The Sydney Refugee Team (SRT) is all about relationships, within the team, with people of refugee background, and with God. Believing that the Bible says all people are created in God's image, and our greatest need is to be in relationship with Him. It is this faith that compels the team to be involved in this minirsty. We respect people from all faith backgrounds and seek to share God’s love with them.

Jesus shows us compassion, and so the SRT to alleviate suffering and help meet the needs of people of refugee background through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. As they endeavour to walk alongside those arriving in Sydney in order to equip and encourage them to become confident participants in the Australian community, settling into the new culture in which they find themselves.

The SRT seek to engage and equip the local church in doing the same.

The gift of friendship can make a wonderful difference

No matter who you are, or what your personality, one of humanity’s most basic but essential needs is to feel connected to other people. It’s something we often don’t appreciate the value of until we feel the sting of loneliness and isolation. That’s why Sydney Refugee Team is asking you to give your gift of friendship and become a Refugee Companion.

When refugee families move into a Sydney suburb, they have significant barriers to overcome in language, culture and social structure. Connecting with the bustling community around them is a bewildering and overwhelming puzzle for most.

Sydney Refugee Team knows the importance your gift of friendship is in helping refugee families make sense of our confusing Sydney society. Companionship can make the difference between achieving a sense of belonging, or not.

Food is not a luxury, but basic need

How many times have you felt starving, surveyed the shelves full of food in your pantry, but felt like you’ve nothing good to eat? This first world problem is starkly different to opening the fridge or kitchen cupboard and finding no food at all for your hungry family. For most of us, our homes are, in reality, amply stocked with plenty of options. But for some the refugee families Sydney Refugee Team assist, this is, sadly, not the case. That’s why we’re asking you to join us as one of our Food Parcel Team volunteers.

Many refugees and asylum seekers in Sydney receive either no, or insufficient, financial support from the government. Many struggle to find work, or the restrictions of their visa don’t allow them to. Feeding their families is a significant struggle each week and places great strain on these precious people who have already endured so much.

Each week on Wednesday, our Food Parcel Team volunteers participate in various capacities to bring nutritious supplies of food to our refugee families. If you are available on Wednesdays and would like to help us pack bags of groceries and/or deliver them to appreciative refugee families around Sydney, we’d love to hear from you!