Strengthening Settlement and Community-Led Welcome: A SCOA and Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia webinar
Thursday 6 August 2026 | 1.00–2.30 pm AEST | Online – Register HEREÂ
Settlement has never been the work of a single organisation, program or profession. It is built through the combined efforts of specialist settlement services, community organisations, volunteers, local institutions and, most importantly, refugee and humanitarian entrants themselves.
As Australia’s humanitarian settlement landscape continues to evolve, so too does the opportunity to strengthen the relationships that sit at the heart of successful settlement.
Join the Settlement Council of Australia and Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia for a national conversation exploring how professional settlement services and community-led welcome can continue to complement one another in supporting refugee and humanitarian entrants to establish belonging, rebuild their lives and participate fully in Australian society.
The webinar comes at an important milestone for the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP), which became a permanent component of Australia’s Humanitarian Program on 1 July 2026 following a successful four-year pilot.
Featuring Lisa Button, Chief Executive Officer of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, Romy Vitalien, National Program Director of the CRISP, Maria Dimopoulos AM, Chief Executive Officer of the Settlement Council of Australia, together with community and lived-experience speakers, this webinar will explore:
- the evolution of the CRISP and what has been learned through its four-year pilot;
- insights from the independent University of Queensland evaluation;
- how Community Supporter Groups and settlement organisations are working together in communities across Australia;
- the complementary contributions of professional settlement practice and community participation;
- the role of collaboration in strengthening settlement outcomes, belonging and social cohesion; and
- what these experiences tell us about the future of Australia’s humanitarian settlement ecosystem.
The discussion will conclude with an interactive audience Q&A, providing participants with the opportunity to share their own experience, ask questions and contribute to an important national conversation about the future of settlement practice.
Whether you work in settlement, refugee support, health, education, local government, community development or public policy, this webinar offers an opportunity to hear practical insights, learn from emerging practice and engage with colleagues from across the sector.
At its heart, this conversation is about a shared commitment to ensuring refugee and humanitarian entrants are welcomed into communities where they can thrive.