Settlement Services for Humanitarian EntrantsWith a Focus on Syrian and Iraqi People

ContentsAustralia’s Humanitarian Program and previous on-arrival settlement programs

The Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS)

The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS)

Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS)

Current Department of Social Services settlement and language support programs

1. Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO)

Curriculum

AUSCO Student Folder

2. Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP)

Referrals to the HSP

HSP Specialised and Intensive Services

Immediate Post-Arrival Services

Foundation Services

HSP Service Providers

Regional Settlement

Outcomes

Case Managers

Service Delivery Principles

3. Grants for Community Settlement

Settlement Grants

Career Pathways Pilot

Youth Transition Support Pilot

4. Translating & Interpreting Services (TIS National)

Free Interpreting Service

Free Translating Service

Other Department of Social Services Programs

Support for Trafficked People program

Disability Employment Services

Other Australian Government Services

Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) – Department of Health

Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) – Department of Education and Training

Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) – Department of Education and Training

Jobactive – Department of Jobs and Small Business

Income Support – Department of Human Services

National Settlement Framework

Syrian and Iraqi Humanitarian Entrants

Australia’s Humanitarian Program and previous on-arrival settlement programsSince 1945, Australia has welcomed more than 865,000 people under Australia’s Humanitarian Program. This includes significant numbers of refugees from Europe after World War II, refugees from Vietnam after 1975 and, most recently, our additional intake of Syrians and Iraqis.1

After refugees arrive in Australia, the Australian Government provides settlement services to refugees. In the immediate post-war years, the Good Neighbour Council program played a key role in supporting mass immigration and in promoting rapid assimilation. Following the dissolution of the Good Neighbour Council program in 1978, a sequence of settlement service programs in their present form began in 1979.

The evolution of Australia’s settlement programs is illustrated through the development of the following programs:

The Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS)In 1979, the Australian Government established the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS). The cornerstone of the CRSS was a network of volunteer groups who provided assistance with finding accommodation and employment, general orientation and social support. This represented a major step in the evolution of settlement policy, as it constituted formal recognition of the specific needs of humanitarian entrants as a distinct category and a partnership between government and the wider community in the provision of settlement assistance. While the scheme was originally designed for South-East Asian humanitarian entrants, it was extended to other humanitarian entrants as humanitarian source countries changed over time. 2

The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS)The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (now the Department of Home Affairs), developed the IHSS in 2000 as a national framework for improving humanitarian settlement services. The aim of the IHSS was to ensure that all humanitarian entrants had access to the information, personal tools, services and basic material requirements they needed to rebuild their lives in Australia.

1 http://zedseselja.com.au/2017/06/australias-refugee-settlement-success-story-continues/ 2 “Report of the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants”, Department of Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, May 2003.

Community Refugee Settlement Scheme

(1979 to 2000)

Integrated Humanitarian

Settlement Strategy

(2000 to 2011)

Humanitarian Settlement Services

(2011 to 2017)

Humanitarian Settlement Program

(2017 to present)

The IHSS marked the first implementation of a purchaser/provider model of service delivery in humanitarian settlement services. The new model also offered volunteers more choice in the way that they supported entrants. Volunteers could choose to focus their support to other aspects of settlement, depending on their time and resources.

Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS)In 2011, the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) program replaced the IHSS. The overarching objectives of HSS were to provide tailored on-arrival support, to equip clients with the skills and knowledge they would need to independently access services beyond the initial settlement period, and to lay the foundations for participation in the social and economic life of Australia.3

When necessary, clients with very high or complex needs were referred from HSS via the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (now the Department of Home Affairs) to the Complex Case Support (CCS) program.

Current Department of Social Services settlement and language support programs1. Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO)The Department of Social Services (‘the Department’) provides Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) to Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program entrants over the age of five years, prior to their departure for Australia. AUSCO gives practical advice about the journey to Australia, including quarantine laws and information about what to expect post-arrival and assists in ensuring a successful start to peoples’ settlement journey. AUSCO delivers courses to adults, youth, children, and pre-literate entrants over a period of up to five days. AUSCO links closely with onshore settlement support and orientation delivered under the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP).

AUSCO is offered in four regions:

Africa South Asia

South East Asia The Middle East

DSS currently contracts the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to deliver the AUSCO program. IOM delivers the AUSCO program to Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants in the Middle Eastern region.

The objectives of the AUSCO Program are to:

3 “Review of Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS)”, David Richmond AO, September 2011.

Provide accurate information on the departure process Describe the settlement process and provide practical information about post-

arrival settlement services and how to access them Present a realistic picture of life in Australia Provide participants with the basic skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency Equip participants with the necessary tools to deal with initial settlement

concerns and the different stages of cultural, social and economic adaptation. This includes information about Australian laws and norms.

CurriculumDSS has designed the AUSCO curriculum to give participants confidence and independence in starting their new lives in Australia. It is also an opportunity for participants to meet others making the same journey.

Units covered during the course include:

AUSCO Student FolderAUSCO supplements course content with an AUSCO Student Folder, which contains:

Information pamphlets that focus on key topics of the AUSCO curriculum An activity book containing activities for in-class or at-home completion, and a

self-assessed attainment record

AUSCO participants are encouraged to keep the Student Folder and continue to refer to and use it throughout their settlement process in the HSP.

The Student Folder is available in English and nine key humanitarian cohort languages:

Arabic Burmese Chin Hakha

Dari Farsi Karen

Nepali Somali Kiswahili

Arabic is the language of greatest relevance to people from Syria and Iraq.

Overview of Australia

Settlement Services Housing Health Money

Education Employment Law Travel to Australia

2. Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP)On 30 October 2017, DSS implemented the HSP. The HSP replaced the former HSS and CCS programs, mentioned above. The HSP makes significant improvements to the way the Australian Government delivers support services to humanitarian entrants (or ‘clients’) and features more intense one-on-one support to help clients to build their skills and knowledge to become fully self-reliant and active members of the Australian community, through a needs-based, case management approach.

The HSP has a particular emphasis on supporting clients to achieve positive outcomes regarding education, employment and English language learning. These are the so-called ‘three E’s’.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of English language proficiency for humanitarian entrants and other migrants. English proficiency facilitates better educational and employment outcomes, greater social participation and an overall sense of belonging to the Australian community. For many humanitarian entrants, employment is a cornerstone of the settlement process. Employment can help newly arrived humanitarian entrants to gain independence and facilitate integration into the Australian community. Employment opportunities can include a job, work experience, volunteering or professional mentoring. These opportunities can help humanitarian entrants to build their English language skills, meet other Australians, expand their networks, and give them a chance to contribute to the community.

People who hold the following visas, and are referred to the HSP directly through the Humanitarian Program (administered by the Department of Home Affairs) are eligible to receive HSP services, according to need:

Refugee (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204) Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)

Clients are classified into a ‘tier’ according to their level of need and the complexity of their circumstances. This process provides clients with a level of support commensurate to their needs. There are three tiers:

Tier 1 Clients generally present with the knowledge and skills required to settle into their new community with minimal assistance from a HSP Service Provider.

Tier 2 Clients may present with a range of factors impacting on their settlement in Australia, such as high levels of poverty, trauma or health impacts arising from persecution, discrimination, displacement, nutritional deprivation or inadequate medical care. It is expected that the majority of clients will be classified as Tier 2.

Tier 3 (Specialised and Intensive Services)

Clients will display an inability to engage with appropriate supports and may be impacted by multiple and complex barriers. Allocation of clients into Tier 3 requires approval by the Department.

Referrals to the HSPThere are two categories of client referrals under the HSP:

1. Humanitarian Program referral – is initiated by the Department of Home Affairs once a visa is granted to a person to resettle in Australia from overseas under the Humanitarian Program. On receipt of the referral, DSS determines the most appropriate settlement location and refers the client through the HSP System to the HSP service providers in the identified HSP contract region.

2. Specialised and Intensive Services referral – anyone can refer a person to DSS for Specialised and Intensive Services (SIS) using the referral smartform available from the DSS website. On approval, DSS refers the person to the HSP service provider in the identified contract region through the HSP System.

HSP Specialised and Intensive ServicesSpecialised and Intensive Services (SIS) are a component of the HSP that offer additional support to clients with exceptional or complex needs. DSS assesses a client’s eligibility for SIS on a case-by-case basis, with clients eligible for support for up to five years following their arrival in Australia. Generally, clients are 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

A person who holds one of the following visa types is eligible for Specialised and Intensive Services under the Humanitarian Settlement Program:

Refugee Special Humanitarian Programme Permanent protection All temporary protection

The length of time that clients receive SIS may vary according to individual needs. However, for most clients it is likely to be a short-term intervention of up to six months.

Immediate Post-Arrival ServicesImmediate services provide early practical support to clients following their arrival in Australia, according to need, include:

Airport reception On-arrival accommodation and property induction Provision of 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 ServicesFoundation services help clients to achieve the settlement outcomes identified in their Case Management Plan. Services include:

Delivery of an onshore HSP orientation service that build clients’ knowledge about the Australian way of life and values. This service builds on the messages first provided through the offshore AUSCO program.

Assistance to source long-term accommodation Support to access mainstream services, including health and family support

services Connecting clients to local community groups and activities Support to register with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and attend

lessons Help to enrol in relevant education and training and recognise pre-arrival skills

and qualifications Assistance to engage with employment services, implement employment

strategies and access support services for establishing a business

As services are delivered based on need, not all clients will require all services.

HSP Service ProvidersService providers play a lead role in settlement and related service coordination, developing collaborative working relationships and ensuring mainstream services are able to meet the specific needs of their clients. The five service providers that deliver HSP in 11 contract regions across Australia are:

State HSP Contract Region(s)

Settlement Locations HSP Service Provider

ACT/NSW Canberra and Surrounds

Canberra; Wollongong; Wagga Wagga; Albury

Australian Red Cross Society

WA Western Australia Perth

NSW Sydney Sydney Settlement Services International Limited

Regional NSW Newcastle; Coffs Harbour; Armidale

QLD Brisbane and Surrounds

Brisbane; Gold Coast; Logan; Toowoomba

MDA Ltd

North Queensland Cairns; Townsville

NT Northern Territory Darwin Melaleuca Refugee Centre

SA South Australia Adelaide; Mount Gambier AMES Australia

TAS Tasmania Hobart; Launceston

VIC Melbourne Melbourne

Regional Victoria Mildura; Shepparton; Geelong; Wodonga

Contract regions and settlement locations are set out in the following national map:

Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) Contract Regions

Regional SettlementThe majority of clients choose to settle in Australia’s state and territory capital cities as they have links (family or proposers) residing there which can provide important social support to help build a life in Australia. However, as regional settlement is a priority for the Australian Government, DSS settles clients in regional areas across Australia where appropriate. By settling clients in regional locations, the Department aims to not increase the concentration of settlement in metropolitan locations, where a high demand and competition for services may already exist.

As the composition of the Humanitarian Program is continually in flux and cohorts change over time, the Department may seek to review and develop additional regional locations for settlement of clients. Factors taken into account when selecting settlement locations include:

Availability of mainstream services, such as health and education Opportunities for employment The size and ethnic/cultural/religious composition of potential settlement

communities The potential for the harmonious settlement of the specific group

On 11 August 2017, Armidale was announced as a new regional settlement location for humanitarian entrants, increasing the number of designated regional humanitarian entrant settlement locations to 19. The humanitarian entrants being settled in Armidale reflect the current focus of the Australian Government on resettling people affected by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Armidale has the requisite community support, employment opportunities, mainstream services, settlement services and infrastructure to support effective settlement. Within the Armidale region there are many opportunities for unskilled and rural employment, as well as opportunities for those people who attain qualifications in various fields of health care, such as aged and disability, child care and social work.

Humanitarian entrants commenced arriving in Armidale in February 2018. The Department is aiming to settle a minimum of 200 entrants in Armidale by 1 July 2018.

OutcomesThere are nine Foundational Outcomes covered by the HSP:

Clients remain in the HSP until they have achieved the outcomes set out in their Case Management Plan. Most clients achieve these outcomes within 18 months of their arrival in Australia.

Case ManagersThe case manager builds a trusting working relationship with clients to encourage their strong participation in the HSP and support early intervention in emerging issues. Clients have one case manager who is the central point of contact and assumes overall responsibility for the management of the delivery of HSP services.

In response to reports and feedback from Service Providers under the HSS program, the HSP has implemented improved qualification requirements for case managers.

HousingPhysical and Mental Health and Well-being

Managing Money

Community Participation

and Networking

Family funcitoning and Social Support

Justice

Language Services

Education and Training Employment

Case managers must have, as a minimum, one of the following qualifications:

Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) or Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Community Services)

For Specialised and Intensive Services (Tier 3 Clients), social workers must be engaged to work with the Client for all HSP Services. Social workers must have, as a minimum, one of the following qualifications:

Bachelor of Social Work or Bachelor of Psychological Services

Service Delivery PrinciplesHSP service providers must deliver HSP services to clients in accordance with, and in a manner that promotes, the following principles:

Professionalism – Service Providers must provide HSP Services with appropriately trained and skilled Case Managers and personnel who deliver HSP Services in accordance with relevant professional and industry standards, codes and guidelines.

Collaboration – Service Providers must work collaboratively with community service providers and professionals involved with a Client to ensure the best possible Settlement Outcomes for each Client. Service Provider personnel must communicate effectively, and work transparently, cooperatively and professionally with any other case managers or professionals who deal with the Client.

Resourcefulness – Service Providers must draw upon all available resources, both formal and informal, to provide support to Clients in the most cost effective manner.

Confidentiality – Client confidentiality must be maintained at all times in accordance with legislative and contract requirements.

Culturally Appropriate – Service Provider personnel must have the skills to work appropriately with Clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Service Providers must be sensitive to, and respectful of, the cultural and linguistic background as well as the spiritual/religious values of Clients. Information must be communicated accurately and appropriately to Clients and Clients must have the opportunity to communicate theirs needs in the language of their choice.

Accountability – Service Providers must ensure that HSP Services, including subcontracted and purchased services, are delivered to the standard of skill, care and diligence expected of an expert professional provider of similar services and in accordance with these Service Delivery Principles.

Innovation – improvements in service delivery must be made by Service Providers wherever possible by identifying and responding to gaps and

barriers, and maximising effective use of these resources.

3. Grants for Community SettlementSettlement GrantsSettlement Grants is a key program in the suite of settlement services to support both humanitarian entrants and other permanent migrants in their first five years of life in Australia. Settlement Grants fills an important purpose in the post-HSP period for humanitarian entrants, and for other migrants who do not have other family and community support to rely on. Settlement Grants focus on fostering social and economic participation, personal well-being, independence and community connectedness.

Settlement Grants has delivered services to over 67,000 clients from 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2017. Of these clients, 10.8 per cent were from Syria and 15.2 per cent were from Iraq

The design of the Settlement Grants program has recently been enhanced and applications for grants under the new program will be sought in coming weeks.

Career Pathways PilotNewly-arrived humanitarian entrants with existing professional or trade skills or qualifications may encounter barriers to employment due to issues associated with skills and qualifications recognition. The Career Pathways Pilot provides tailored career support to humanitarian entrants.

From 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2017, 54 per cent of clients accessing the Career Pathways Pilot were from Syria and 29 per cent were from Iraq.

Youth Transition Support PilotStarting a new life in a new country is a challenge. Young refugees and vulnerable migrants often need extra help and support to become and stay connected in their new community. The Youth Transition Support (YTS) pilot helps young humanitarian entrants and vulnerable migrants aged 15-25 to participate in work and education. It improves workplace readiness, provides access to vocational opportunities, and creates strong social connections through education and sports engagement.

YTS providers delivered intensive services to 3,581 vulnerable clients from 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2017. Of these clients, 28 per cent were from Iraq and 19 per cent were from Syria.

4. Translating & Interpreting Services (TIS National)

Free Interpreting ServiceThe Department funds the Free Interpreting Service to assist people with low English language proficiency to access key services that are not government funded.

The Free Interpreting Services can be accessed by:

Medical Practitioners Pharmacies Non-government organisations Real estate agencies

Local government authorities Trade unions Parliamentarians

The Free Interpreting Service is delivered by TIS National. 248,753 Free Interpreting Services were provided in 2016-17.

DSS is undertaking a promotions campaign to try to raise awareness and usage of the service, particularly by medical practitioners. From October 2017, over 6,500 resource packages have been distributed, via the Primary Health Networks, to medical practices across Australia. The resource package included posters, brochures, step-by-step infographic guides, cards and stickers.

DSS is also working with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia to raise awareness of the service amongst culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Free Translating ServiceThe Free Translating Service allows people settling permanently in Australia to have up to ten personal documents translated into English. The service aims to support participation in employment, education and community engagement.

In July 2017, the Free Translating Service moved to an online delivery model. The new website was developed in line with the Australian Government’s Digital Service Standard. It is simple to use and available in English, Arabic, Farsi and simplified Chinese.

12,502 documents were translated through the service in 2016-17.

During 2016-17, increasing arrivals of Syrian/Iraqi humanitarian entrants saw the number of translations provided to humanitarian entrants more than double, along with a significant increase in the number of documents translated from Arabic.

Other Department of Social Services Programs

The Department also provides other programs to the Australian community, including humanitarian entrants. Relevant programs include the Support for Trafficked People program and DES

Support for Trafficked People programThe Support for Trafficked People Program is a key component of Australia’s anti-human trafficking strategy. The Support Program provides assistance to all victims of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, including forced marriage and forced labour.

Disability Employment ServicesDisability Employment Services (DES) assists eligible Clients with preparing for, finding and keeping a job. DES providers are a mix of large, medium and small, for-profit and not-for-profit organisations that are experienced in supporting people with disability as well as providing assistance to employers to put into place practices that support the employee in the workplace.

Other Australian Government ServicesOther Australian Government departments provide a range of ‘programs and services’ to assist community members, including migrants and humanitarian entrants. In some cases, programs are specifically designed to support migrants and humanitarian entrants. In other cases, there are Australian Government ‘mainstream services’ which are designed for all eligible community members, and migrants and humanitarian entrants have the same eligibility as other Australian permanent residents. Migrant and humanitarian entrant-focussed programs include the PASTT and the AMEP.

Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) – Department of HealthThe Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) provides specialised support services to those who are experiencing psychological or psychosocial difficulties associated with surviving torture and trauma before coming to Australia.

Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) – Department of Education and TrainingThe Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) provides up to 510 hours of free English language tuition to eligible migrants from the skilled, family and humanitarian visa streams, to help them learn foundation English language and settlement skills to enable them to participate socially and economically in Australian society.

The Department of Education and Training delivers AMEP at approximately 307 locations across Australia in major cities as well as rural and regional areas.

AMEP also provides free childcare services for under school-aged children, while clients participate in AMEP classes.

Historical data shows the take-up of AMEP among Syrian and Iraqi clients has increased from 15% in 2012-13to over 50% in 2016-17.

Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) – Department of Education and TrainingSkills for Education and Employment (SEE) provides up to 800 hours of free language, literacy and numeracy training to eligible job seekers, to help them to participate more effectively in training or in the labour force. Work experience is also available through some providers. It assists to contextualise training and improve the job seekers’ employability skills and knowledge.

Clients are job seekers and must be referred by the Department of Human Services or providers for jobactive, DES, the Community Development Program, Transition to Work and ParentsNext. Former AMEP clients may be eligible for SEE training once they have completed AMEP and if they are jobseekers.

Jobactive – Department of Jobs and Small Businessjobactive matches employers with job seekers, and assists job seekers to develop a Job Plan and search for work. It connects job seekers with employers and is delivered by a network of jobactive providers in over 1700 locations across Australia.

Department of Jobs and Small Business data shows increasing participation by Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants. First commencements in jobactive of Syrian/Iraqi-born humanitarian visa holders have increased from 33 in 2015, to 6,573 in 2017.

The average time that Syrian and Iraqi-born refugee via holders spent in employment services was 33 weeks.

By 31 December 2017, 1,908 members from the Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian cohort had achieved job placements.

Income Support – Department of Human ServicesThe Australian Government provides a range of government benefits, payments, pensions and support services. Income support payments are a regular payment that help with living costs. Humanitarian entrants do not receive higher benefits than other social security recipients do and have the same entitlements as all other Australian permanent residents.

DHS data shows that the Australian Government are assisting some Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants with a range of ‘working age payments’ – including Austudy,

Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payments, Youth Allowance (apprentice/student/other), Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments.

DHS data also shows that Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants are actively engaged in mutual obligation activities. These are activities people must do to keep getting income support and have a better chance of finding work.

Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants in receipt of income support are undertaking mutual obligation activities such as participation in jobactive, AMEP, SEE and DES

National Settlement FrameworkIt is important to recognise that the Australian Government works closely with State/Territory and local governments in delivering services to humanitarian entrants. The 2016 National Settlement Framework is a high-level structural blueprint for Commonwealth, State and Territory and Local Government, to work in partnership to effectively plan and deliver services that support the settlement of migrants and new arrivals in Australia. The Framework sets out focus areas for the three tiers of government to regularly engage and work together in partnership on, and to collaborate with stakeholders.

The Framework can be accessed online at: https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/publications/national-settlement-framework

Syrian and Iraqi Humanitarian EntrantsOn 9 September 2015, the Australian Government announced that it would resettle an additional 12,000 refugees who were fleeing the conflict in Syria and Iraq. The decision represented a significant increase in Australia’s humanitarian intake. The 12,000 places were in addition to the existing ‘base’ Humanitarian Program of 13,750 places in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

The Australian Government committed $827 million to the Syrian and Iraqi refugee response over four years (2015-16 to 2018-2019), including $142 million to settlement services. The $142 million funded a range of settlement support for the additional entrants.

Priority for the additional places was given to people displaced by conflict in Syria and Iraq who were:

Assessed as being most vulnerable: persecuted minorities, women, children and families with the least prospect of ever returning safely to their homes

Located in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey

The additional intake included people from a range of religious, ethnic and other backgrounds. Applicants were required to meet all criteria for a humanitarian visa, including health, character and security checks before they entered Australia.

Humanitarian entrants who arrived from Syria and Iraq under the additional intake came to Australia as permanent residents and are eligible for the same benefits and support provided to people arriving under the base Humanitarian Program.

People from the additional 12,000 cohort began arriving in November 2015. All families have now arrived now arrived in Australia after the final visas under the additional intake were granted in March 2017. Between 1 July 2015 and 9 June 2017, the Department of Home Affairs granted 22,406 visas to people displaced by the conflict in Syria and Iraq under both the base Humanitarian Program and the additional 12,000 intake.

DSS data (from the Settlement Reporting Facility) shows that in the period between 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017, that among all permanent migrants to Australia, 6,653 permanent settlers in Australia were born in Iraq, and 4,211 were born in Syria. That is, in the 2017 calendar year, Iraqis were the 8 th largest migrant cohort, and Syrians were the 14th. The recent focus on Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants is particularly evident in the DSS SRF data on humanitarian entrant subset. DSS SRF data shows that Iraqis and Syrians rank first and second respectively among all humanitarian entrants in the 2017 calendar year. See tables overleaf.

Department of Home Affairs Community Liaison Officer information to DSS is that Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants are settling very well, considering challenges presented by their pre-migration experiences. Syrians and Iraqis face the normal post-arrival challenges associated with settling in Australia, but are making a very positive start to their new lives. See reports of two success stories attached.

Top 10 Countries of Birth of Permanent Settlers between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2017

Country of Birth^

Migration Stream

Grand TotalHumanitarian Family Skilled

India 99 9,221 39,010 48,330

China, Peoples Republic Of

83 12,776 23,815 36,674

Philippines 0 6,176 8,290 14,469

United Kingdom 0 4,985 7,971 12,959

Pakistan 409 1,862 7,065 9,336

Vietnam 0 5,577 3,147 8,727

Nepal 285 1,076 6,963 8,324

Iraq 5,528 966 159 6,653

Australia 186 128 5,447 5,761

Malaysia 152 1,558 3,155 4,865

Syria 3,711 362 138 4,211

Others 10,006 43,238 47,861 101,106

Top 10 Countries of Birth of Humanitarian Arrivals between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2017

Iraq 5,528

Syrian Arab Republic 3,711

Afghanistan 1,405

Myanmar 928

Iran 554

Thailand 412

Pakistan 409

Eritrea 360

Congo, Dem Republic Of The 333

Ethiopia 286

Employment opportunity with Australia for UNHCR spikes motivation of Syrian woman

An employment opportunity with Australia for UNHCR has significantly increased the outlook, self-esteem and motivation of a 20-year old Syrian woman who is new to Australia.

Joel Farayeh arrived in Australia as a refugee. Before she fled Syria to Lebanon with her family, Ms Farayeh was exposed to horrific circumstances. Bombs had been dropped around her hometown and her uncle was kidnapped by armed gangs. Her family is still uncertain of his whereabouts and safety.

In addition to receiving on arrival support through SSI’s Humanitarian Services Program (HSP), Ms Farayeh’s was also connected with the Refugee Employment Support Program (RESP), a service that addresses the challenges experienced by unemployed or underemployed refugees and people seeking asylum in finding sustainable and skilled employment opportunities.

During a settlement trip arranged by RESP, Ms Farayeh was introduced to the manager of the Youth Placement and Pathways Program (YPPP). She was given the opportunity to work at the SSI Campsie office as a participant of the program.

YPPP, which gives the opportunity to work, study, earn money and participate in extracurricular wellness activities, was a Launchpad for Ms Farayeh to improve her English, gain work experience in Australia and become job ready.

Ms Farayeh is now working part-time as an Office Administration Assistant with Australia for UNHCR and has paired this with further study in an online business course. She is grateful in having gained employment with an organisation focused on assisting refugees and people seeking asylum – an issue that is so close to her heart.

“I learned a lot from SSI. A lot of communication – customer service – I am improving my English and I have experience now in office, I am very very happy. I like Australia very much.” Ms Farayeh said.

Ms Farayeh’s story is inspirational as she was in the program for less than one month and as a direct result, has gained part-time employment in a highly credible organisation. Her attitude was consistently positive despite the immense hardships she faced when starting a new life in Australia.

Khaled’s story

Khaled arrived in Australia with his wife and three kids in June 2016, Navitas English was the Settlement organisation that assisted the family when they first arrived under the HSS program. The family exited Navitas in March 2017 and were referred to Northern Settlement Services.

Khaled started his employment pathway journey by participating in the Small Business Program, a collaboration between the Business Centre, Newcastle Local Council, Navitas and NSS. Through the program, Khaled received training on how to start his Shawarma Chicken Kebabs business. NSS then organised for Khaled and his wife (plus a group of other Syrian new arrivals) interested in food catering to complete a ‘Food Safety Supervision’ course at TAFE.

Khaled has since participated in various market events, gaining further experience and skills to successfully manage his business. He most recently participated in the Maitland ‘Riverlights’ festival, an event that was attended by over 11,000 people.

In addition to the above, Khaled has part-time employment at a local Oporto restaurant and attends TAFE three days a week to improve his English language skills.

The family is settling well in Newcastle, becoming increasingly independent, confident and successful.