This concession is because unlike migrants, humanitarian entrants have been unable to make provision to support themselves during the initial period after arrival. The refugees are eligible to stay in these flats for 13 weeks, during which time they pay rent. Temporary protection visa holders are not eligible for On Arrival Accommodation. Sometimes this is the case but many new arrivals experience great difficulty in finding affordable rental accommodation, especially in the larger cities. Humanitarian entrants are not considered priority clients by the Departments of Housing in most states and therefore have to wait in the same lengthy queue as do all low income earners.
Humanitarian entrants are eligible to receive a Medicare Card on arrival.
This entitles them to basic hospital and medical cover. In some centres there are special health screening orientation programs for new arrivals. Even though humanitarian entrants have had to undergo rigorous health screening prior to arrival, this screening focuses primarily on detecting any ailments that could cause a risk to public health. Access to dental health care is a major problem for newly arrived humanitarian entrants. Many of these people have pressing dental needs because of torture they have been subjected to or because of long periods with inadequate diet.