Following recent changes to departmental responsibilities, the functions of the former Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts are transitioning to new departments. Work is underway to update departments’ websites.

Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance program

The Queensland Multicultural Policy 'Our story, our future' makes a firm commitment that no matter how people came here or where they came from, the Queensland Government will support all of the people of Queensland to participate and feel like they belong.

The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance (ASRA) program has been established to support the needs of people seeking asylum and vulnerable refugees on temporary visas in Queensland.

Program details

The ASRA program provides funding for Communify Queensland and its service partners to deliver financial and material aid, case management and coordination support to vulnerable people in defined target client groups, including people seeking asylum and people with a temporary protection visa residing in Queensland.

The Queensland Government has invested over $10 million in funding under the ASRA program since 2019-20 with an ongoing commitment of $2.075 million in funding each year. Additional funding of $4.814 over two years from 2024-25 has also been invested to expand support available under the program.

The ASRA program seeks to:

  • alleviate financial hardship and mental distress of those within the target client groups who require emergency relief.
  • provide case coordination to assist participants to access relevant assistance or achieve greater independence through employment.
  • increase capacity and wellbeing of vulnerable Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders and their families residing in Queensland. This includes creating better opportunities to participate in the economy and the community or assistance to meet permanent pathway requirements.

Funded organisation

Communify Queensland works in collaboration with a range of like-minded agencies and organisations including the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS), Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT), Multicultural Australia, World Wellness Group and the Indooroopilly Uniting Church

Contact information

Last reviewed:12 April 2024

Last modified:12 February 2025

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence
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Cultural acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors—our First Nations peoples—give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations towards creating a better Queensland.

Our human rights commitment

We will respect, protect and promote human rights within our decision-making and actions.