AWOTM Welcomes Afghan Refugee Budget announcement

Afghan Women on the Move (AWOTM) is pleased to acknowledge the announcement by Australian government that an additional 16,500 places for Afghan refugees will be available through our humanitarian resettlement program.

This brings the total number of intake from Afghanistan to 31,500 over the next four years. Thanks to relentless advocacy by the community, allies and key partners in the refugee sector, faith groups, veterans, athletes, artists, and 190,000 Australians who called for concrete #ActionForAfghanistan in line with Australia's twenty year long operations there.

The crisis for Afghan refugees is current and we are looking forward to orderly processing of these 16,500 Afghan nationals. We will be watching the Government closely to ensure they honour their commitment to Afghan refugees. AWOTM would like to add its voice to the many organisations and remind the Government that they should also be considering granting permanent residency to the 5,000 Afghans currently on temporary visas in Australia. Permanency will give protection to these refugees and allow them to fully contribute to Australian society.

Afghan Women on the Move (AWOTM) supports the health, mental wellbeing, individual growth and development of Afghan and other women of diverse backgrounds in Australia. Given the circumstances of their recent trauma, we are particularly focused on providing practical and mental health support to women who are newly arrived from Afghanistan to assist with their settlement.