Talking Mission - Anne Nesbitt

Can you please present yourself and the program you are working on?

My name is Anne and I am a Community Refugee Support Worker at Catholic Mission. I've been working on the Community Refugee Sponsorship Pilot (CRISP) program for two and a half years.

The program involves forming groups of five individuals over 18 years of age who commit to working together to welcome a new refugee family into Australia.

This program is in partnership with the Australian Government. Prime Minister Albanese made the program permanent in 2025, so it is now an integral part of Australia's humanitarian program, which is very exciting. Over the past five years, almost 1,000 people have been welcomed into Australia through this program.

It is based on the Canadian model, which has been operating since the 1970s. Canada has welcomed more than 350,000 refugees through community sponsorship.

Community sponsorship is a global movement. Similar programs exist in many countries, and Australia is now playing an important role by making it a permanent immigration pathway.

Why is it important to create a support network for families coming to Australia?

The Australian Government does an excellent job of bringing humanitarian entrants into the country. Those arriving on humanitarian visas are generally supported through agencies such as Settlement Services International, the Red Cross and others.

These agencies do wonderful work with families, often relying on a single caseworker.

When families are welcomed by local community groups, they are surrounded by a network of people who help them access services, rebuild their lives and become part of a community.

It leads to a very successful resettlement experience because people feel welcomed and connected. Local volunteers commit to standing alongside them during their first year in Australia and that support helps families access Centrelink, housing, schooling, healthcare, employment, English classes and further education. The network is critical in helping people feel welcomed and supported and that they belong to a community.

Can you please share more insights on your role and the role of Catholic Mission?

Through Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA), which administers the CRISP program, almost 1,000 people have been welcomed into Australia. This represents around 185 households.

Through my work with Catholic Mission, I have helped form six groups so far. I also formed a group myself because I wanted first-hand experience of the process.

Catholic Mission is a Supporting Community Organisation within the CRISP program. We help groups form, provide resources and accompany them through the process. We work alongside CRSA, which delivers the training and overall program support.

Many of the groups I work with are faith-based parish groups, and by having someone from Catholic Mission accompany them gives people confidence. They know there is someone who understands both the program and the parish context.

I don't replace the role of CRSA. They provide the training and resources. My role is to help guide groups and share lessons from my own experience.

Having worked with multiple groups, I can offer practical advice and reassurance when challenges arise.

Is there a particular experience that has stayed with you?

One family I've supported has now been in Australia for nine months.

Early on, the 17-year-old son shared some of his experiences growing up. He spoke about trying to shield his younger sisters from traumatic scenes they encountered on their way to school each day. He had been working since he was nine years old and had taken on responsibilities far beyond his age because he was the only male in a single-parent household.

As a parent myself, hearing his story was incredibly moving. He had sacrificed much of his childhood in order to care for his family. I'm constantly inspired by his resilience and maturity. It is impossible not to be impacted when someone entrusts you with stories like that. The families we support arrive with such courage, hope and resilience. It is a privilege to walk alongside them.

What has surprised many of us as volunteers is how transformative the experience has been for us. In my case, I can say my life has been substantially enriched because of the relationships that I’ve developed with the newcomers and with CRISP volunteers.

How has this experience shaped your faith and understanding of mission?

For me, mission is about unity, relationship and mutual exchange. It is about giving and receiving.

This work is a practical way of living out my faith. It has deepened my understanding of what it means to build community and stand in solidarity with others.

Sometimes all you can do is listen, but that presence matters.

This experience has strengthened my faith because it reminds me what gives life meaning: walking alongside others, building relationships and serving together.

There is a great deal of inequality in the world, and we all have a responsibility to help people access opportunities and live with dignity.

In the refugee sector, that often means helping people access their rights and rebuild their lives. When people are empowered to thrive, that is mission and faith in action.

As we approach Refugee Week, what would you say to someone considering volunteering?

If people have the time and the desire to help others, I would encourage them to get involved. It does require commitment, but the experience is incredibly rewarding and often takes people on a journey they never expected.

If you hear the stories of volunteers who have been part of a group and feel called to do this work, I would say: don't hesitate. Sign up and be part of a community group!