The Albanese Government is committed to generous and flexible Humanitarian and Settlement Programs that meet Australia’s international protection obligations, and position Australia as a global leader in international resettlement efforts. 

Each year, the Australian Government seeks the views of the Australian public on the Humanitarian Program. The Humanitarian Program 2023-24 Discussion Paper provides an overview of the Humanitarian Program and provides information on its key features. 

The world is experiencing its greatest humanitarian need in history and the Government is committed to a program that can respond to international humanitarian crises as they arise. 

Priority is given to the most vulnerable applicants who are assessed as refugees by the UNHCR and formally referred to Australia for resettlement, and those proposed by an immediate family member (i.e, spouses and minor aged children). 

Unfortunately, people outside these priority groups may find it very difficult to receive a humanitarian visa in Australia. 

There are two components to Australia’s Humanitarian program: the Offshore component comprising of Refugee category, Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category and the Community Support Program (CSP) and the Onshore component reserved for (since September 2013) people who arrive lawfully in Australia and engage Australia’s protection obligations because they are either found to be a refugee or meet the complementary protection criteria under the Migration Act 1958 (the Act). 

People found to engage Australia’s protection obligations must also satisfy health, character and security requirements for the grant of a permanent Protection visa. Permanent Protection visa applications are individually assessed in accordance with the Act. 

The Government recognises the importance of engaging with the community to ensure continued support for Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program (the Program) and to provide greater transparency to the public. The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) publishes a Discussion Paper each year to inform the public and seek their views on the management and composition of the Program, including options for diversifying the offshore resettlement component and strengthening Program outcomes. 

You can read more about Australia’s Humanitarian program by accessing a copy of the Discussion Paper, Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2023-24 which is available here: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/australias-humanitarian-program-23-24-discussion-paper.pdf