Sue Hallam, together with her husband Peter, started the Sanctuary Refugee Support group in April 1988, just after arriving in Australia from Canada . They have worked quietly for 17 years, without personal reward, welcoming hundreds of refugees (mainly women, children and orphans) from El Salvador, Chile, Vietnam, Iraq, Bosnia, Burma and S. Sudan, - meeting them at airports, setting up a home for them, with furniture, food and clothing, and assisting them with all aspects of settlement.

Since 1988 Sue & Peter have sponsored and welcoming over 500 refugees! It is often very draining work, helping traumatised people to overcome so many difficulties, and to adjust to a new life and culture, but they have persevered, overcoming so many hurdles (including Sue's diagnosis of breast cancer in 1989). They say that every life saved is so precious, and that's what keeps them going. Sue and Peter receive no funding, and rely completely on the community for support. Both work full time, unwaged, running Sanctuary Refugee Foundation.

In 2002 they received the Austcare Humanitarian Award which received wide media coverage, inspiring others to emulate their work. As a result, there are now Sanctuary support groups in Melbourne , Sydney , Lismore, Armidale, Inverell, Brisbane , Albury, Rockhampton, Perth , with more starting, all emulating their successful model, enriching local communities.