The Geraldton Refugee Support Group is dedicated to supporting a refugee family to settle in Geraldton WA, as part of the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP)*.

Who is a refugee? A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence^. Our aim is to make the refugee family group we are matched with feel welcome, safe and supported, and to ensure their settlement journey is as smooth as possible.

Our fundraising will enable us to provide 12 months of practical, hands-on support from the moment they arrive in Australia, during which time we will:

meet and transport them to Geraldton from Perth Airport
help them to settle into temporary accommodation and make connections into the community
assist with initial income support
help them register for government services, open bank accounts, enrol children in school, access English language classes and other education/training
find and equip long-term accommodation
assist with finding employment
offer social and emotional support, and more.

We seek your financial support in this aim to help a refugee family achieve independence and stability, as they find their place in our community. We believe this initiative will also enrich the local community by promoting diversity and cultural exchange.

Find out more about our group and follow our activities on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565434438843

*CRISP was launched in mid-2022 to provide a structured settlement pathway for refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who have no family links in Australia. The CRISP initiative is coordinated by Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia. https://refugeesponsorship.org.au/what-we-do/crisp/

^ Find out more about UNHCR and their definition of refugees: https://www.unrefugees.org.au/our-stories/what-is-a-refugee-understanding-the-definition/

The Geraldton Refugee Support Group is a newly-formed group dedicated to supporting a refugee household to settle into life in Geraldton, Western Australia, through the CRISP program.

* Our aim is that the refugee household we are matched with will feel welcome, safe and supported, that their settlement journey is as smooth as possible, and that we can foster a sense of belonging and help them achieve independence and stability.