Refugees in Australia
We would like to start with a quote “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is a Sanskrit phrase (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम) found in Hindu texts such as the Vedic scripture MahaUpanishad, which means The World is One Family".
The statement is not just about peace and harmony among the societies in the world, but also about the truth that somehow the whole world must live by some rules like a family. Just by contemplating this idea and by at least trying to live by it and practice it in our lives, we could make this world a better place.
This article is a piece of our research work under the mentorship of Mr. Paul Hawking that includes finding various data source, data analysis, and Visualization with the help of SAP Business Object Cloud platform. This research work was a challenging work to collect the authentic data and understanding the reason for refugee crises around the globe including Boat arrival from Syria, China, and other countries. This research work was more than just a data analysis project, in real it was more human, political and the developed countries response to this refugee crises.
We were introduced to the SAP business object cloud platform tool in our business analytics program. We decided to analyze the dataset on SAP Business Object cloud about the refugee crises, origin and destination of refugee, refugee situation in Australia and the world, causes and reasons behind refugee crises and the reality of refugee in Australia.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group-UNHCR
Today's refugee crisis is the biggest since World War II, and it's growing. When you are reading this blog, 50 million people had been forcefully displaced from their homes by conflict and war; now the number is 65.3 million. There were 3 million Syrian refugees in 2014; now there are 4.9 million. Inside this overwhelming crisis are the individual human stories — of care, growth, and family, in the face of lost education, lost a home, and an unpredictable and unknown future.
As one of the signatories of the Refugee Convention to the United Nations, Australia has the obligation to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers who arrive here, despite the reasons for their arrival, the places they came from and whether they arrive with or without a visa. This means that no matter whether the arrivals are authorized or unauthorized with a Visa. The Australian government must give them a chance to prove whether they are eligible to become a refugee before removing them from the country (United Nations High Commission for Refugees, 2006).
In 2015, 4,908,117 people sought asylum (3,094,276 individual asylum applicants, 585,367 seeking asylum through group recognition and 1,228,474 through temporary protection processes) and 2,340,518 people were recognised as refugees (585,367 through group recognition, 526,677 through individual recognition processes and 1,228,474 granted temporary protection).
| Country or territory of origin | Refugees | People in refugee-like situations | Total | Asylum seekers |
| Syria | 4,850,792 | 21,793 | 4,872,585 | 245,844 |
| Afghanistan | 2,662,954 | 3,300 | 2,666,254 | 258,892 |
| Somalia | 1,123,022 | 30 | 1,123,052 | 56,772 |
| South Sudan | 778,629 | 68 | 778,697 | 4,237 |
| Sudan | 622,463 | 6,307 | 628,770 | 45,102 |
The largest numbers of newly recognized refugees were in Turkey (961,955), Russian Federation (149,662), Germany (143,548), Tanzania (123,582) and Uganda (85, 929). As at 31 December 2015, 3,219,941 asylum cases were still pending. Australia received 0.23% of the global share of new asylum seekers (16,117 applications) and recognized 2,377 asylum seekers as refugees (0.1% of the global total).
Americans, Europeans, and Australians have the impression that proportionally huge numbers of refugees are coming to their country. But the reality is the 86%, the vast majority of refugees, are living in the developing world. So wealthy country like Australia should recognize the humanity and the generosity of the countries that are hosting so many refugees.
How Australia Compares (Refugees)
Australia’s World Ranking (2012)
By total number of refugees 49th
Compared to our population size (per capita) 62nd
Compared to our national wealth GDP (PPP) per capita 87th
Australia’s Ranking of 44 Industrialised Countries (2012)
Compared to Australia’s population size (per capita) 15th
Compared to Australia’s national wealth GDP (PPP) 14th
World’s Displaced Population Explained
“During 2014, 42,500 individuals per day had to leave their homes and seek protection elsewhere – more than the total number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia in a year”
Refugees under UNHCR mandate
Of the 19.5 million refugees under UNHCR's mandate as of 2014, for the first time, Turkey hosted the largest numbers of refugees. The next top hosting countries Pakistan (1.51 million), Lebanon (1.15 million) and Iran (982,000).
Developing countries hosted 86% of global refugees, the highest for the past 22 years. Least Developed Countries provided asylum to 25% of the total.
Australia was ranked 50th, hosting 35,582 refugees, or 0.25 percent of the global total. Taking into account relative population size, that rank drops to 67th, from 62nd last year.
Children under the age of 18 represented an average of 51% of the total refugee population, the highest figure in more than a decade.
Capacity versus Contribution
Lebanon hosted the largest number of refugees compared to its national population (232 refugees per 1000 inhabitants). More than half (53%) of all refugees worldwide came from just three countries: the Syrian Arab Republic (3.88 million), Afghanistan (2.59 million), and Somalia (1.11 million).
A record high of 1.7 million individuals submitted asylum applications or refugee status. Asylum applications to Australia number 0.93% of total applications.
26 countries admitted 105,200 refugees for resettlement during 2014. Australia resettled 11,570. While as per UNHCR mandate refugee settled in 2015 was 47,152 and it was 14,485,291 globally.
| Category | Global Total | Australia Total |
| Refugee under UNHCR mandate (2015) | 14,485,291 | 47,152 |
| Refugee under UNHCR mandate (2014) | 14,380,094 | 35,582 |
A total number of Protection Visa issued by Australian government department of immigration and border protection was the lowest in the year 2010-2011 (4,417) and lowest rejection was in the year 2011-2012 (557).
While the highest number of protection Visa refusal was in the year of 2010-2011 and the highest number of protection visa granted (34,384) during the year of 2015-2016.
In the year 2015-2016 Australia issued the highest number of offshore visa (15,552) and 1,277 protection visa under ‘women at risk category’ of a protection visa.
| Protection Visa Granted | 2015-2016 |
| Onshore Visa | 2003 |
| Offshore Visa | 15552 |
| Humanitarian Visa | 3790 |
| Refugee Visa | 6730 |
| Special Humanitarian Visa | 5032 |
| Woman at Risk Visa | 1277 |
| Total Protection Visa Granted | 34384 |
The refugee and migrant experience can have a significant impact on both individuals and families, often presenting challenges and hardship due to suffering trauma, loss, and displacement. Without support, asylum seekers are at high risk of becoming disengaged and joining the ranks of the long-term unemployment or crimes.
Australian Community Services industry shows a meaningful and significant YOY growth in employment, wages, and revenue It reflects the positive impact on local economy and rising number of local businesses engaged in community services.
Community services, therefore, sees an uptrend in employment and new enterprises. However, due to the nature of the work which is usually difficult while the wage is comparably lower than other sectors, the increase is slight since organizations are always seeking certified employees in this specialty.
Projected annual revenue growth for community service industry in a year is $ 54,667.3(M) while expected annual wage rate for the same year is $28,585.2(M). That clearly indicates the positive impact of refugees on the Australian economy.
Well known Australian boat people (refugee), contributors in Australian economy are Ms. Tan Le, Frank Lowy, Ms. Chu and Hau Truong they made a significant contribution in Australian Economy and created a multi-million-dollar business including multi-million dollar tax revenue and thousands of job opportunity for local Australians.
Melissa Fleming, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner at UN's High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), said, not investing in refugees is a huge missed opportunity which leaves them unskilled and uneducated and delay by years the return to peace and prosperity in their countries. I believe how we treat the uprooted will shape the future of our world. The victim of wars can hold the keys to the lasting peace.
In conclusion, we really need a new vision, a vision that enlarges the choices of refugees but recognizes that they don't have to be a burden. There's nothing inevitable about refugees being a cost. Yes, they are a humanitarian responsibility, but they're human beings with skills, talents, aspirations, with the ability to make contributions — if we let them.
Many Thanks To
Paul Hawking
Mila Pham (My partner for this work)
Victoria University, Melbourne
SAP SE
References:
Various Internet and the Government sources.
- SAP Managed Tags:
1 Comment
