Understanding different ways people come to live in Australia

Who are refugees or humanitarian entrants?
A refugee is anyone outside their country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion (UN Convention 1951, Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 1967). Humanitarian entrant is another term for refugee.

Who is a migrant?
Migrants are those who make a voluntary choice to emigrate to another country. This choice may be based on economics, politics, business or spousal circumstance among other things. Migrants may also opt to return to their country of origin at any time.

Who is an asylum seeker?
Asylum seekers are people who apply to the government of a country for recognition as a refugee. Asylum seekers may be refugees, but until a government has reviewed and accepted their application, they will not be officially recognised as such.

Who is a ‘Temporary Protection Visa’ or TPV holder?
Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) were introduced by the Australian Government in 1999 in response to a surge of unauthorised boat arrivals. Before then, all arrivals found to be refugees in Australia, including illegal arrivals, were granted permanent protection visas. TPVs usually provide three years’ temporary residence in Australia. Before this expires, they need to re-apply for protection. TPVs have certain restrictions on access to services such as not being allowed to attend university.

Most holders of Temporary Project Visas arrive by using people smugglers via treacherous sea voyages from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. They are held in detention centres while their status is verified. 

Who is an unaccompanied humanitarian minor?
An unaccompanied minor is a refugee, aged between 11 and 17 who arrived in Australia without a parent. They travel with or join a carer who is a relative over 21.

Unaccompanied minors may have been accidentally separated from their families, abducted or orphaned. They have usually experienced significant trauma and need a high level of support to establish themselves in a new community. Currently the majority of unaccompanied minors in Australia have Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). See Referral Services for more support services for this group.

More Information:

Refugees and migrants in Queensland

Keys to understanding refugees and migrants

How to assist