Director: Rev Maurizio Pettena CS
GPO Box 2720
Canberra ACT 2601
T: (02) 6201 9848
F: (02) 6247 7466
E: director@acmro.catholic.org.au
Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
Bishops' Delegate
Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFMConv DD
Supervised by
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life
The role of ACMRO
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) was established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on 1 July 1995. It took the place of two previous Conference bodies - The Federal Catholic Immigration Committee, and The Australian Catholic Refugee Office - and assumed many of their functions. The Office is responsible to the ACBC through the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life.
The work of ACMRO can best be described by the mandate which it has been given by the Bishops:
- To advise and serve the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference at both a national and international level on migrant and refugee issues, including the development of Church policy.
- To act as an official Church voice as approved by the Bishops Conference on issues relating to migrants and refugees.
- To act as a channel of communication between Diocesan Offices and the Bishops Conference.
- To provide a mechanism for effective consultation and coordination among Catholic bodies and other groups involved in migrant and refugee activities.
- To make appropriate representation to Government and other bodies on matters relating to migrants and refugees.