Fundraiser for CRISP
Launched in 2022, the CRISP is a new, national scheme that enables groups of everyday Australians to welcome refugees into their communities. The CRISP is inspired by the Canadian refugee sponsorship program which has run successfully for 40+ years.
Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia is funded by the federal government to implement the program alongside the Department of Home Affairs.
Under the CRISP, community members are screened, trained and matched with a refugee household deemed by the United Nations to be in urgent need of resettlement, and granted permanent residence on humanitarian grounds by the Australian government. Community supporter groups commit to providing 12 months of settlement and integration support, from the newcomers’ date of arrival.
Refugee households in the CRISP:
- hold permanent humanitarian visas and arrive in Australia as permanent residents
- are eligible for income support from Services Australia, and for Medicare
- are supported by a community supporter group instead of a caseworker.
Community supporter groups in the CRISP are comprised of five or more adults who:
- are Australian citizens or permanent residents
- live within a reasonable proximity (an hour or so) of each other
- undergo screening for good character (including Police and Working with Children Checks)
- agree to engage with CRSA’s training and ongoing monitoring and support activities.
The CRISP aims to achieve optimal integration outcomes for refugees and for the communities in which they settle. For the refugees, this often involves a more timely and meaningful connection to the broader Australian community. For local communities, CRISP enables a shared sense of community and purpose.
