Sanctuary Northern Rivers

Who we are

Sanctuary Northern Rivers is a volunteer-based community organisation that has been helping people find home and belonging in Northern NSW since 2003.

To date, more than 200 people have been supported to resettle directly from refugee situations overseas into our community. Some of these families and individuals are now long-term members of the Northern Rivers community — and some have found their way to new lives further afield.

How settlement works

Settlement support happens in two main ways:

Through the CRISP Program. The Australian Government's Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP) brings people directly from refugee situations overseas to settle here with community support.

Through family reunion. We support former refugees who sponsor close family members to join them in Australia — reuniting families who may have been separated for years.

In both cases, community volunteers walk alongside new arrivals as they find their feet — helping with everything from filling out forms, opening a bank account, and finding a doctor, to enrolling children in school, learning to drive, and much more.

What to expect

The level of hands-on support is naturally greatest in the early days and gradually eases as people grow in confidence and independence. Our aim is to walk with new arrivals for at least 12 months as they transition into everyday life in Australia.

Many of these relationships don't end there — volunteers and the people they've supported have often gone on to become lifelong friends.

Get involved

If you'd like to know more, or if you're interested in forming a CRISP group — five or more people committed to supporting a new family together — we'd love to hear from you.

Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Donations

Financial gifts make a direct and practical difference to the people we support. Donations help cover costs such as airfares for arriving families, furnishing and setting up a new home, legal help and advice, and loans for things like purchasing a vehicle — giving people a genuine head start as they begin their new life here.

All donations are tax deductible.

Donate Here