and challenges general misunderstandings that shapes Australia’s refugee policy. She is currently employed in the community legal sector.
Rodolfo Sauce-Guinand
Information Technology
Professional in the field of Information Technology currently engaged as a systems and communications manager (ICTs), mixed environment open source/proprietary software systems integrator specialized in FLOSS, and provider of integral solutions in information technology. Rodolfo is RWA's web developer.
Tori Dyson
Melbourne Representative & Volunteering
Tori is a law student who has a strong commitment to protect human rights and promote equality. Tori strongly believes in the importance of volunteering and has volunteered for many organisations that focus on improving and equalising human rights. Tori is the volunteer coordinator for Refugees Welcome Australia.
Peter Bori
Blogger & Writer
Peter is an International Relations and Development graduate and based in Europe. At the height of the refugee crisis, Peter traveled to Eastern Europe to help distribute food and clothing, and provide health and travel information to stranded refugees. During his time in Australia, Peter wrote numerous stories on the work of RWA and published articles in national and international media. Currently, Peter writes stories for our online blog on the lives of refugees who reach out to us for support.
Adeline Choo
Project Facilitator
Adeline has completed her degree in Social Work and has been a volunteer in the sector throughout her degree. She has worked in the area of foster care and senior sector and has applied her knowledge in her role with RWA as Project Facilitator. Adeline is part of various community groups and is one of RWA's dedicated volunteers who represents the organisation at inter-sector meetings. She joins RWA internal meetings two or three times a week and works on the screening and matching process of hosts and buddies.
Janaina Carmo
Data Officer
Janaina is graduate in Finances, came to Australia to study English and has a pleasure to help people as she already have done in Brazil, her own country. "I think it is fair to fight for a cause where the greater goal is the good of all. In a world where we seek our happiness, looking a little to the side turn us into better people, even with small attitudes we can make a big difference for who has nothing or simply is lost. I believe in love, diversity and the value that people have independent of religion, culture or sexuality. All of us deserve live with dignity and fell welcome”.
Deepa Manuel
Project Facilitator
Deepa has completed a degree in Social Work and has worked professionally in various positions across the sector. She has a particular interest in working with people from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Deepa is part of a team of Project Facilitators for RWA in Brisbane and helps process and match hosts and buddies with people from refugee background in need of accommodation.
Helen Paterson
Internal Operations
Helen has a background in business and has recently finished her professional role in the tertiary education sector and is enjoying the challenge of being a volunteer. Helen is currently active with RWA to help develop internal plans and processes to ensure the sustainability and effective management of the organisation.
Thiri
Project Facilitator
Thiri has a background in social work and community development. She wants to contribute to building a society where there is understanding, appreciation and respect between people of all backgrounds. She believes in humanity beyond borders and conflicts and of people getting a chance of living a decent life, especially when circumstances have been terrible for them.
You
The position is up to you.
Do you want to join the team and be part of this program? Please contact us for more information!