By Mohamed Irba, 4 May 2026
For LGBTQIA+ refugees, the stakes of resettlement are often higher. Mohamed Irba shares how queer community members are reshaping refugee resettlement through sponsorship thanks to CRISP.
In a time when global displacement continues to rise, a quiet but powerful movement is unfolding across Australia.
One led not by governments alone, but by everyday people. Chosen connections, real impact.
At the centre of this shift is the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), a program enabling local groups to welcome refugees into their communities and support them through their first year of settlement.
Launched in mid-2022, CRISP has redefined what refugee resettlement can look like in Australia.
Rather than relying solely on institutional support, the program empowers groups of five or more volunteers, known as Community Supporter Groups, to provide hands-on, practical assistance from the moment a refugee arrives.
This includes everything from meeting newcomers at the airport to helping secure housing, access to healthcare, learning English and building social connections.
Across the country, these groups are demonstrating that community-led welcome is not only possible—it is transformative.
For LGBTQIA+ refugees, the stakes of resettlement are often higher
Many have fled persecution, violence or criminalisation in their home countries because of war, discrimination against sexuality, or both, and face unique challenges in rebuilding a sense of safety and identity.
CRISP has proven particularly effective in this space.
Since its launch, approximately 10% of all Community Supporter Groups have mobilised specifically to welcome LGBTQIA+ refugees.
Through their efforts, more than 20 queer refugee newcomers have already been resettled in Australia, arriving from countries including Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Iran and Yemen.
These newcomers have been welcomed into communities across Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, the ACT and Western Australia.
This is not incidental.
It reflects the strength of queer communities in Australia—communities that understand chosen family, mutual care, and the importance of safe spaces.
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