Over 14,500 women have started a new life in Australia since a special programme was introduced in 1989 to give them a chance at changing their lives for the better.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Women at Risk programme, some have been explaining how moving to Australia literally saved them from heartbreaking situations, including death.
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Michaelia Cash, said that the Women at Risk programme has been life changing for almost 14,500 women and their dependants.
‘Australia is an international leader in its resettlement of refugee women who are without the protection of a partner or male relative. We are one of only a few countries with a specific programme for women at risk, consistently meeting or exceeding its resettlement target,’ she pointed out.
‘I am proud to announce that the minimum allocation for the women at risk programme in this financial year has been reached, representing the highest proportion of women at risk within the refugee category since 2006/2007,’ she added.
With more than half of the world’s refugees estimated to be women and children, Cash said that the Australian government has increased the woman at risk quota within the humanitarian programme to 1,000 places in 2013/2014. This level will be maintained in 2014/2015.
Cash explained that since the end of World War II, more than 800,000 refugees and others in humanitarian need have resettled in Australia, contributing to and shaping society.
Australia will again welcome 13,750 people under the 2014/2015 humanitarian programme. It will also prioritise family reunion, with at least 4000 places allocated to the special humanitarian programme (SHP) for applicants backed by family members.