The terms "refugees" and "asylum seekers" are often used interchangeably but they have quite distinct meanings. Refugees are victims of persecution who have been recognised as fitting the definition of a refugee contained in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, to which Australia is a signatory.
For some of the world's refugee population it is either impractical or impossible to go first to a neighbouring country and then to seek resettlement from there. This could be because the neighbouring countries are not signatories to the international laws that would ensure their protection in these countries (few countries in this region, for instance, are signatories to the Refugee Convention). It could also be because they would not be safe in a neighbouring country, in particular if that country was sympathetic to the persecutory regime.
In these cases, individuals may choose to try to go directly to a country, such as Australia, where they can seek protection. Such people are called asylum seekers. Those who come to Australia have usually entered with a visitors', student or other temporary visa. Some arrive with no documents or with false documents. Arriving without appropriate papers should not be interpreted as an attempt to defraud the system.
For more details go to http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/arp
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