Top 10 Countries of for humanitarian arrivals 2002–07* The offshore component of the The offshore component of the program includes: • the refugee category for people who are subject to persecution in their home country and who are in need of resettlement. The majority of applicants who are considered under this category are identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and referred by UNHCR to Australia. The Refugee visa category includes Refugee, In-country Special Humanitarian, Emergency Rescue and Woman at Risk sub-categories • the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country. A proposer (known as sponsor under the Migration Program) who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, or an organisation that is based in Australia, must support applications for entry under the SHP. 4
Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC) RRAC was established in 1997 to advise the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on the settlement of Humanitarian Program entrants. Council members are appointed on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in settlement issues and services. Members come from various backgrounds and do not represent individual states, territories or community organisations. The Council advises on the delivery of settlement services and improves the information flow on settlement policy between the Australian Government and the community sector. Additionally, the Council advises the Minister on matters relating to: • the appropriateness and adequacy of Australian Government services, especially for humanitarian entrants • priorities for attention in the planning of settlement services, with particular emphasis on improving coordination of service delivery for humanitarian entrants. 14
Volunteers Volunteers play an important role in providing humanitarian entrants with the knowledge, confidence and support to participate in the social, cultural and recreational life of local community. They can provide friendship and social support and links to local ethnic, religious and other community support organisations. They also provide information, guidance and practical assistance to help people adjust to life in Australia. Volunteers work with department funded organisations such as Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) service providers and Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) service providers. They may also work with non- government volunteer welfare organisations. The department has produced a Volunteer’s Guide to encourage people from all walks of life to volunteer to assist migrants and humanitarian entrants as they settle into the Australian community. The Guide aims to: • raise awareness of the settlement challenges faced by migrants and humanitarian entrants • show the variety of ideas and approaches to volunteering in settlement services in Australia • encourage involvement in volunteering with migrants and humanitarian entrants • outline the basic principles of volunteering including the rights and responsibilities of a volunteer • provide practical suggestions on how to get started. For copy of the Guide, go to: Volunteer_Guide.pdf
due to their pre-migration experiences. For this reason, humanitarian entrants receive specialised assistance during the initial settlement period to help them successfully rebuild lives in Australia. The IHSS offers initial intensive settlement support to newly-arrived humanitarian entrants, generally for around six months, but this may be extended for clients facing additional challenges. The IHSS provides services which are designed and administered in ways which provide humanitarian entrants with the assistance they need to start building a life in Australia. IHSS service principles • Humanitarian entrants are individuals who have the inherent right to respect for their human worth and dignity. • Humanitarian entrants are able to exercise choice. • Humanitarian entrants are informed and involved in decision making. • Services are designed and administered in ways which promote humanitarian entrants’ competence and help them to achieve self- sufficiency as quickly as possible. • The health and wellbeing of humanitarian entrants are protected. • The best interests of children are a vital concern. • The least intrusive and least disruptive option which offers the highest degree of stability and certainty is selected. • Traditional, cultural and religious values are respected. • Services and decisions are ethical and humanitarian entrants are not exploited. • Services promote participation of humanitarian entrants in the wider community and their understanding of legal obligations. • Organisations providing services are accountable to those who use their services and the Australian Government. • Humanitarian entrants are enabled to access services in a coordinated way which minimises gaps and duplication between services received. When a humanitarian entrant first arrives in Australia, the IHSS service provider works with them and their family to develop a comprehensive case plan. The plan helps identify the entrant’s needs and the services they need to access, including mainstream services such as Centrelink and the Job Network.
Other English language programs are available through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). These programs are Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL), Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP) and English as a Second Language - New Arrivals (ESL-NA). State and territory government programs are also available. Translating and Interpreting Service National (TIS National) The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an interpreting service (TIS National) for people who do not speak English and for the English speakers who need to communicate with them. To contact TIS National, call 131 450. TIS National is accessible from anywhere in Australia, and is available to any person or organisation requiring interpreting services. Telephone interpreting is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but please check the office hours of the government agency or business with which you wish to speak before calling. DIAC also provides eligible Australian Residents and Citizens with free extract translations into English of their personal documents. For further information about translations, go to: australia/help-with-english/learn-english/client/ translation_help.htm Interpreters in new and emerging languages are critical to recent arrivals accessing services in Australia. Due to the changing nature of the Humanitarian Program, DIAC is continually encouraging and recruiting interpreters in new and emerging languages. In 2006–07, TIS National recruited 101 interpreters in new and emerging languages. DIAC currently funds the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) to promote interpreting as a profession, help prepare participants for tests and provide assistance with associated fees, in an effort to increase the availability of interpreters in languages where there are shortages.
Living in Australia website This website is aimed at several client groups including: • prospective migrants • newly-arrived migrants and sponsors of migrants • service providers • community organisations • Australian citizens and residents seeking citizenship • researchers. • view a range of useful publications. Go to: or go to the department’s website, and choose ‘Living in Australia’. Community profiles The department provides information to assist service providers and the broader community to understand the experiences and needs of various groups of humanitarian entrants. Community profiles are available for the following groups: • Bhutanese • Burmese/Myanmarese Topics that can be accessed include: • Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) • Translating and Interpreting Service National (TIS National) • Settlement Grants Program (SGP) • Settlement Database • A Diverse Australia • National Action Plan • Australian Citizenship website (link provided). • Congolese • Eritrean • Ethiopian • Liberian • Sierra Leonean • Sudanese • Togolese • Uzbek. A few examples of what clients can do using the website include: • find out how they can access language services • determine what organisations are funded to help new migrants in a particular area • for funding under the Settlement Grants Program • access a diverse range of statistics from the department’s Settlement Database through an easy-to-use online reporting facility Further community profiles will be developed as required. Community profiles are available on the department’s website. Go to: assistance/government-programs/settlement- planning New beginnings Supporting new arrivals on their settlement journey 2006–07 39
African Settlement DVD, Australia – a new home The department has developed an onshore orientation DVD for arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants from Africa. Australia – a new home new African arrivals the opportunity to review important settlement information in their own home, as often as required, in their first few weeks in Australia. It will also assist settlement service providers to deliver orientation information and advice. The DVD features interviews and role with recently arrived refugees who offer advice on some of the opportunities and challenges people may encounter when settling in Australia. African entrants were identified as having special due to their difficult pre-migration experiences. The DVD is voiced in six African languages, with English subtitles, to help address communication challenges faced by this group, such as low levels of literacy and English language proficiency. Languages available are: • Amharic • Dinka • Kirundi • Sudanese Arabic • Swahili • Tigrinya • English. The DVD is broken into nine chapters: • Introduction • Accommodation • Health Services and Emergencies • Education and Learning • and Budgeting • Working in Australia • Family and Parenting • Australian Law • Sport, Recreation and Community. For copies of the DVD, contact your nearest or territory DIAC office.
IHSS service providers State/ Territory Region Service providers Contact details NSW Northern Metropolitan (includes Blacktown, Parramatta, Auburn and suburbs up to and including Newcastle) ACL IHSS Consortium 02 9749 3338 Southern Metropolitan (includes Liverpool, Campbelltown, Fairfield and down to and including Shoalhaven) ACL IHSS Consortium 02 9749 3338 Rural NSW (centred on Coffs Harbour and covers rural areas not managed from either ACT or SA) Anglicare Sydney 02 9895 8170 VIC Eastern Metropolitan (includes Greater Dandenong, Casey and Whitehorse) Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) IHSS Consortium 03 8558 8870 Western Metropolitan (includes Maribyrnong, Hume, Brimbank and Moonee Valley) Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) IHSS Consortium 03 8398 4700 Rural Victoria (includes Greater Geelong) Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) IHSS Consortium 03 9926 4744 QLD Metropolitan Brisbane (includes Ipswich and up to and including the Sunshine Coast) Multicultural Development Association (MDA) Consortium 07 3337 5400 Toowoomba Spiritus 07 4639 3983 Logan/Gold Coast Assisting Collaborative Community Employment Services Inc. 07 3808 9299 Cairns, Innisfail and surrounds Migrant Settlement Services Centacare Cairns 07 4041 7699 centacarecairns.org Townsville and surrounds Townsville Multicultural Support Group Inc 07 4775 1588 44