Whichever side won the September election, Australia’s policy on asylum seekers was destined to take on an even harsher edge. The Coalition campaigned for zero tolerance; Kevin Rudd sought to more than match it. If the boats were really to…

Whichever side won the September election, Australia’s policy on asylum seekers was destined to take on an even harsher edge. The Coalition campaigned for zero tolerance; Kevin Rudd sought to more than match it. If the boats were really to…

Immigrants and refugees could have their visas fast-tracked if they agree to live in regional Queensland. The state could even up its intake under the proposal designed to alleviate pressure on the booming southeast. Read more: http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/v3/news/a/-/national/20878833/immigrants-could-jump-queue-under-qld-plan/

The number of older Australians balancing work and unpaid caring is growing and forcing more people to remain in the workforce for longer, a recent report has found. The report, called A Juggling Act: Older Carers and Paid Work in…

Nauru’s justice system is in disarray and cases against scores of asylum seekers are in limbo after the Nauru government sacked its only magistrate and denied its Australian Chief Justice a visa to re-enter the country. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/courts-in-crisis-as-nauru-sacks-its-only-magistrate-20140119-312u1.html#ixzz2qzbaGNd  

AMES staff, students and partners gathered this week to celebrate the success of the ACCOR Job Ready Refugee Pilot and the AMES Getting Ready for Work program. More than 40 people, including senior Department of Employment staff and the CEOs…

INDONESIA has demanded the federal government ­suspends its policy of turning back asylum seeker vessels and will ramp up naval patrols on Australia’s northern borders. The escalation came after the federal government apologised for Australian Navy and Customs vessels trespassing…

The US-based blog Huffington Post recently constructed a list of the world’s eight most famous refugees sparking a global debate in the blogsphere over just who the world’s most important exiles are. Atop Huffington’s deliberations at number 1 was German-Jewish…

Groups of AMES youth students from Box Hill, Dandenong, Noble Park, Footscray and St Albans have been visiting the Australian Open tennis tournament this week. Despite high temperatures, a group of about 20 students and staff from Dandenong and Box…

THE government is trumpeting a sharp decline in asylum-seekers registering as refugees in Indonesia as an indicator they have all but given up on Australia as a destination. Read more: http://theaustralian.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/showarticle.aspx?&article=defb37da-1a5e-4b21-848b-6fcc57dd0b66&viewmode=2&page=4

As the stars of the Australian Open take centre court in Melbourne, a group of newly arrived migrants is being treated to a backstage tour and a chance to see their idols on court. Read more: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/312242/Tennis-fans-fostered-among-new-migrants

The federal government’s $10 million pledge for Syrian refugees is disappointing and doesn’t go far enough, aid agencies say. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Thursday promised the winter relief funds for Syrians who have fled their country’s civil war and…