The size and composition of the program are influenced by a number of factors. This reflects the Government's commitment to maintain refugee numbers. This category includes the Woman at Risk program. For people who have suffered discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights, and who have strong support from an Australian citizen or resident or a community group in Australia. For people who, while not meeting the refugee or Special Humanitarian criteria, are nonetheless in situations of discrimination, displacement or hardship.
Most SACs require proposers of applicants to be close family members resident in Australia.
For people found to need protection in accordance with the UN Refugees Convention and who are granted protection visas in Australia. Within the 1999-2000 Humanitarian Program, a small number of places have not been allocated. This unallocated component, together with unused places from previous years, is for contingencies that arise during the year. The number of settler arrivals is the total number of people granted Humanitarian Program visas overseas who actually arrive in Australia. The number of arrivals is evaluated annually against the number of grants under the Humanitarian Program.