ABOUT US

Armidale Sanctuary Humanitarian Settlement Incorporated (known as Armidale Sanctuary) was formed in 2003 by a group of Armidale residents who wanted to support Australia’s Humanitarian program by assisting refugees to settle in Armidale.  It is a Not for Profit organisation staffed entirely by volunteers.

According to its Constitution:

The aim of the Association is to assist individuals and families who are seeking or have obtained resettlement outside their countries on humanitarian grounds.

Objectives

  • The primary objective is to assist those selected to relocate to and settle in Armidale under the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program including those persons granted permanent residence and those whose claims are not finally determined.

  • The secondary objective is to assist other individuals or organisations engaged in support of people who are seeking resettlement on humanitarian grounds whether in Australia or elsewhere.

  • People to be assisted will be selected on the basis of humanitarian need and without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexuality, nationality, physical ability, political allegiance, social or cultural group.

History

Initially Armidale Sanctuary sponsored people for settlement, assisting with visa applications, airfares and meeting them on arrival.

People assisted under the program were helped with housing, registration with Centrelink, enrolment in schools, medical checks and general introduction to Armidale and the Australian way of life.  They were given ongoing support and friendship.

Following changes to the Government’s humanitarian visa program it became more difficult for organisations like Armidale Sanctuary to directly sponsor people. However in 2017 following years of advocacy by some residents, including Armidale Sanctuary members, Armidale was designated a refugee settlement town and in 2018 the first groups of refugees arrived. Over 600 people are now living in Armidale, all of them drawn from the Ezidi community from northern Iraq. Armidale Sanctuary members are engaged in helping these people overcome the loss and trauma they have suffered and to settle into new lives in their new home. Armidale Sanctuary, both as an organisation and as individual members continue to explore initiatives to assist this community, whether by visiting and assisting families on an individual basis or arranging for excursions and picnics for a larger group.

Armidale Sanctuary also assist other individuals on Humanitarian visas such as those on Safe Haven Enterprise visas who move to Armidale to work or study as intended by that visa program.

Office Bearers
Constitution
Code of Conduct
President’s Reports
Human Rights Lectures