Helping people resettle in Australia
We wish to acknowledge the Darug People of the Darug Nation and the Darug People’s Elders past and present who are the Traditional Owners of the country on which our office stands.
Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development International
GLAPD (or ’glah-ped’) is a not-for-profit, secular and non-political organisation that helps migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from the Great Lakes region of Africa and beyond settle in Australia.
We are improving lives and livelihoods
Our mission
Is to improve the lives of migrants and refugees by affording them a purposeful life that alleviates unemployment and social isolation, celebrates their contributions to Australia, and supports them to become fully participating citizens both economically and socially.
We aim to create social cohesion and better living standards for migrant and refugee families from Rwanda, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Kenya (the Great Lakes Region of Africa) and beyond.
Our values are built around integrity, compassion and putting ourselves in the shoes of the service beneficiary.
Integrity – Respect and honesty
Compassion – We walk in your shoes
Courage – Building resilience and perseverance
Growth – Helping others to grow ourselves
Settlement services designed to meet known needs
Our areas of focus
Our community services and initiatives aim to help migrants and refugees achieve better living standards in Australia while supporting them through the process of integrating and learning how to do things in a new country.
We undertake extensive research with our partners to understand migrant and refugee needs.
Our services
Our impact
Since 2015 we have:
Successfully resettled 158 people in regional Australia
Supported 900 cases on behalf of new migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Provided a buddy program for seniors, a food program for those in need, computer training, career advice and a new community library
Created opportunities for more than 4,500 people who have come together at GLAPD social and sporting events.
Our research
GLAPD endeavours to implement evidence-based projects and programs tailored to the needs of its target populations.
Therefore we conduct research projects in partnership with reputable universities to identify the challenges and issues faced by our clients in order to respond quickly - and appropriately.
Research provides important insights for our evidence–based program. By working in partnership with educational institutions, GLAPD has gained invaluable insights enabling us to offer services that have a greater impact. We have participated in four key pieces of research.
Research offers important insights for our
evidence–based programs.
By working in partnership with educational institutions, GLAPD has gained invaluable insights enabling us to offer services that have a greater impact. We have participated in four key pieces of research.
In partnership with the University of New South Wales
Understanding the challenges and issues related to the settlement process of migrants from the Great Lakes Region of Africa in Australia.
African women migrants' and refugees' access to reproductive health services in South West Sydney: A pilot study.
In partnership with Western Sydney University
Understandings and responses to domestic violence in the African Great Lakes Communities of Western Sydney.
In partnership with the University of Wollongong, The University of Newcastle and the University of Melbourne
Spaces of wellbeing and regional settlement: international migrants and the rural idyll.
Volunteer for our research-based initiatives
Learn more about our research-based initiatives. Volunteer or express your interest.