Research

The Diaspora Humanitarians project aims to map the extensive humanitarian activities and contributions of Australia-based migrants to crises abroad. Australia is home to large diasporas who are connected to communities in many humanitarian crisis hotspots, including the project’s focus areas: Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Lebanon and the Pacific Islands. By generating much-needed knowledge on how and why migrants engage in humanitarian responses, the project expects to support and improve the work of diasporas themselves, the Australian Civil-Military Centre and other humanitarian organisations, who are partners in the project. This will benefit Australia by highlighting our innovative leadership role in humanitarian and migration issues. Read more.

1. Key Objectives
2. Project Principles
3. Project Advisory Group
4. Get Involved

Key Objectives

1. Describe and explain where, how and why Australia-based diasporas are engaging in humanitarian responses
2. Identify necessary conditions for effective diaspora engagement within humanitarian response systems
3. Support diasporas and mainstream humanitarian organisations with innovative tools to improve their effectiveness

Project Principles

Collaborative approach	In recognition of the many partners engaged in this project, and the highly collaborative nature of diaspora humanitarians, we will ensure a collaborative approach to achieving the project purpose where each voice has ongoing opportunities to shape our shared work.
Genuine partnerships	In recognition of the critical role of all partners in the project, we will collectively seek to build genuine partnerships throughout the project where we each seek opportunities to engage and contribute to others work.
Ensuring reciprocity	In recognition of the time, knowledge and experience generously contributed by all project stakeholders, we will actively seek opportunities to ensure participants benefit from their involvement.
Respectful Engagement	In recognition of the power imbalances across stakeholder groups, we will actively work to ensure respectful interactions at every point of the project where all voices have equal opportunities to participate and contribute.
Transparency	In recognition of the complexities of the project, we will actively work to ensure transparency for all stakeholders throughout the project where emerging information will be communicated, project findings will be available to all, and governance arrangements will be clear.
Flexibility	In recognition of the collaborative and iterative nature of the project, we will ensure flexibility is built into every aspect of the project where due consideration is given to changing global, personal and practical circumstances throughout the project.

Project Advisory Board

The Diaspora Humanitarians Project Advisory Board invites expressions of interest for roles as diaspora representatives on the Advisory Group. We envision the Diaspora Advisory Member as a vitally important role to ensure the voice of the community shapes and guides the project.

These roles best suit individuals who have been working within their diaspora communities to develop humanitarian responses overseas, have extensive community networks, and have an interest in education/research.
Diaspora Membership in the Advisory Board entails the following key roles and responsibilities. If successful you would be committing to:

1. Be named as an Advisory Board Member in public communications regarding the project.
2. Participate in quarterly 60-120 min Advisory Board video calls per year during 2021-2024.
3. Provide occasional ad hoc advice on the strategy and implementation of the project outside formal meetings.
4. Review project outputs, strategy and planning documents in preparation for meetings.
5. Help to disseminate project outputs and promote the project to your networks.
6. Provide other ad hoc advice and contributions as agreed.

Diaspora Advisory Board Members are inducted as volunteers of Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA). They will be required to understand and comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures for the duration of their role on the Advisory Board.

Diaspora Advisory Board Members receives a per diem payment for each Advisory Group Meeting.

Diaspora representative roles have been mostly filled. Nonetheless, if you are interested to join the project advisory group as diaspora representative, please contact Lorenza at dln@diasporaaction.org.au

EOI doc format, download here.

EOI PDF format, download here.

Download the Diaspora Advisory Group Member Role Statement

Get Involved

The Diaspora Humanitarian project team values inclusiveness and actively seek ways to develop collaborations and partnerships.

Currently, there are no open positions. However, if you wish to be kept informed about upcoming opportunities and project progress, please email Lorenza Lazzati at dln@diasporaaction.org.au. A