We want to thank everyone who joined us in celebrating the announcement that the CRISP will become a permanent feature of Australia's overall humanitarian response. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event below. You might also be interested in...
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Belong from Day Dot: Events in Hobart for Harmony Week
We are thrilled to announce that Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) will be celebrating Harmony Week in Hobart from 19 – 23 March 2025! In honour of Harmony Week, we will be hosting a number of local events to raise awareness of community refugee...
Latest Video
9 News Darwin: Territorians can now support refugee newcomers through community sponsorship pilot
Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia speaks with 9 News Darwin to discuss how communities in the Northern Territory can make a real difference to the lives of refugee newcomers through the new Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP). Originally...
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Soccer, bikes and schoolwork: From the Kenyan Desert to Tasmania’s Huon Valley
“When I arrived in Australia, my first goal was to study and for my children to go to school so they can have a good future.” said refugee newcomer, Baruani. The former agriculture educator from Congo spoke about the Huon Refugee Support Group with great fondness:...
Belong from Day Dot: Events in Hobart for Harmony Week
We are thrilled to announce that Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) will be celebrating Harmony Week in Hobart from 19 – 23 March 2025! In honour of Harmony Week, we will be hosting a...
Reflecting on ‘The Power of Sponsorship’ Event
It was wonderful to discuss the purpose and power of community sponsorship at our events in Melbourne and Sydney last week. While there were so many highlights, several insights shared by our...
Soccer, bikes and schoolwork: From the Kenyan Desert to Tasmania’s Huon Valley
“When I arrived in Australia, my first goal was to study and for my children to go to school so they can have a good future.” said refugee newcomer, Baruani. The former agriculture educator from...
A Warrnambool Welcome
The CRISP support group, one of a growing number active in the region, welcomed refugee newcomers Rita, Salah and their three children. Soon after arriving, Salah secured a job at a local pizza...
Federal government’s community refugee sponsorship program made permanent
SBS News covered the announcement that the CRISP will become permanent. The media appearances feature a Melbourne-based group who welcomed refugee Juan Santamaria and his family to the community,...
Juan arrived in Australia to a stocked pantry and kind faces. The government pilot that allowed it is here to stay, too.
Ben Doherty at the Guardian wrote about the announcement that the CRISP will become a permanent feature of Australia’s humanitarian response: “Meeting [the group] is something we will never forget:...
SSI Hails Commitment to Permanent Refugee Safety Paths
“Leading refugee resettlement provider SSI has welcomed news that the Australian government will make its community sponsorship pilot a permanent program, marking an important step forward in...
Sponsorship of refugees a path to ‘facing future’, says Nick Greiner
“Nick Greiner’s career was defined by his efforts to promote a multicultural Australia, but exploring a family history intertwined with the post-war exodus of Jewish refugees drew him to a new...
Geraldton Refugee Support Group set to help refugee family establish new, safe Australian life in MidWest
A group of Geraldton residents have united to bring a global movement to the MidWest city to sponsor and welcome refugees in urgent need of resettlement in Australia. Read the full article on the...
Announcement: The CRISP Secures Permanence
' Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Julian Hill MP has announced today that the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) will be a ‘permanent and valued...
ANU to welcome refugee students as part of pilot program
The Australian National University (ANU) will welcome two refugee students from the Asia Pacific in 2025 as part of a new Refugee Student Settlement Pathway (RSSP). Based on the CRISP model, the...
Syrian family welcomed into Brunswick Heads
The Bloudani family "have wasted no time in the four months since their arrival. Sana (12) is excelling at maths and science at Mullumbimby High School, and Ghina (11) is so relaxed at St John’s...
Media Release: Former Premier & Boston philanthropist support local refugee efforts with $275,000 pledge
When former New South Wales Premier Nick Greiner AC first heard about the opportunity for local groups to ‘sponsor’ refugee newcomers into local communities through the CRISP program, he wanted to...
Step Up for $5K – Former NSW Premier & Boston philanthropist support local refugee efforts with $275,000 pledge
The CRSA team is thrilled to announce an offer of $5,000 in ‘seed funding’ for groups looking to provide welcome, connection and community to an arriving refugee household through the Community...
One family’s journey from Venezuela to Perth
This Venezuelan family had more shared interests than ever expected with the Perth-based CRISP volunteer group. Mum, Leydis, shared her aspirations and how moved she has been by the local group’s...
Working and studying in the Southern Downs: A new life for a go-getter family
Since arriving in Australia, parents Sajid and Samina have found employment in the aged care and meat processing sectors, and their kids are thriving at school. This is the story of how a Warwick...
Melbourne LGBTQI+ group support young Syrian refugee
The group, calling themselves Birrarung Strawberry, helped ease Ayat’s heavy load, leading to new connections and a hospitality job. “I am feeling proud of myself for what has been achieved so far,”...
ABC Tasmania: ‘This program connects refugees with community members, and benefits both’
The Nundu family arrived in Australia from Kenya 5 months ago. Moving to a new culture and country can be lonely but with the support of a local CRISP group the family have settled into their new...
What is the CRISP? Info Session
If you want to get involved in the CRISP, have questions about community refugee sponsorship or are just curious to know more, then registering for one of our regular information sessions is a...
From Myanmar to Melbourne: CRISP Case Study 2024
A group of six volunteers within the Warrandyte community formed a group through the CRISP program to welcome one refugee family to Australia. Read about their experience below.
Helping Hands to Start Anew: CRISP Case Study 2024
Maggie Patterson, from Urban Monk, speaks on welcoming the Alkhusi family to Goulburn and her experience of the CRISP program. Read the full case study below.
A Sweet Start in Ballina: CRISP Case Study 2024
Sue Milne, from Ballina Region for Refugees, speaks about welcoming newcomers to Ballina. The Haddad family were among the first to arrive under the CRISP program. Read more through the link below.
Northern Rivers for Refugees’ CRISP Fundraiser
CRISP group, Northern Rivers for Refugees (NRFR), promotes their fundraising event on the 16th of November, a trivia night in preparation of their sixth sponsorship through the program. Since August...
Crosslight article: ‘CRISP Response Changes Lives’
Crosslight writes on CRISP group, Airey’s Inlet Uniting Church, and their experience coming together to support newcomer family Yaritza and her family as they are welcomed to Australia. Read the...
Introducing The Isla Network
We’re excited to share with you the launch of a new initiative - The Isla Network. CRSA receive many offers of support from the Australian public, whether it be refurbished laptops, accommodation or...
CRISP Interview on Vision Australia Radio
CRSA's Community Partnerships & Engagement Manager, Blaise Itabelo, speaks with Joe Sheehy, a member of the CRISP group Leeming Shared Support on Vision Australia Radio about the program and the...
CRISP Group Preparation Guidebook
The Group Preparation Guidebook (accessible below) provides important information about applying and preparing for the CRISP. It has 7 parts: Part One: What is the CRISP? – This section provides a...
Major grants boost to help Newcastle’s most vulnerable
The City of Newcastle's Social Inclusion Grant supports not-for-profit organisations who provide vital community services such as outreach programs, assisted community living and pop-up food...
Newcastle Herald: Warm welcome and ongoing support for refugee families
Josh Leeson writes on CRISP group, NEWY CRISP, for Newcastle Herald as they prepare to welcome a refugee family to Australia by the end of the year. Read the full article below. Read the article...
The CRISP on ABC Back Roads
A Wonthaggi-based Community Supporter Group and refugee household who participated in the CRISP feature in this episode of ABC’s Backroads. Renowned Aussie journalist, Heather Ewart, explores how...
The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP on the CRISP’s 2 year anniversary
Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration, acknowledges the CRISP program's two year anniversary and the volunteers all across Australia that have come together as a community...
‘that’s life!’ Volunteer of the Week: CRISP Community Supporter, Sandi Woodward
'that's life' nominates CRISP Community Supporter, Sandi Woodward as their Volunteer of the Week. Read the article below to hear Sandi's work in providing a soft landing for a refugee family stating...
7am podcast: ‘I have eyes, but I don’t see’: The CRSA community groups helping refugees settle
This 7am podcast episode reports on the CRISP program and Community Supporter Group, Manlygees, as they welcome new arrivals to Sydney Airport. Listen to the podcast below. Listen to the...
The Saturday Paper on the CRISP program
Cheyne Anderson reports on the CRISP program and Community Supporter Group, Manlygees, as they welcome new arrivals to Sydney Airport. Read the full article below. Read the article here...
Surf Coast Times: Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees
The Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees celebrates 10 years of supporting refugees and asylum seekers both independently and through the CRISP program. The article writes on AIRAR's slight...