The Romero Centre is a place of welcome and sanctuary for people seeking asylum. We are inspired by the mission of Oscar Romero and Catherine McAuley. We are therefore guided by the spirit of ‘Mercy’ and a deep respect for the human sovereign soul and aspire to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ for marginalised and vulnerable people.

At Romero, we walk the path where human dignity is considered sacred and where love has no borders. We recognise that community harmony, cohesion and respect are the true foundations for real safety. We aim to strengthen the fabric of our deeply cherished local community by supporting the men, women and families who have been subject to experiences of torture, war, violence, sexual violence, and oppression and who are struggling while seeking refuge in Australia.

We have a dedicated and highly qualified team to provide support and expertise in the areas of cross-cultural practice, migration and legal advice, social inclusion, mental health, employment, housing and systemic advocacy.

The Romero team is guided and wholly funded by the community. Supported by the compassion and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses, we are deeply honoured and grateful to be able to practically act on our community’s wish to uphold the respect for human dignity.

We do this by ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals and families, who are still pleading for humanitarian safety, can make their ‘safe haven’ in Australia. The Romero Centre is passionately and wholeheartedly working towards a community that we all want to be a part of.

Employment support people seeking asylum, while often highly skilled and qualified in their own countries of origin, face significant barriers to employment, including variable work rights, short visa lengths, language differences, differences in culture, limited social capital, such as family, friends, and employment networks in Australia. Romero works with industry bodies, chambers of commerce and individual businesses to create sustainable training and employment pathways, employment-based English literacy, work preparation and work experience programs, job application skills, and social enterprise start-ups. People who have been supported into employment make significant contributions towards the Queensland and Australian economy by using their unique skills, experiences, and creativity, and bringing diversity and innovation into their new workplaces.