Ruqayyah Snyder
Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the Australian government has provided over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support. In addition, Australia has also resettled 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq outside of its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. However, refugee advocates and former diplomats urge the Australian government to accept more refugees, as over 5 million people have been forced from their homes. While the Australian government has indicated its willingness to resettle more refugees, the integration and adaptation of Syrian refugees in Australia remain challenging.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of refugees resettled | 12,000 |
| Additional humanitarian resettlement | 13,750 |
| Number of refugees arrived in Australia | 10,400+ |
| Remaining refugees expected to arrive | 6,000 |
| Humanitarian support | $500 million+ |
| Recent commitment | $30 million |
| Repatriation | 8 orphaned children, 4 women, and 13 children |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's financial support for Syrian refugees
Australia has provided over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011. This includes a commitment of $30 million to the crisis response in March 2025 at a pledging conference in Brussels. Australia's humanitarian support provides immediate life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Syria, as well as to Syrian refugees and their host communities in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan.
In addition to financial support, Australia has also resettled Syrian refugees within the country. There was an initial additional resettlement program for 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, which was external to its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. Over 10,400 refugees have arrived in Australia as part of this program. However, refugee advocates, including Oxfam, have urged the Australian government to accept a fresh intake of Syrian refugees, as the number of people forced from their homes has exceeded 5 million.
The Australian government has indicated that it is open to resettling more Syrian refugees and has sought to reform and streamline its humanitarian settlement program to prioritise integration and independence. Alex Greenwich, an independent MP in the New South Wales state parliament, has called for a faster and more efficient humanitarian programme to help refugees settle into the community quicker.
While Australia has provided significant financial and resettlement support for Syrian refugees, there have been criticisms of the government's response. Some have argued that more needs to be done to support local communities in coordinating services, ensuring job creation, housing, health, and youth services. There have also been concerns about the lengthy asylum seeker immigration process, which can negatively impact the health and mental well-being of refugees.
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Refugee resettlement quotas
Australia has been urged by various organisations and individuals to accept more Syrian refugees. The country has already provided over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support since the crisis in Syria began in 2011, with an additional $30 million committed in March 2025. This support has been directed towards providing immediate lifesaving assistance and protection to vulnerable individuals in Syria, as well as Syrian refugees and their host communities in neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Jordan.
In terms of resettlement quotas, Australia initially set a target of resettling 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, in addition to its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. As of 2017, all 12,000 visas had been assigned, and more than 10,400 refugees had already arrived in Australia as part of this program. However, refugee advocates, including Oxfam, have called for a second quota as the number of people forced from their homes in Syria exceeded 5 million. Oxfam Australia's CEO, Dr Helen Szoke, emphasised the need for rich countries like Australia to support Syria's neighbouring countries that have been hosting the majority of refugees. She urged these countries to resettle at least the most vulnerable 10% of Syrian refugees by the end of 2017.
Alex Greenwich, an independent MP in the New South Wales state parliament, has also advocated for an expansion of Australia's humanitarian programme for Syrian refugees. He criticised the bureaucratic nature of the refugee and asylum seeker immigration process, arguing that it would be better for the health and mental well-being of refugees to spend less time in camps and be welcomed into communities faster. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton indicated that the government could consider expanding the programme beyond the initial 12,000 quota if the Australian people had faith in the integrity of the process.
While there have been calls for an increased resettlement quota, it is important to note that the integration of Syrian refugees into Australian society has faced some challenges. Ahmad Hemmed, a migration agent working with Syrian families in Sydney, observed that many refugees struggled to adapt to their new surroundings and preferred to isolate themselves within cultural groups. Prof Peter Shergold, the New South Wales coordinator general for refugee resettlement, acknowledged the difficulties faced by Syrian refugees in areas such as employment. Nevertheless, the Australian government has responded to these challenges by providing additional funding for resettlement, health, and education services to support the integration of refugees into local communities.
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Refugee integration and independence
In terms of resettlement, Australia has successfully resettled 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq outside of its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. This has been praised by Oxfam Australia's CEO, Dr Helen Szoke, who encouraged the Australian government to resettle more refugees, particularly the most vulnerable 10% by the end of 2017. The former Australian ambassador to Syria, Bob Bowker, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Australia's capacity to accept more refugees and provide support for their settlement into local communities.
However, it is important to acknowledge that integration challenges exist. Ahmad Hemmed, a migration agent assisting Syrian families in Sydney, observed that many refugees have struggled to adapt to Australian society and secure employment. He expressed concern over their tendency to isolate themselves within cultural groups, potentially impacting their ability to embrace Australian values.
To address these challenges, the federal government has recognized the need to prioritize integration and independence in its humanitarian settlement program. This includes providing additional funding for resettlement, health, and education services. Furthermore, Alex Greenwich, an independent MP in New South Wales, has advocated for a faster and less bureaucratic refugee and asylum seeker immigration process. He emphasizes the benefits of quicker integration into communities for the mental health and overall well-being of refugees.
While Australia has made strides in refugee resettlement and support, ongoing efforts are required to ensure successful integration and independence for Syrian refugees rebuilding their lives in the country.
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Repatriation of Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps
Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the Australian government has provided over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support. In March 2025, Australia committed a further $30 million to the crisis response at a conference in Brussels. This support provides immediate assistance and protection to vulnerable people in Syria, as well as Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
In addition to financial support, Australia has also offered to resettle Syrian refugees. In 2017, the Australian government filled its quota of 12,000 additional resettlement visas for refugees from Syria and Iraq, external to its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. Over 10,400 refugees had arrived in the country as part of the program by April 2018. The success of this initial resettlement program led to calls for the Australian government to accept a fresh intake of Syrian refugees. Refugee advocates, including Oxfam, urged the government to announce another extraordinary additional humanitarian resettlement of refugees as the number of people forced from their homes by the conflict exceeded 5 million.
Despite these calls, the Australian government has not committed to a new intake of Syrian refugees. In 2017, the government indicated it could resettle more of those displaced by the conflict in Syria if the existing program was successful. However, there is limited information on whether this has been acted upon.
One issue that has been highlighted is the challenge of adapting to life in Australia. Ahmad Hemmed, a migration agent who has helped many Syrian families in Sydney, noted that many refugees have struggled to integrate and find jobs. This has led to concerns about their ability to successfully settle and adapt to Australian culture and values.
Another issue that has gained public attention is the repatriation of Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps. Currently, there are about 40 Australians, including 10 women and 30 children, held in detention camps in North Syria. They are the wives, widows, and children of slain or jailed Islamic State fighters. The majority have been held in the Roj detention camp near the Turkish border, with four held in the Al Hol detention camp near Iraq. Conditions in these camps are described as "dire", with illness, malnutrition, and an extremely volatile security situation. While the Australian government has successfully repatriated a small number of citizens from the camps in the past, there is currently no arrangement to repatriate the remaining women and children. The government has faced criticism for its lack of action, with courts suggesting that the repatriations are possible but lack political will.
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Refugee advocates' demands for additional humanitarian resettlement
Refugee advocates in Australia have been urging the government to accept a fresh intake of Syrian refugees, as the ongoing conflict in the country has forced more than 5 million people from their homes. Oxfam Australia's Chief Executive, Dr Helen Szoke, has called on the Australian government to resettle at least the most vulnerable 10% of Syrian refugees by the end of 2017. This call comes in light of Australia's successful resettlement of an initial 12,000 refugees, which was external to its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750.
The Australian government has responded to the refugee crisis in Syria by providing over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support since the crisis began in 2011. In March 2025, Australia committed an additional $30 million to the crisis response at a pledging conference in Brussels. This support provides immediate lifesaving assistance and protection to vulnerable individuals in Syria and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Jordan.
However, advocates argue that Australia is in a position to do more. The former Australian ambassador to Syria, Bob Bowker, has expressed that Australia should accept more Syrian refugees and provide more support to local communities to assist their settlement. The increasing number of refugees and global demands have put unprecedented pressure on Australia's Humanitarian Program. The limited number of visas available and the high demand for them have resulted in a challenging situation where not everyone can be accepted.
To address this, the Australian government has prioritized applicants assessed as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and formally referred to Australia for resettlement. Priority is also given to those with immediate family members or relatives in Australia, especially in regional areas. Despite these efforts, the demand for places far exceeds the available spots. Refugee advocates continue to push for additional humanitarian resettlement, emphasizing the need for increased funding to ensure adequate job creation, housing, health, and youth services for the arriving refugees.
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Frequently asked questions
Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the Australian government has provided over half a billion dollars in humanitarian support. In March 2015, Australia committed $30 million to the crisis response at a pledging conference in Brussels. This support provides immediate life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable and crisis-affected people in Syria, as well as Syrian refugees and their host communities in Lebanon and Jordan.
Australia initially resettled 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, in addition to its annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. The Australian government has indicated that it could resettle more Syrian refugees, with the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, stating that "If we get this programme right [...] it does give the government the ability to expand beyond the 12,000."
Syrian refugees in Australia have faced challenges in adapting to their new environment and finding jobs. Some refugees have struggled to integrate into the Australian community and have chosen to isolate themselves with people of similar cultural backgrounds.
The Australian government has faced criticism for not doing enough to repatriate Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps. There are currently about 40 Australians, including 10 women and 30 children, held in detention camps in North Syria. While the government has successfully repatriated some citizens, there is currently no arrangement to repatriate the remaining citizens.
