About Us

The House Of Welcome seeks to:

• Provide a place of welcome, trust and friendship for asylum seekers and refugees;
• Assist them in their transition to life in the Australian community;
• Develop their capacity to engage confidently with the various aspects of life in Australia and our culture;
• Promote their legal and human rights as they seek to have their status recognised;
• Enable them to become full and independent members of Australia as citizens

In October 1999, the Government introduced a punitive and restrictive policy of Temporary Protection Visas granted to unauthorised arrivals that were recognised as refugees. Initially a TPV was for three years. It denied access to many of the services available to people with Permanent Protection Visas, including assistance with settlement into the community, family reunion and travel.