Asia & Oceania

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An intergovernmental organization established in 1951, IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

  • 146 Members and 98 observers
  • More than 450 field locations
  • More than 7,800 staff working on more than 2,700 projects
  • More than US$ 1.3 billion expenditures in 2011

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Beware of fraudulent offers of migration assistance in the internet or email marketing.

Individuals considering migrating for whatever purpose or destination should take extreme caution in dealing with internet offers or email marketing in light of recent surge in fraudulent schemes.

Australia 

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State; readmitted 1985

Capital: Canberra
Population (2011): 22.6 million
Area: 7,692,024 sq km
Language: English
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
GDP per Capita PPP (2009): USD 39,407
HDI Rank (2011): 2 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 5,141 million
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): 4.5 migrants / 1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 21.9%
Population under 15 (2011): 19%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.1%

Map, Australia
 

Latest News

Overview

Australia is a country of some 22 million people originating from almost 200 different countries. Migration has enriched Australian society and contributed strongly to economic growth and productivity. Almost half of the people living in Australia today are either migrants or children of migrants. Migrants currently account for almost two thirds of Australia’s population growth.

Australia continues to be a major destination country for humanitarian and other permanent immigrants, as well as short-term visitors. In addition to the sizeable number of people who come to Australia each year via legal and regular pathways, Australia manages the small proportion of people who arrive at its borders in an irregular manner via air and sea routes.

Australia works with its neighbours and international organisations to develop a comprehensive regional approach to deterring people smuggling activities. To this end, Australia is the co-chair with Indonesia of the 43 member Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (www.baliprocess.net). This approach complements robust refugee status assessment processes in Australia to identify persons in need of protection.

IOM’s Regional Office in Canberra liaises with the Government of Australia to help address this broad range of migration issues not only in Australia but globally through Australian-funded activities that, inter alia, directly assist migrants or build the capacity of other governments to better manage migration.

Movement, Emergency and Post-conflict Migration Management

Resettlement Assistance

  • Australian Government Funded Resettlement Programme
  • IOM No Interest Travel Loan Fund
  • New Zealand Government Funded Quota Refugee Resettlement Programme
  • Sponsor Pre-paid Movements to Australia and New Zealand
  • Self-Payer Movements to Australia and New Zealand

Migration Health

Migration Health Assessment

  • Health Assessments of Australian Government Funded Cases

Regulating Migration

Return Assistance to Migrants and Governments

  • Return Assistance to Irregular Migrants in Australia
  • Immigration Information and Counselling Services in Australia (IIC)
  • Case Management, Counselling, Return and Reintegration Assistance for Asylum Seekers on Christmas Island

Technical Cooperation on Migration Management and Capacity-Building

  • Assist PNG in a Review of Migration and Border Management
  • Fiji Border Control and Migration Assessment
  • Pakistan Border Control and Migration Assessment
  • Laos Border Control and Migration Management Assessment Project


Last updated:
Main text: December 2010
Facts and figures: April 2012