Refugee Education Australia (REA) is a national charity that works to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for students with lived experience of forced migration. Established in 2024, REA is a Public Benevolent Institution and not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee.

Our vision is an education system that is inclusive and promotes refugee students to thrive and achieve their potential.

The aim of REA is to work with refugee communities, government department, settlement agencies, and education providers to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education, from early childhood to higher education.

To this end, REA’s mission is:

To work with refugees, refugee-led organisations, community/ settlement organisations, and education institutions, departments, and organisations to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education in Australia, from early childhood to higher education.
To create a national network of people and organisations to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education.
To foster awareness in the education sector of issues relating to the experiences of people who have experienced forced migration through training, workshops and sharing of educational resources and good practices.
To fundraise to provide financial and other forms of assistance for people who are current or prospective students who have lived experience of forced migration.
Mobilise for change with and for people with lived experience of forced migration to participate in education in Australia.

Contact the host of NSW Refugee Education & Empowerment Network: Inaugural meeting