The federal government is coming under increasing pressure from one of its key supporters to raise Australia’s annual migration intake by more than 15%. The latest call for more migrants has come from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) which says…

A leading advocacy group is urging the federal government to boost Australia’s immigrant intake by more than 15%, with a particular focus on skilled migration. The Australian Industry Group wants the government to increase immigration numbers from 190,000 this financial…

The United Nation’s refugee agency says the Abbott government’s policy of towing or turning back boats may breach Australia’s obligations under international law. Spokesman for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Babar Baloch says the organisation is seeking an explanation…

The population and profile of the small farming community of Nhill is being boosted by Karen refugees who have moved into the town. The Karen people from the Thai Burmese border have now featured in a photographic exhibition. Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-11/karen-refugees-are-helping-boost-the-economy-of/5195746?section=vic

Artworks and photographs by AMES students have gone on display at the Splash Gallery in Footscray. The art and photography was created as part of the recent Big West arts festival. One group of students learned embroidery skills and created…

Any investigation by Papua New Guinea authorities into alleged rape and torture cases on Manus Island could prove almost impossible because most asylum seekers have already been moved to Australia. The Immigration Department confirmed 70 asylum seekers were transferred from…

According to the Australian Parliamentary Library’s research service, between 70 per cent and 97 per cent of asylum seekers arriving by boat at different times have been found to be genuine refugees (The Age, 9/1). Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-letters/the-vast-majority-are-genuine-refugees-20140109-30kgo.html#ixzz2pxGoCXom

Quietly living and studying English in the south east Melbourne suburb of Dandenong is a man who with his music caused a wave of mass hysteria across a war-torn, fragmented nation. In 2008 Navid Forogh won the Afghan Star talent…

Last month Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought over her championing of girls education. As Malala’s prize was being announced, Muhammad Noor was quietly living in a weatherboard cottage in Melbourne’s west.…

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) condemns the Government’s recent decision to disband the Immigration Health Advisory Group (IHAG) and considers this development a step backwards from ensuring that asylum seekers and refugees receive appropriate health care.…

AMES Multicultural Hub has won a prestigious award for its delivery of services to Victoria’s Multicultural communities. The Hub was “recognised for service delivery to Multicultural Victoria in community, education and employment services” in the 2013 Victorian Multicultural Awards for…

Red-faced authorities will resume searching this morning for 14 asylum seekers in Christmas Island bushland after it was discovered they were living among a larger group undetected on a beach since their boat sunk on Monday. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/shipwrecked-asylum-seekers-live-on-christmas-island-undetected-for-four-days/story-fni0xqrc-1226776435092