In April we partnered with our Federal member Allegra Spender to present a conversation about supporting refugees as they settle in Australia. The Federal government will support 1,500 refugees over four years via help from community groups in a pilot program called the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP).
Allegra was joined by Blaise Itabelo, Community Engagement Manager and Nicole Watkins, Community Development Manager from the Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, and others from across our community for a presentation briefing on how people of Wentworth can get involved in the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP).
You may have seen recent news coverage of the first community sponsored refugee families being welcomed to Australia by their community supporter groups. CRISP offers the opportunity for the people of Wentworth to come together to provide hands-on support and change the lives of refugees – one family at a time.
CRISP is inspired by the successful community refugee sponsorship program operating in Canada since the late 1970s, which has enabled more than 325,000 refugees to build a new life in Canada.
The Federal government pilot program will support 1,500 refugees over four years via help from community groups. A group of five or more adult volunteers (known as a ‘Community Supporter Group’ or ‘CSG’) would provide 12 months of practical hands-on support to a refugee household from their arrival in Australia.
More information is available on the CRISP web site.