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Welcomed and Supported Australia’s approach to the settlement and integration of new migrants

Welcomed and Supported

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Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5

Welcomed and Supported .........................................................................................................5

Settlement policies and principles .................................................................................... 6

Australia’s approach to settlement ...........................................................................................6

Refugee voices – Jean’s journey ........................................................................................7

Migration to Australia ...................................................................................................... 8

Settlement of humanitarian entrants .......................................................................................8

Addressing challenges to civic integration ................................................................................9

Settlement programs .......................................................................................................10

Overview of Australia’s settlement programs .........................................................................10

Australian Cultural Orientation program ................................................................................10

Humanitarian Settlement Program .........................................................................................10

Specialised and Intensive Services for particularly vulnerable people .............................12

Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Grants program .........................................12

Translating and Interpreting Services ......................................................................................13

Beginning a Life in Australia booklets......................................................................................13

Helping refugees in the community ........................................................................................13

English Language Programs .....................................................................................................14

Targeted Health Services .........................................................................................................15

Refugee Servicing Network ................................................................................................15

Torture and trauma services ...................................................................................................15

Refugee voices – Sara’s story ..............................................................................................17

Focus on employment and skills ......................................................................................18

jobactive ..................................................................................................................................18

Youth Transition Support Pilot ................................................................................................19

Career Pathways Pilot ..............................................................................................................19

Recognition of foreign qualification ........................................................................................20

Disability employment services ...............................................................................................20

Refugee voices – Padam’s journey ...................................................................................21

Settlement Frameworks ..................................................................................................22

Policy frameworks ...................................................................................................................22


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The National Settlement Framework ................................................................................22

National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards ..........................................................23

National Youth Settlement Framework .............................................................................23

Refugee voices – Rohalla’s story .........................................................................................24

Governance .....................................................................................................................25

Roles and responsibilities of the levels of Government ..........................................................25

Senior Officials Settlement Outcomes Group .........................................................................26

Advisory bodies .......................................................................................................................26

Settlement Services Advisory Council................................................................................26

Civic involvement .....................................................................................................................26

The Settlement Council of Australia ..................................................................................27

Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network.............................................................................27

Migration Council Australia ...............................................................................................27

Refugee voices – Homa’s journey .......................................................................................28

Research and evaluation .................................................................................................29

Building a New Life in Australia: The longitudinal Study of Humanitarian Migrants ..............29

The Scanlon Foundation mapping social cohesion research ..................................................29

Innovation mechanisms ...........................................................................................................30

Try, Test Learn Fund...........................................................................................................30

HSP innovation and service provision................................................................................30

Monitoring and evaluation ......................................................................................................30

Evaluation of Settlement Grants .......................................................................................31

Evaluation of the Career Pathways Pilot ...........................................................................31

Evaluation of the Youth Transition Support pilot ..............................................................31

The HSP Monitoring Framework .......................................................................................31

Refugee voices – Amina’s story ...........................................................................................32

Other strategies supporting community cohesion ............................................................33

Community cohesion ...............................................................................................................33

National Community Hubs Program ..................................................................................34

National Anti-Racism Strategy ...........................................................................................34

Harmony Day .....................................................................................................................35

National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 ................................35


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National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 ...........36

Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................................37

The Department of Social Services ..........................................................................................37


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Introduction


The Welcomed and Supported booklet outlines Australian settlement policies, programs and services for newly arrived humanitarian entrants settled in Australia under the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program. Many of these services can also be accessed by eligible migrants who have skilled or family visas for permanent residence in Australia.

This document is designed to give readers the context in which Australia’s settlement policies and programs operate and provide information on policy frameworks, engagement structures, research and review of programs. Humanitarian entrants and migrants revitalise and enrich Australian communities by introducing new social and cultural practices. They bring talent, ability, resilience, creativity and different perspectives and ideas. These qualities enhance the economic, social and cultural life of the communities where they live.

Many of the policies and programs described in this document have been developed over decades. They continue to be reviewed and adjusted from time to time. Research has played an important role in understanding the settlement experience of humanitarian entrants to Australia, and building an evidence base to inform the development of settlement policy and programs.


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Settlement policies and principles

Australia’s approach to settlement

Settlement describes the period and process during which migrants and humanitarian entrants become active and independent participants in their new country. To aid this process, settlement services are provided over a period of five years from their arrival in Australia.

Australia’s approach to the settlement of migrants and humanitarian entrants is based on the principles of providing support based on need, fostering participation in Australian society as soon as possible, fostering welcoming communities and partnering with civil society to provide services and support. This approach is key to the success of our multicultural society, supporting the economic benefits of diversity and maintaining high levels of community cohesion.

The Australian Government is instituting an outcomes based service framework that prioritises the three “E’s of English proficiency, Education and training and Employment. This framework acknowledges that:

Humanitarian entrants generally need intensive initial support. Providing early intensive support helps refugees get settled and participate in society as soon as possible. Early intervention helps to prevent longer-term reliance on welfare services.

Services should be tailored to the needs of each humanitarian entrant. The needs of humanitarian entrants are particular to their circumstance.

Settlement works best when the community in which refugees settle are prepared for their arrival, have information about their refugee experience and can play a role in helping them to settle, for example through volunteer programs.

Working cooperatively and in consultation with multiple sectors of government and civil society delivers robust results and innovation in services. It is important to involve all stakeholders, including different levels of government, non-government organisations (NGOs), community groups, the private sector and interested individuals.

Settlement programs should be continually evaluated, assessed and refined to ensure they are providing the best outcomes for migrants and humanitarian entrants.


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Refugee voices – Jean’s journey

Jean was born in Rwanda. Before coming to Australia in 2009 under the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), he had been living in refugee camps in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo-Brazzaville since 1994.

After fleeing Rwanda, Jean spent his early life as a student in the countryside districts and later in the capital city of Congo-Brazzaville. “I lived on the little help I could receive from the United Nations’ agencies, such as UNHCR, as well as small business remittances, which were vital income for my school fees”.

Jean recalls, “When I arrived, on 26 November 2009, in Australia where I had to start a new life, I had no knowledge about Australia at all. I used many government services and attended every information session to gather as much necessary information to shape my new life in Australia. Particularly, the HSP helped me not only to shape my future but also to settle and integrate into the mainstream Australian society, and to understand the Australian way of life, its historical, cultural, economic and social development context”.

Getting a job using his overseas qualifications was very difficult. “It can be challenging to rely on overseas qualifications for seeking employment in Australia”.

Jean improved his English through the Adult Migrant English Program and studied at Griffith University in Australia. After completing a Bachelor’s Degree, Jean started working in the private sector, but soon was employed by the Australian Public Service to work as an interpreter and customer service officer. Three years later, Jean joined the Department of Social Services and has since worked on a diverse range of policies, payments, programs and services that improve the lifetime wellbeing of people and families in Australia.

“I enjoy my life and career in a way that exceeds the expectations I had held in my early life. All I knew back then was my student life in Congo-Brazzaville and the experiences from the nineties Rwandan ethnic war, which saw many members of my family lost”.

Today, Jean is a proud father who believes that the future holds a lot of opportunities for himself and his family. “My plans include continuing my education, seeking more opportunities, keeping up with my career and contributing to our society’s well-being”.

Jean believes that new arrivals settling in Australia have an opportunity to pursue their life and career goals. “You should determine what you need to do in order to chase and achieve your dreams. Do not be afraid to seek assistance from other people and never turn down an opportunity. When you fail, don’t give up, just try something different and start over. There is no correct formula for living your life”.


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Migration to Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the original custodians of the Australian continent and nearby Torres Strait islands. The history of Australia’s First Peoples stretches back at least 65,000 years and they have a unique place in contemporary Australian society.

Modern Australia is a nation built on immigration and shaped by the settlement experience of migrants and refugees. Since 1945, more than seven million people have migrated to Australia, contributing to one of the most diverse nations in the world. Australia has benefitted socially and economically from the rich diversity of its population.

The positive effects of immigration on the Australian economy have been substantial. New migrants add to economic activity by increasing demand for products and services. By bringing new skills, knowledge, capital investment and innovative work practices, they also contribute to increases in production and productivity.

The Humanitarian Program provides the opportunity for resettlement in Australia to people needing humanitarian assistance who do not have any other durable solution available to them. Refugee category visas are for people who are experiencing persecution in their home country, who are typically outside that country when they apply due to needing resettlement.

There are two categories of visas under the offshore resettlement program:

Refugee category visas o Refugee Visa (Subclass 200) o In-country Special Humanitarian (Subclass 201) o Emergency Rescue Visa (Subclass 203) o Woman at Risk (Subclass 204)

Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category o Global Special Humanitarian Program Visa (Subclass 202)

The Australian Government has also introduced a Community Support Program, which allows a small number of approved proposing organisations in Australia to identify and support humanitarian

migrants. The approved proposing organisations are responsible for securing employment, managing

the visa application process and overseeing the settlement of the applicant.

For further information, visit the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

Settlement of humanitarian entrants

Each year, the Australian Government decides the size and composition of the Humanitarian Program considering:

advice from UNHCR on global resettlement needs and priorities

Australia’s capacity to provide comprehensive settlement support services

the evolving humanitarian situations and changes to the global need for resettlement.

The Australian Government also holds consultations with local communities, peak refugee and humanitarian bodies, state, territory and local governments, services and the general public.

In about 70 to 80 per cent of cases, humanitarian entrants have family or friends who are already living in Australia. Experience shows that humanitarian entrants with family or friends in Australia generally benefit from settling in locations close to those links.

The remaining 20 to 30 per cent, who do not have any existing links to Australia, are referred directly to an appropriate settlement location. Generally, the Australian Government will attempt to settle particular groups of humanitarian entrants together.

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/refu/offs


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When settling particular groups of humanitarian entrants, the Government considers the adequacy of local infrastructure and availability of settlement services. It also considers the presence of mainstream and specialist health and education services, suitable accommodation, employment opportunities and a welcoming community.

These programs support a growing intake of entrants. The annual Humanitarian Program had 16,250 visa places in 2017–18 and 18,750 places in 2018–19 onwards.

Addressing challenges to civic integration

Many humanitarian entrants will have lived in refugee camps or in very basic conditions in another country, sometimes for many years. Their education may have been disrupted, resulting for some in limited literacy and numeracy, and they may have had limited opportunities to work.

Moving to a new country and adjusting to a new life is a challenge for most migrants and is particularly so for humanitarian entrants. These challenges may include:

limited English language proficiency impacting on access to further education and or training,

difficulty securing employment and participating in their communities

arriving without documented evidence of skills and qualifications

mental and physical health issues due to pre and post migration experiences.

Many humanitarian entrants may find themselves unemployed or underemployed especially where they have had limited preparation time for their move to Australia and have limited understanding about jobs and industries in Australian settlement locations. Other barriers to finding work for humanitarian entrants can include:

misinformation and unrealistic expectations around employment opportunities including a poor understanding of the types of Australian jobs in which they could utilise their skills

lack of networks to use to secure a job

lack of familiarity with the Australian workforce, employment systems and culture.

Consequently, many humanitarian entrants may find themselves unemployed or underemployed.

Despite this, humanitarian entrants are resilient and enthusiastic about engaging with support to help them to get started. Most humanitarian entrants and their families, in common with most migrants, settle successfully and make a positive contribution to the Australian community.

There are a suite of services funded by several Australia Government departments that serve the ranging and complex needs of newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants.


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Settlement programs

Overview of Australia’s settlement programs

Australia’s settlement programs are based on the principles of early intervention, needs-based services and fostering social and economic participation.

The programs have been successful in helping humanitarian entrants and migrants after their arrival in Australia. In return, this has helped to maintain the confidence and support of the Australian community in migration and humanitarian programs.

The Department of Social Services works to improve the lifetime wellbeing of people and families in Australia. For migrants and refugees settling in Australia, this includes responding to their specific needs and encouraging their independence and participation in the Australian community through targeted settlement programs. The Department of Social Services provides a number of settlement support programs to humanitarian entrants and migrants, which work in conjunction with the Departments of Home Affairs, Education and Training, Health, Jobs and Small Business and Human Services.

Australian Cultural Orientation program

An important part of the settlement journey is to prepare newly arrived humanitarian entrants for life in Australia and manage their expectations.

The Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO) is the first step in a humanitarian entrant’s journey to Australia. The AUSCO gives practical advice about the journey to Australia, including quarantine laws and information about what to expect post-arrival, and is provided to refugee and humanitarian entrants prior to their departure for Australia.

AUSCO links closely with onshore settlement support and orientation delivered under the HSP and is designed to give participants confidence and independence starting their new lives in Australia. It is also an opportunity for them to meet others making the same journey.

AUSCO is delivered in a classroom setting and covers topics including, housing, health, money, English language, education, employment and law, as well as travelling to Australia and settlement services.

Humanitarian Settlement Program

The Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) commenced on 30 October 2017, replacing the previous Humanitarian Settlement Services and Complex Case Support programs.

Humanitarian entrants are supported through the HSP to gain relevant skills and knowledge in their first months in Australia and to receive intensive support if it is needed.

The HSP is delivered by five service providers in 11 contract regions across Australia. Participation is voluntary and services are delivered through a needs-based case management approach.

Service providers support clients to achieve outcomes in the following areas as a foundation for successful settlement:

employment

education and training

housing

physical and mental health and wellbeing

managing money

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/programs-policy/the-australian-cultural-orientation-ausco-program

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/programs-policy/settlement-services/humanitarian-settlement-program


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community participation and networking

family functioning and social support

justice

language services.

Providers work with both other settlement and mainstream services. There is strong focus on assisting clients to access other programs that will help them to learn English and gain necessary education and employment skills. Positive outcomes in these areas help humanitarian entrants integrate into Australian life.

Providers meet humanitarian entrants on arrival at the airport (except those met by a proposer) and transport them to their initial accommodation.

Case managers work collaboratively with clients to assess their needs and deliver a tailored package of services to meet those needs, through the development of individualised case management plans. Immediate services provide early practical support to humanitarian entrants following their arrival in Australia including:

airport reception

on-arrival accommodation and property induction

an initial food and essential items package

assistance to register with Centrelink, Medicare and a bank

addressing immediate health needs

details of what to do in an emergency situation and how to access interpreting services

orientation to local services.

Foundation services help clients to achieve the settlement outcomes that are identified in their individual case management plan. These services include:

delivery of an onshore orientation program that builds clients’ knowledge about the Australian way of life and values

assistance to source long-term accommodation

connecting clients to local community groups and activities

support to register with the Adult Migrant English Program and attend lessons

help to enrol in relevant education and training and seek recognition of pre-arrival skills and qualifications

assistance to engage with employment services, implement employment strategies and/or access support services for establishing a business.

support to access mainstream services, including health and family support services

The orientation program offered by HSP providers also includes information designed to meet the needs of young clients and their parents, including vocational planning, family relationships, health, understanding the law and adjusting to life in Australia. Providers assist humanitarian entrants to enrol their school-aged children in primary or secondary school, no later than six weeks after arrival. Children and young people may have spent a substantial amount of time in refugee camps without access to schooling and be behind in their education.

Exit from the HSP is based on clients achieving the settlement outcomes identified in their case management plan. For most clients it is expected that these outcomes will be reached between six to 18 months after their arrival in Australia.


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Specialised and Intensive Services for particularly vulnerable people

The Australian Government recognises that the needs of humanitarian entrants may differ. For those with exceptional needs, the Department of Social Services offers Specialised and Intensive Services. These services provide a more intensive level of case management support.

Generally, eligible clients are being impacted by one or more of the following:

disability

health needs that are severe, critical, long term and/or unmanaged

mental health issues that significantly impact daily life

homelessness or housing instability

domestic and family violence

child and youth welfare concerns.

These clients may be experiencing issues that are having a significant impact on their daily life and settlement outcomes. These issues can result in family and relationship breakdown, behavioural concerns, social isolation, financial hardship and legal issues.

People are eligible for Specialised and Intensive Services support for up to five years after arrival in Australia. The duration of Specialised and Intensive Services support may vary according to individual needs. For most clients, however, it is likely to be a short-term intervention of up to six months.

Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Grants program Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Grants is a grants activity that is complementary to HSP and other Australian Government support for vulnerable migrants. The SETS grants program replaced the Settlement Grants program, to reflect new policy settings in response to the findings of an evaluation of the former program.

SETS supports both humanitarian entrants and other eligible permanent migrants in their first five years of life in Australia. The program focuses on social participation, economic well-being, independence, personal well-being and community connectedness.

Support provided under the SETS grants program is flexible to meet needs, but typically includes:

settlement related information

advice and referral to individuals/families

targeted activities that engage refugee youth

assistance to ethno-specific community organisations to become self-sustaining and to help their communities

services that provide a welcoming environment for new arrivals and assist them to make social connections.

SETS also funds projects specifically targeted at young humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable young migrants. SETS projects aim to increase young peoples independence, knowledge, self-reliance and ability to navigate mainstream services. These grants provide casework to address problematic behaviours and health risks (such as sexual education, substance abuse, pregnancy) as well as truancy, legal and self-esteem issues. In general, these youth organisations may:

link young people at risk with mentors to increase life skills

facilitate social activities

refer clients to other support services for additional assistance

provide a drop-in centre for clients to participate in informal recreational activities

provide cultural awareness training to external organisations

provide other community initiatives to support and develop the capabilities of newly arrived young people by ensuring that they actively engage and participate in the community.

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-services/programs-policy/settlement-services/settlement-grants/what-is-settlement-grants/about-settlement-grants


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Translating and Interpreting Services

Language proficiency is paramount to successful settlement. The ability to speak English assists new migrants to secure sustainable employment, undertake further education and training and independently participate in the Australian community.

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service administered by the Department of Home Affairs. TIS National provides access to telephone and on-site interpreting in more than 160 languages for people who do not speak English, and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients. TIS National services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Free Interpreting Service, administered by the Department of Social Services and delivered by TIS National, assists eligible organisations when communicating with clients with no or low English language proficiency. Eligible organisations include private medical practitioners, pharmacists, non-government organisations, real estate agencies, local government authorities, trade unions and parliamentarians. The service aims to provide equitable access to key services that are not government funded.

The Australian Government also provides the Free Translating Service for people settling permanently in Australia, to support participation in employment, education and community engagement. Permanent residents and select temporary or provisional visa holders are able to have up to ten eligible documents translated into English, within the first two years of their eligible visa grant date.

The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) sets and maintains the national standards for the translating and interpreting profession in Australia. NAATI, which is jointly funded by federal, state and territory governments of Australia, confers credentials on translators and interpreters according to the NAATI assessment level they have passed.

For more information, visit the Department of Social Services’ website.

Beginning a Life in Australia booklets

The Beginning a Life in Australia booklet welcomes newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants to Australia and assists them to settle more easily. The booklet provides useful settlement information and links to websites and resources for migrants, humanitarian entrants, their sponsors and service providers. The booklets are available in English and 39 community languages commonly used by Australian migrants.

Helping refugees in the community

Engaging the community is an important part of the Australian Government’s approach to helping refugees to settle. Through the Helping Refugees webpages, the Department of Social Services seeks to help individuals, communities and workplaces to understand and support the refugee settlement journey. The Helping Refugees pages are designed to encourage people to support refugees in their local areas in practical and meaningful ways. The pages include more stories of real refugee experiences in settling in Australia.

http://www.tisnational.gov.au/

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settle-in-australia/help-with-english/free-interpreting-service

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/programs-policy/settle-in-australia/language-services

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-services/beginning-a-life-in-australia


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English Language Programs

Having or gaining English language skills is importance to enabling new arrived humanitarian entrants to fully participate socially and economically in Australian society.

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), administered by the Department of Education and Training, is the Australian Government’s largest English language program and assists eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants to learn foundation English language skills. The AMEP is a voluntary program that provides around 60,000 clients each year with access of up to 510 hours of free English language tuition in their first five years of settlement.

The program achieves this through providing high quality English language tuition that:

is flexible and allows participants a choice of learning streams depending on their goals; either Pre-employment English or Social English;

is delivered by teachers who specialise in adult education and who have the cultural awareness to meet the needs of AMEP clients;

is contextualised to incorporate Australian values, culture and way of life, including the practical skills and knowledge required to participate in the community, such as transport, banking and health care;

offers humanitarian entrants additional support through the Special Preparatory Program, a sub program that recognises the effect of difficult pre-migration experiences on learning capacity;

provides pathways to employment or further education including through a specialised sub-program that combines work experience opportunities with industry-specific language tuition; and

provides access to a further 490 hours of English language tuition to eligible clients through the new capped sub-program AMEP Extend.

The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program provides language, literacy and numeracy training to eligible job seekers, to help them to participate more effectively in training or in the labour force.

The program is delivered across Australia, from metropolitan and regional areas, right through to remote communities.

The program is tailored to meet the individual’s needs and caters for job seeker groups with literacy and numeracy training needs, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. As such, this program is available to and used by humanitarian entrants in the Australian community.

Further information on other English language support programs can be found on the Department of Education and Training’s website.

https://www.education.gov.au/skills-education-and-employment

https://www.education.gov.au/skills-education-and-employment


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Targeted Health Services

Humanitarian entrants may have serious and complicated health needs for a wide range of reasons. Once humanitarian entrants have arrived in Australia, they may be eligible for medical benefits and services including Medicare (Australia’s universal health care system), the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and the Australian Immunisation Register.

The Australian Immunisation Register is a national register that records vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia. People who are eligible for Medicare are automatically included on the Australian Immunisation Register.

In the May 2017 Budget, the Australian Government announced that it will commit $14.1 million over four years to expand the National Immunisation Program to provide ongoing catch-up vaccines for almost 375,000 Australians aged 10 to 19 years, including 3,000 humanitarian entrants, and more than 8,000 adult refugees and humanitarian entrants.

Refugee Servicing Network

Assistance is also available through the Refugee Servicing Network for recently arrived refugee, humanitarian entrant or permanent protection visa holders in Australia. HSP providers help refugees and humanitarian entrants to access this service. Some of the services provided through this refugee network are:

assisting in applying for a Medicare card

free interpreters and translations to help make claims for payments and services

a free information seminar about payments and services

assistance with applications for payments and exemptions

referrals to health and allied health assessors

information about, and referrals to, local employment and community service providers.

For information on Refugee Servicing Network, see the Department of Human Services’ website.

Torture and trauma services

Some humanitarian entrants have fled violence, war and/or escaped direct persecution. Their history could involve torture, imprisonment and denial of rights, which can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues. Similarly, the experiences of humanitarian entrants in refugee camps can be difficult and traumatic.

Once in Australia, if a person is identified, or self-identifies, as a survivor of torture and trauma, they are referred to special torture and trauma counselling services, provided by the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma member organisations.

Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma is a network of eight specialist services (one in each state and territory) that provide assessment, counselling, and ongoing therapeutic interventions for people and communities who are survivors of torture and trauma.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/medicare-services

http://pbs.gov.au/pbs/home

http://pbs.gov.au/pbs/home

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/australian-childhood-immunisation-register

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/refugee-servicing-network

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/refugee-servicing-network


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The services offer psychological assessments, individual psychotherapeutic interventions, group and family therapy, youth activities and community development.

The services are also designed to improve access to mainstream services for survivors with high needs. Services are generally provided in the first one to three years in Australia, but can be for a longer period.

It is possible that problems arising from their experiences could manifest later in the settlement period, once the person is fully settled.

Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma organisations receive funding under the Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma to provide specialised support services to permanently resettled humanitarian entrants and those on temporary substantive visa products living in the community who are experiencing psychological or psychosocial difficulties before coming to Australia.

For more information, please visit the Department of Health’s website.

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-torturehttp:/www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-torture


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Refugee voices – Sara’s story

Sara was 13 when the war began in Iraq. Instead of spending her days at school or with friends, she and her family were forced into hiding for fear of persecution. This means they were stateless, with many restrictions placed on them, including being unable to ever own a house or car.

Sara’s home was sprayed with bullets; it was unsafe to go to school for months at a time, and Sara and her family were evicted from their home. In 2006, after three long years in war-torn Baghdad, Sara and her family fled to Syria where they applied and prayed for their visa to come to Australia.

A year and a half later, their prayers were answered. “When we arrived, I was overwhelmed, everything was different. I couldn’t speak any English, the culture was so different but at the same time I felt so welcome and supported”.

A HSP provider supplied Sara’s family with basic furniture, kitchenware and toiletries. “I don’t have the words to explain how grateful we are for that support. It made me feel like this really was our new home”.

“It sounds silly now but I remember noticing and appreciating that we all had our own toothbrush, own pillow, own towel all laid out for us”.

In her first two years in Australia, Sara had learnt to speak English, completed year 12, had two jobs and had started further education. Sara is now studying a Bachelor of Social Work.

Now Sara wants to give back to people who are on a similar journey and have experienced similar hardships.

‘I know how hard it is. I went through it. I lived it, and I want to help other people feel welcome in their new home the way I was helped when we first came to Australia.’


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Focus on employment and skills

Newly arrived refugees report that one of their greatest challenges is getting their first job in Australia. The Australia Government plays an important role in investing in opportunities for refugees to seek and obtain local work experience and in contributing towards achieving positive employment outcomes for refugees.

People who are unemployed and receiving income support payments can access employment services to help them to find a job, access training, purchase equipment necessary for their work or even help them with the costs of relocation for employment reasons.

While humanitarian entrants were living as refugees in a third country, they may have had no right to work, and therefore limited recent work experience. Settlement service caseworkers can provide clients with information about work placement and work experience programs.

Service providers can also refer HSP clients to Centrelink, where clients lodging a claim for income support may undertake a Job Seeker Classification Instrument assessment and, if they are found to have multiple or complex barriers to employment, they may require an Employment Services Assessment. These assessments identify the client’s personal circumstances and relative labour market disadvantage and identify an appropriate level of employment services assistance. The client is generally referred through this assessment process to an employment service provider, who will assist them to find employment.

For more information, please visit the Department of Human Services’ website.

jobactive

The Department of Jobs and Small Business is active in this pursuit through its flagship employment services program, jobactive. jobactive helps job seekers prepare for, find and keep jobs. Humanitarian entrants and asylum seekers with work rights are eligible to use the services of jobactive to find work.

jobactive connects job seekers with employers and is delivered by a network of jobactive providers in over 1700 locations across Australia. jobactive providers also work closely with employers to understand their recruitment needs. Employers can use a local jobactive provider for tailored recruitment services, at no cost to their business.

For more information, visit the Department of Jobs and Small Business' website.

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/subjects/help-refugees-humanitarian-entrants-and-new-arrivals

https://www.jobs.gov.au/jobactive


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Youth Transition Support Pilot

Young refugees and vulnerable migrants often need extra help to become and stay connected in their new community.

The Youth Transition Support pilot commenced in 2016 and helps develop the capabilities, resilience and social connections of young humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable migrants aged 15 to 25 years to stay engaged in education and make successful transitions to employment.

The Youth Transition Support pilot has four components:

Partnerships for Employment helps improve the work readiness and work awareness of youth through work experience, job readiness training and support to fill existing job vacancies;

Strong Connections to Education helps support ongoing engagement with education through programs that build self-confidence and peer connections for young people;

Sports Engagement for Youth builds social connections and confidence through sporting programs; and

Increased Vocational Opportunities helps youth obtain and strengthen vocational skills.

The Youth Transition Support pilot aims to improve workplace readiness, provide access to vocational opportunities and create strong social connections through education and sports engagement.

Career Pathways Pilot

Employment is an essential aspect of successful settlement. Not only does it help individuals to establish networks, improve English language skills and be financially independent, it helps to build socially cohesive communities.

The Australian Government invested $5.2 million in 2016-17 for a three-year Career Pathways pilot for humanitarian entrants. The pilot provides targeted, early intervention assistance to help newly arrived humanitarian entrants who have skills and/or qualifications and vocational English language proficiency.

Pilot participants receive assistance to develop and pursue a career pathway plan which will guide them in sourcing and securing meaningful employment opportunities appropriately suited to their pre arrival work history, qualifications and skills.

Services provided through the pilot complements employment assistance already available to job seekers in Australia. The pilot has been implemented in six locations across Australia: Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart and Toowoomba.

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/programs-policy/settlement-services/youth-transition-support-pilot


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Recognition of foreign qualification

Humanitarian entrants may lack documentation relating to qualifications and work experience, which means they are unable to prove they have qualifications and experience. Even if humanitarian entrants possess their qualification documents, their qualifications may not be recognised by the Government or employers in Australia. Australia assesses overseas qualifications as per its obligations under the Lisbon Recognition Convention 2002.

Australia provides regional and international leadership and expertise in qualifications recognition to improve student and labour mobility. Australia has policies and processes for the recognition of the qualifications of refugees, displaced persons and persons in a refugee-like situation. This supports participation in education and employment.

The Department of Education and Training provides official information and advice on the comparability of overseas qualifications and works with the Overseas Qualification Unit to facilitate the recognition of overseas qualifications in Australia.

For more information, please visit the Department of Education and Training's website.

Disability employment services

People with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse community backgrounds face a multitude of barriers when entering the workforce. Some of the main barriers are a lack of culturally competent employment services, limited access to or knowledge about language services and discrimination towards people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Disability Employment Services helps people with a disability find work and keep a job. Through Disability Employment Services, job seekers with disability, injury or health conditions may be able to receive assistance to prepare for, find and keep a job.

Disability Employment Services has two parts:

The Disability Management Service is for job seekers with disability, injury or health condition who need assistance to find a job and occasional support to keep a job.

The Employment Support Service provides assistance to people with permanent disability and who need regular, ongoing support to keep a job.

For more information, please visit the Department of Social Services’ website.

https://internationaleducation.gov.au/services-and-resources/pages/qualifications-recognition.aspx

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/programmes-services/disability-employment-services


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Refugee voices – Padam’s journey

For 18 months, Padam did not know if his father–in–law was alive or dead. He had been arrested on suspicion of helping the pro-democracy movement. Then one night, he came home and told Padam and his wife Suk that they all had to leave Bhutan. All they took with them was their two-year-old child and the clothes on their backs.

Padam and Suk belong to the ethnic Nepalese minority group, the Lhotshampas. Thousands of Lhotshampas were forced to flee Bhutan in the 1990s after the Kingdom branded them as ‘illegal migrants’.

They made their way to Nepal hoping to find a better situation, but their hopes were dashed. The camp that they lived in for 20 years was crowded and dirty and medicine and food were scarce.

Padam and his family were offered the opportunity to be resettled in Australia. “We didn’t know a lot about Australia as we flew into Hobart”, recalls Padam. “My wife Suk and I were nervous about learning to fit into a new society. The hardest part for me was learning English. At my age, my memory is poor so I struggled, but I kept going”.

The Adult Migrant English Program helped Padam and his wife to learn the English skills necessary to seek employment. Padam and Suk’s lives turned around when they started working.

“We heard that a local vineyard close to where we live in Tasmania was employing Bhutanese refugees. I put our names on their job list and contacted the manager to ask if she had work for us”.

The vineyard has been employing Bhutanese refugees for five years. The manager heard through the refugee resource centre that people were seeking work and she wanted to help. She hired six people initially, one of them is now Padam’s supervisor, and the vineyard has been employing Bhutanese workers ever since.

“All of the refugees at the vineyard have built good lives in Australia. We can send our kids to good schools and give back to the local area and community. This gives us a sense of belonging”.

“Today I call it the ‘lucky farm’ because it has brought so much into our lives. We have been working there for two years now. We were farmers in Bhutan so we fit in well, and we have been able to use our farming skills. I am so thankful for the life we have. The full-time work enabled us to save for our own home. Imagine how we felt the day we moved in. After being forced to flee our homeland, living in a camp for 20 years, we finally had a place to call our own. It is like a dream”.

Padam and Suk recently passed their citizenship tests and are now Australian citizens.


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Settlement Frameworks

Policy frameworks

Australia is internationally recognised for having excellent settlement services that have been built over the last few decades. All levels of government have worked together for many years in the areas of migration planning, settlement policy and multicultural affairs.

Consultation with peak bodies is an important part of Australia’s settlement policy frameworks and provides an opportunity to better inform governments about issues at the grassroots level. Peak bodies also advocate on behalf of culturally and linguistically diverse clients and communities and disseminate information through their members, community and business partnerships.

The National Settlement Framework

The National Settlement provides a structural blueprint for the three tiers of government, Commonwealth, state and territory and local to effectively plan, engage and deliver services that support the settlement of migrants and new arrivals in Australia.

Governments and stakeholders are guided by the structures and initiatives in the framework on the provision and delivery of coordinated, client-centric services that are informed by research and evaluation. It identifies nine priority areas:

Language Services Employment Education and Training

Housing Health and Wellbeing Transport

Civic Participation Family and Social Support Justice

The framework sets the foundation for stronger, more effective collaboration across all these groups to address gaps or barriers in service delivery. Furthermore, the framework provides a strong foundation for a commitment to:

the effective and efficient use of existing resources for mainstream and targeted settlement services

driving service delivery improvements by identifying and responding to gaps and barriers

integration of migrants and new arrivals into the broader community through a smooth settlement process

government funded services that translate into successful settlement outcomes

ongoing engagement with the non-government sector, business and industry, and the broader community.

For more information, please visit Department of Social Services’ website

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/publications/national-settlement-framework


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National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards

As one of Australia’s national settlement peak bodies, the Settlement Council of Australia launched the National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards in May 2016. The Department of Social Services funded the Settlement Council of Australia to develop and implement the National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards.

The standards are based on the nine priority areas in the National Settlement Framework and focus on how settlement service providers understand and measure the effectiveness and impact of their practice on client outcomes. Furthermore, the standards identify a consistent set of best practice benchmarks.

The Settlement Council of Australia has worked to facilitate the implementation of the standards across the sector to build a learning and knowledge base that contributes to continuous improvement in the quality of services delivered by the settlement sector. Accredited training modules to enable a future accreditation process based on the standards are in the process of being developed.

National Youth Settlement Framework

The National Youth Settlement Framework was developed by one of the national settlement peak bodies, the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network, and launched in April 2016. The framework is Australia’s first national framework for understanding and responding to the needs of young people in the settlement context.

The framework provides the foundation for improvements in service delivery across the youth and settlement sectors, supporting a more targeted approach to addressing the settlement needs of young people in all areas of their engagement with the service system.

The framework reflects key aspects of youth work and settlement service delivery. It sets out key indicators and good practice capabilities, which are designed to be adapted into policy and programs across the government and non-government organisation sectors.

The framework is comprised of four components facilitating good settlement for young people. These are:

1. Understanding the refugee and migration experience for adolescents 2. Understanding the Australian settlement context 3. Facilitating good youth settlement through active citizenship 4. Facilitating active citizenship through good practice capabilities.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network works with government, service providers and the non-government organisation sector to support the implementation of the framework.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network has conducted targeted training across Australia to support the framework. The training is aimed at staff and volunteers from government and non-government organisations, to strengthen their knowledge and practice in supporting young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network is working closely with the Settlement Council of Australia to identify synergies between the National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards and the National Youth Settlement Framework.


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Refugee voices – Rohalla’s story

Rohallah was born in the mountains of Ghazni two years after the USSR invaded Afghanistan. The war lasted 10 years, forcing Rohallah and his family to move constantly in search of safer places. He spent most of his childhood in Kabul, which he says was relatively safe.

After the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan, a civil war began. During the civil war Rohallah lost two loved ones and his family were forced to move again. When the Taliban emerged they targeted Rohalla’s ethnic group, the Hazaras.

Fearing further losses, Rohallah’s family fled to Pakistan. Rohallah returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban were toppled in 2002, but fled again when the Taliban became resurgent. Prior to leaving Afghanistan for the second time he says, “My job with United Nations, my Hazara identity and my religious belief posed grave danger to my life”.

While he was living as a refugee in Pakistan, Rohallah met John and Margaret, two retired Australian citizens who were living in Islamabad and helping Afghan refugees. They assisted Rohallah to contact the Australian High Commission and apply for resettlement.

After years of fear and displacement, Rohallah arrived in Australia in August 2004. Rohallah says, “Arriving in Australia marked the beginning of a new stable life, one that meant I could settle for the rest of my life and I didn’t have to become a displaced person again”.

“I was full of excitement and motivation. Although there were cultural and language challenges, I overcame them”.

The Migrant Resource Centre in Perth helped Rohallah to find English classes, get a Medicare card and open a bank account. “They referred me to Asetts, a non-government organisation for survivors of torture and trauma, which benefited me in a great deal”, says Rohallah.

“Asetts helped me overcome emotional concerns such as disturbed sleeping patterns and dreams about my past. This allowed me to focus on learning English and excel in education. I am particularly grateful to the University of Notre Dame and Phoenix Academy in Fremantle for their generous offer of scholarship. I’m equally grateful for the Nedlands Uniting Church that provided me with a family-like environment”.

On arrival in Australia, Rohallah says he was a vulnerable refugee who lacked all the necessary means to lead a normal life in a developed country. He says, “Today, I almost feel as if I’ve got myself on the same level playing field as most Australians”.

“Australia means so much to me. Australia has given me the power of education, the single most powerful weapon to live a better life and contribute to the lives of others”.

Rohallah is currently working with the Department of Social Services in Canberra and concurrently studying a Master of National Security Policy degree at the Australian National University. His goal is to complete his education, but he says humorously, “The future looks bright, unless I become terribly complacent and start resting on my laurels.”


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Governance

Roles and responsibilities of the levels of Government In Australia, collaboration between the three levels of government (national, state and territory and local), as well as with service providers and the non-government sector, is key to the delivery of high-quality, culturally appropriate and inclusive services that ensure refugees and humanitarian entrants are able to participate in Australian society as quickly as possible.

Responsibility for settlement services and support is divided between the three levels of government and the non-government sector as follows:

The Australian Government

has responsibility for administering the migration and humanitarian programs

funds service providers to deliver specialised settlement services to refugees and humanitarian entrants during the first five years of settlement, including settlement grant activities, English language support and translating and interpreting services

supports a range of mainstream services to meet short and long-term needs of refugees and humanitarian entrants, such as employment services and social security

provides funding to state and territory governments for a range of targeted services, such as education and health services

addresses barriers to settlement, such as racism and discrimination, by funding initiatives that encourage multiculturalism and community cohesion.

State and Territory Governments

Provides accessible and equitable mainstream services to the Australian community, such as education and health services.

Local Government

Provides a range of services and infrastructure to the local community, including specialised services to migrants and initiatives to encourage settlement in a particular locality.

Non-government sector

engages with migrants at a grass-roots level and plays a key role in advising all levels of government on community and client groups, settlement needs and social policy issues

contributes to effective planning and delivery of settlement services based on considerable experience and knowledge

provides a link between mainstream services, the settlement sector and communities

supports the specific needs of the community through targeted initiatives, including volunteer programs, emergency relief, industry initiatives, community cooperatives and ethnic associations.


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Senior Officials Settlement Outcomes Group

The Senior Officials Settlement Outcomes Group (SOSOG) is an inter-governmental forum to consult and exchange information on settlement-related issues. The SOSOG provides an opportunity for senior officials of the national, state and territory governments, as well as representatives from local government, to meet and seek to address settlement issues.

The SOSOG works to improve coordination of service delivery for refugees and humanitarian entrants within and across jurisdictions. The SOSOG played a key role in the development and continual implementation of the National Settlement Framework.

The SOSOG seeks to enhance collaboration and the effective use of resources across the three tiers of government. Membership of the Senior Officials Settlement Outcomes Group comprises senior officers from the Department of Social Services (Chair), the Department of Home Affairs, and each state and territory government, and the Australian Local Government Association. Senior representatives of other Australian Government agencies attend meetings as needed. The group meets formally at least twice a year and progresses issues collaboratively between meetings.

Advisory bodies

The Department of Social Services has the portfolio responsibility for a primary advisory group, the Settlement Services Advisory Council that provides advice to the Australian Government on migrant settlement and community cohesion, including humanitarian settlement.

Settlement Services Advisory Council

The Settlement Services Advisory Council is a body appointed by the Minister for Social Services that provides advice to the Government on strengthening community cohesion and maximising the social and economic participation of migrants and refugees through specific settlement services. The Council also has a specific interest in augmenting the benefits of Australia’s cultural diversity and promoting the importance of mutual respect and shared responsibility. This advice guides policy and program innovation with the aim of enhancing migrant and refugee participation in Australian society.

Civic involvement

Settlement peak bodies in Australia play an important role in representing the settlement and community sectors to government.

The broad aim of these peak bodies is to deliver services that assist eligible clients to become self-reliant and participate equitably in Australian society, with a focus on fostering social participation, economic well-being, independence, personal well-being and community connectedness.

Settlement Services builds upon the Humanitarian Settlement Program foundation services by delivering services that assist clients to become fully functioning members of society and to minimise longer-term reliance on social services.

The Department of Social Services funds three settlement peak bodies, the Settlement Council of Australia, the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network and Migration Council Australia.

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/related-agencies-sites/the-settlement-services-advisory-council


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The Settlement Council of Australia

The Settlement Council of Australia is the national peak body, funded by the Australia Government, representing agencies across Australia that assists migrants and humanitarian entrants to settle into their new life in Australia.

The Settlement Council of Australia provides a formal network to bring settlement service providers together at a national level to create cohesion among members and to improve collaborative and strategic planning processes for the settlement sector. The Settlement Council of Australia’s membership includes the majority of agencies across Australia that deliver settlement services to recently arrived migrants and refugees.

The Settlement Council of Australia’s key activities is to facilitate the ongoing implementation of the National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards.

Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network works in partnership with young people, government and the non-government sectors to promote the interests of migrant and refugee youth and to support a targeted approach to addressing policy and service delivery.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network has representatives from each of Australia’s states and territories and facilitates a national approach to youth settlement through its affiliated state/territory-based networks and organisations.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network developed the National Youth Settlement Framework to support a targeted and consistent approach to addressing the needs of newly arrived young people settling in Australia. The Australian Government commits funding to the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network through the Department of Social Services.

Migration Council Australia

The Migration Council Australia was established in 2012 as an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit body to enrich the productive benefits of Australia’s migration and humanitarian programs.

The Migration Council Australia brings together corporate Australia and the community sector to offer a national voice to advocate for effective settlement and migration programs. Key activities of the Migration Council Australia include encouraging a greater understanding of migration and settlement through supporting best practice and building partnerships between corporate Australia, the community sector and government.

The Migration Council Australia conducts research and policy analysis as well as running a number of ongoing programs and initiatives, undertaking work in areas as diverse as migrant employment, the judiciary, the health sector and sport.

The Friendly Nation Initiative is an example of work developed by the Migration Council Australia. The initiative recognises that there is a crucial role that Australian businesses and corporations can play in encouraging and inspiring new arrivals to make the most of the opportunities that Australia has to offer.

The Initiative encourages Australian businesses to provide employment, mentoring, training, and internship opportunities to refugees.

http://scoa.org.au/

http://migrationcouncil.org.au/


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Refugee voices – Homa’s journey

When Homa was 13, she and her family were forced to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban seized control in the region. They managed to get passage into Pakistan, where they lived for five years in

uncertainty and fear until they were granted resettlement in Australia.

Homa’s experience of her new community and life in Australia was positive. Homa recalls, “The community welcomed us, took us into their homes and cooked for us. Their generosity made us feel at home”.

Homa received support from her new community to transition into the Australian school system. “My high school was outstanding. It nurtured me and encouraged me to believe that I could achieve anything. We had a dedicated department for kids from non-English speaking backgrounds. There was a homework club made up of teachers who had also migrated to Australia. They pushed us to succeed”.

Homa’s father is a doctor and her grandfather was a nomad doctor, travelling around villages on the back of a camel. She felt an intense passion to follow their path.

“My challenge is to make Australia proud of me. I am striving to become a top class cardiologist and extend those services to everyone, not just those who can afford it.”


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Research and evaluation

The Australia Government is committed to growing our knowledge base through contemporary research, seeking new and innovative policy responses and aligning our settlement services and programs with best practice understandings. This involves funding research that seeks to understand the needs of migrants, evaluating our programs and reviewing current practice.

Building a New Life in Australia: The longitudinal Study of Humanitarian Migrants

Building a New Life in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Humanitarian Migrants is an ongoing government funded study that follows members of 1509 humanitarian migrant families who arrived in Australia or had their permanent visas granted in the six-month period between May to December 2013. The study has increased knowledge around the factors that support successful settlement, whilst identifying barriers that hinder positive settlement outcomes.

Annual data collection commenced in 2013 and is currently in its fifth year.

The study provides a broad evidence base to:

identify factors that help or hinder the successful settlement of humanitarian migrants

assist policy development and program improvement for humanitarian migrants in Australia.

Data is collected on the following topics:

family composition and demographics

housing and neighbourhood

English language proficiency

employment and income

education and training

immigration experience

health

self-sufficiency

community support

personal resources and life satisfaction

child - specific elements

perceptions of life in Australia.

A report detailing findings from the first three waves of the study is available online. The data from Waves 1, 2, and 3 are also available for research to approved researchers from government, academic institutions and non-profit organisations.

For more information, on the study, please visit the Department of Social Services’ website.

The Scanlon Foundation mapping social cohesion research

Since 2007, the Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion research has provided a series of detailed surveys on social cohesion, immigration and population issues. This research is considered one of the benchmarks in measuring and evaluating social cohesion in Australia and is released on a yearly basis. The Scanlon Foundation reports support the Government to further understand the experiences and attitudes of different sub-groups of the Australian community.

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programmes-services/building-a-new-life-in-australia-bnla-the-longitudinal-study-of-humanitarian-migrants


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The Scanlon-Monash Index (SMI) of Social Cohesion incorporates five domains: belonging; worth; participation; acceptance and rejection; and social justice and equity.

Despite significant demographic change over the decade, including population rise and increased diversity, Australian attitudes have remained, in large measure, stably positive.

Innovation mechanisms

The Australian Government is committed to revitalising Australia’s businesses and entrepreneurial drive and equipping our economy for the challenges ahead. This commitment includes the role that businesses play in equipping workers with the skills to adapt to changing economic conditions and able to seize new opportunities.

Try, Test Learn Fund

The Try, Test and Learn Fund is an initiative of the Australian Government that seeks new and innovative policy responses that support groups identified as being at risk of long-term welfare dependency.

The Try, Test and Learn Fund was announced in the 2016‑17 Federal Budget and provides grant opportunities for small‑scale projects to provide services or supports to improve workforce participation or capacity to work. The second tranche of the $96.1 million Try, Test and Learn Fund was launched on 22 November 2017. Tranche 2 is aimed at addressing the barriers to work among four priority groups, which include migrants and refugees on a working age income support payment.

The evidence gathered will allow the Australian Government to transform investment in existing programs or make the case for new investments.


HSP innovation and service provision

From time to time, the Department invites HSP service providers to prepare and submit a proposal addressing one or more ‘innovation target outcomes’ that are:

improved English language proficiency, literacy and numeracy for humanitarian entrants;

improved participation in education and training for humanitarian entrants;

improved employment outcomes for humanitarian entrants; and

improved social cohesion for humanitarian entrants.

HSP service providers are encouraged to be innovative and progressive in their proposals to achieve these innovation target outcomes. Innovation by a service provider should be client-centred and provide for all client needs and interests.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Australian Government is committed to working effectively with organisations to deliver valuable services for individuals, families and the community. This includes monitoring and evaluating the social and economic outcomes made by service providers to improve service delivery and enable them to maximise the impact of the critical work that they do.

The Department of Social Services has most recently supported a number of independent evaluations of funded initiatives under the Australia Government’s settlement portfolio.

https://www.dss.gov.au/review-of-australias-welfare-system/australian-priority-investment-approach-to-welfare/try-test-and-learn-fund/migrants-and-refugees-on-income-support


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Evaluation of Settlement Grants

A review of the former Settlement Grant program (now SETS) was finalised in late 2017 to identify enhancements to future program settings. The review has been part of the Department of Social Services’ business as usual activity for managing and administering grant programs. The review has provided an evidence base to consider changes to the program settings to ensure grant funding continues to:

appropriately deliver against the Government’s policy objectives, in particular English, education and employment

improve alignment with the recently reformed HSP and Adult Migrant English Program models

ensure grants are targeted, flexible, and innovative in providing timely and effective early intervention support to the most vulnerable based on specific emerging needs.

The internal policy review brought together a range of evidence and other information on a range of matters that would benefit from changes and provide potential solutions based on good practice. Following the feedback from the evaluation, a new design of the policy settings and program was finalised to inform the development and implementation of SETS grants program.


Evaluation of the Career Pathways Pilot

The evaluation of the Career Pathways Pilot includes a post-implementation review, a counter-factual study and an impact evaluation that will provide valuable lessons on employment outcomes of humanitarian entrants. The post-implementation review was completed in December 2017 and found the pilot: is addressing a real gap for the target cohort; needed to factor in more time than first expected for the establishment of relationships with complementary services and referral pathways; and had a positive design and provided flexibility of service.

Evaluation of the Youth Transition Support pilot

In addition to providing a support and advisory role for the Youth Transition Support pilot service providers, the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network administered an independent evaluation of the pilot. The evaluation revealed that the pilot has achieved the desired program outcomes in the short term and there is early success for medium term outcomes.

Lessons from the pilot are being shared with other settlement services, including the Department of Social Services’ Settlement Engagement Transition Support program.

The HSP Monitoring Framework

HSP has a monitoring framework designed to safeguard program and client outcomes and ensure required delivery standards are met. The framework describes monitoring activities which assess the quality of the HSP service delivery, service provider performance, achievement towards client outcomes and financial assurance. Data from monitoring activities is used to guarantee quality, mitigate risks, enhance existing processes and inform policy, process and design.

The Government also engages external organisations to evaluate and review settlement services as required.

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services/programs-policy/settlement-services/settlement-grants/settlement-grants-evaluation


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Refugee voices – Amina’s story

Amina was born in Afghanistan, she is not quite sure when, and was prevented from attending school. She fled Afghanistan for Pakistan when her two sons were young teenagers and after her husband was killed in a sectarian related attack.

A local charity in Pakistan, who had been assisting her, put her in contact with UNHCR who referred her to the Australian High Commission in Islamabad for resettlement. She and her children were granted visas and eventually settled in Sydney.

Before leaving Pakistan the family were able to attend classes under the AUSCO program, where Amina was seen to lack confidence, was very shy and relied heavily on her sons. The AUSCO trainer encouraged her to participate but she kept saying that she could not learn because she had never been to school.

At one point the trainer asked Amina who did the shopping for the family and she acknowledged that she did. The trainer then asked how she knew that she was getting the correct change and Amina stated that she just knew, at which point the trainer said ‘well that means you can count’. Amina had never thought of this and became very excited and started actively participating.

A few years later the Australian Immigration officer who had granted Amina’s visa met her at a forum in Sydney. The Immigration officer had been at the AUSCO class as an observer on the day that Amina realised that she could count.

As part of the forum, the participants were asked to sign a consent form. While Amina was still struggling to read the document, which was read to her by her youngest son, she very proudly and painstakingly signed her name.

Amina expressed her joy and appreciation for the opportunities that she and her sons had been given, including the opportunity for both her sons to attend university.


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Other strategies supporting community cohesion

Community cohesion

Australia is a diverse nation - almost half its population were born overseas or had at least one parent who was born overseas. Cultural, linguistic and religious diversity is an everyday reality of Australian life. Managing Australia’s diversity is essential to building and maintaining community cohesion and this is particularly the case with the settlement of new humanitarian entrants and migrants.

On 20 March 2017, the Australian Government released a multicultural statement, ‘Multicultural Australia: United, Strong Successful’. The statement sets out shared values, rights and responsibilities that underpin Australia’s approach to multicultural affairs.

The Australian Government’s approach to diversity in Australian society balances respect for diversity with a commitment to equal opportunity. All Australians, including humanitarian entrants, have the right to express their culture and beliefs, subject to the law of Australia. In return, all Australians must uphold and obey Australia’s laws and not infringe on the rights of others.

The statement recognises that cultural diversity is one of Australia’s greatest strengths; one that equips us to build a future where everyone belongs. It highlights the significance of citizenship in our national identity, and it makes clear the accountability we all have to respect each other.

Underpinning a diverse and harmonious Australia is the security of the nation. The Australian Government places the highest priority on the safety and security of all Australians. The Government responds to threats by continuing to invest in counter-terrorism, strong borders and strong national security. This helps to ensure that Australia remains an open, inclusive, and safe society.

To ensure that new arrivals respect the Australian way of life, our visa system includes a requirement to sign up to these shared values. Settlement services also include a strong emphasis on orientation to ensure that new arrivals understand Australian law and respect Australian values.

Australia also has in place a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening community cohesion and building the capacities of communities in need:

The Australian Human Rights Commission and other partners implement the National Anti-Racism Strategy. This strategy is designed to provide a clear understanding of what racism is and how it can be prevented and reduced.

Australia’s Multicultural Access and Equity policy requires government policies, programs and services to be accessible by all eligible Australians, responsive to their needs, and deliver equitable outcomes for them, regardless of their cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The Government works with advisory bodies to promote community cohesion through focussed advice.

The Government also works to support countering violent extremism initiatives, for example through support for community engagement activities.


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National Community Hubs Program

The Australian Government works in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation and Community Hubs Australia to implement the National Community Hubs Program (the Hubs).

Migrant and refugee women and their young children are among Australia’s most vulnerable residents. The Hubs support these women, children and their families.

Based in schools and community centres, the Hubs aim to create spaces across Australia for local residents, businesses and community services to assist migrants and refugees learn English, develop new skills, integrate and access support provided by federal, state and territory and local governments.

Services supporting the acquisition of English, active participation in the workforce and access to education are critical elements to successful integration. Community Hubs facilitate this engagement and empowerment at the local level and provide family friendly gateways that link migrant women with their families to school, local services, communities and each other. In 2017 more than 8,000 families attended hub activities, including job or skills training. They were also referred to community services outside of the hub over 8,500 times.

There are currently 63 Community Hubs in operation in primary schools and community centres across Australia. In 2018, the Hubs will grow to 76 Hubs, with an expansion in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.


National Anti-Racism Strategy

In 2011, the Australian Government committed to develop and implement the National Anti-Racism Strategy for Australia. The strategy is about working together to take action against racism, in all its different forms, wherever we see or experience it.

The Strategy was launched in 2012. In 2015, it was extended for a further three years. It focuses on public awareness, education resources and youth engagement and be underpinned by research, consultation and evaluation.

The aim of the National Anti-Racism Strategy is to promote a clear understanding in the Australian community of what racism is, and how it can be prevented and reduced. This aim is achieved through three objectives:

create awareness of racism and how it affects individuals and the broader community

identify, promote and build on good practice initiatives to prevent and reduce racism

empower communities and individuals to take action to prevent and reduce racism and to seek redress when it occurs.

The Strategy focuses on five key areas:

research and consultation

education resources

public awareness

youth engagement

ongoing evaluation.

https://www.dss.gov.au/grants/new-community-grants-hub

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/National%20Anti-Racism%20Strategy.pdf


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The primary public awareness raising and engagement activity within the Strategy is the ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ campaign. This campaign aims to:

Ensure more Australians recognise that racism is unacceptable in our community

Give more Australians the tools and resources to take practical action against racism

Empower individuals and organisations to prevent and respond effectively to racism

To meet these aims, the campaign works with businesses, organisations and communities to promote anti-racism messages and implement activities to prevent racism and celebrate cultural diversity. Since the campaign started, more than 440 organisations have pledged support the campaign. Organisations come from a range of areas, including sport, local government, education, the public sector and, non-government organisations. These organisations that sign-on as official campaign supporters pledge to promote the campaign and undertake anti-racism activities.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is held every year on 21 March to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is a day for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity and to share what we have in common.

Harmony Day reinforces the importance of inclusiveness to all Australians and is a day to celebrate Australia’s diversity - a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. For more information, please visit the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020

The Australian Government supports programs and services that directly address the unique needs of multicultural young people in policy and practice.

The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 outlines a national approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of Australia’s children. It aims to deliver a substantial and sustained reduction in levels of child abuse and neglect over time.

One of the key priorities of the National Framework is to fund research to improve policy or practice knowledge, and to better protect children and young people.

One of the initiatives funded under the National Framework is the research report, ‘Refugee Communities Intercultural Dialogue: Building Relationships, Building Communities’

The report adds to the developing evidence base of how to best support positive parenting and family

relationships among families, children and young people with a refugee. The report’s findings improve understanding of the formal and informal sources of social supports, resources and connections that refugee parents and their children can benefit from.


https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/life/multicultural

https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/publications-articles/protecting-children-is-everyones-business


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National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022

All Australian Governments recognise the need for a strong and coordinated response to effectively address the issue of violence against women.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 focuses on the two main types of violent crimes that have a major impact on women in Australia - domestic and family violence and sexual assault. The National Plan includes targeted initiatives that focus on the specific needs of culturally and linguistically diverse women and their children, which includes newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants.

The National Plan is being delivered through four three-year action plans that build on each other. These action plans are designed to look back at what has been achieved and refocus on what actions will make the most difference in the future. Work is currently being progressed under the current action plan in place, the Third Action Plan.

The Third Action Plan

On 28 October 2016, the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, launched the Third Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022. The Third Action Plan is the halfway point of a 12-year roadmap for generational change. The Australian Government has committed $100 million over three years to support the Third Action Plan.

The Third Action Plan outlines practical actions under the following National Priority Areas to reduce violence against women and their children. One of the activities funded through the Third Action Plan that aims to assist culturally and linguistically diverse women is the Three E’s to Freedom program. Three E’s to Freedom aims to build capacity to empower adult refugee women who are experiencing or at risk of violence, through an intensive education and employment program. The desired outcome of this activity is to address refugee women’s vulnerability to violence through empowerment, as well as improve physical and emotional wellbeing, increase independence and improve family and social relationships.


Family Safety Pack

To improve information available to refugees and humanitarian entrants arriving in Australia, the Australian Government developed the Family Safety Pack. The pack aims to reduce violence against women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds by providing men and women coming to Australia with information about Australia’s laws regarding domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage and a woman’s right to be safe. The pack includes four factsheets and a storyboard.

The Australian Government has developed a Family Safety Pack for men and women coming to Australia. It includes information on Australia’s laws regarding domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage, and a woman’s right to be safe.

The pack includes four factsheets on the following topics:

domestic and family violence

sexual assault

forced and early marriage

family violence and partner visas.


https://plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au/

https://www.dss.gov.au/family-safety-pack


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Concluding Remarks

The Department of Social Services

This resource has been prepared by the Department of Social Services.

The Department of Social Services works to improve the lifetime wellbeing of migrants and refugees settling in Australia by responding to their specific needs, encouraging their independence and participation in the Australian community. We support a productive, harmonious and diverse society for all Australians.

For more information on the Department of Social Services, please visit our website.

https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-services

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