The principle of the Convention is that every person fleeing persecution has the right to seek protection and must not be returned to a place where their life or freedom is at risk.
This principle is core to our central belief: that everyone deserves a safe place to belong.
Australia has welcomed one million refugees over the last 75 years. People who enrich our culture, bring their stories and raise their families in a nation they now call home.
We honour that legacy.
Today, more than 117.8 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide. That’s one in 70 people.
So many millions of people who are seeking safety yet continue to face challenges and prolonged waiting on their journey to find belonging.
Act for Peace joins in solidarity with Common Grace and the National Council of Churches’, Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT), standing together in a call to #EndTheWaiting for those still seeking safety, certainty, and belonging.
Together, we invite you to join us and call on the Australian Government to:
- Maintain and expand Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program to 27,000 places.
- Make complementary pathways, including skilled refugee labour and refugee student pathways, a permanent addition to Australia’s humanitarian response.
- Ensure people awaiting the outcome of protection applications can access work and Medicare, preserving dignity and enabling contribution to the community.
Join us in 2026 as we call together to #EndTheWaiting
Here are three simple ways you can take action:
- Invite your local MP to discuss the campaign. Access the resource kit and support available to make this meaningful action happen.
- Share this campaign with your church, community, or network.
- Invite your church leader to sign the open letter for the Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
You can find campaign resources, actions, and updates on the #EndTheWaiting website.