Australians can now permanently sponsor refugee families to settle in their local communities under a program the government says delivers stronger outcomes than government-run alternatives.
The Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot officially became a permanent program in July 2026, following a successful four-year pilot during which more than 950 refugee newcomers were welcomed into every state and territory by groups comprising more than 1,600 individual local supporters. Refugeesponsorship
Now known as the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP), it operates as a dedicated settlement pathway for refugees referred to Australia by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Under CRISP, refugee visa holders receive settlement support directly from trained community groups called Community Supporter Groups, consisting of five or more adults who support CRISP participants for 12 months from their date of arrival. Immigration and Citizenship
The permanent program is earmarked to support an initial 200 refugees in 2026-27, within the overall humanitarian program allocation. Refugeehealthnetwork
Support provided by Community Supporter Groups includes meeting refugees at the airport, providing temporary accommodation, food, household goods and short-term financial support, as well as assistance with securing long-term housing, registering for services, enrolling in school and adult education, and applying for jobs. Participants can access the same government services as other humanitarian visa holders, including Medicare and Centrelink. Amnesty International
A University of Queensland evaluation of the program found that community settlement programs lead to strong integration outcomes and have the potential to bring meaningful, long-term benefits for refugees, host communities and broader Australian society. Immigration and Citizenship
Community groups in Geelong and the Barwon South West region with five or more adults interested in sponsoring a refugee household can register through Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia at refugeesponsorship.org.au.
