Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government’s multicultural strategy, Facing up to Racism: A Strategic Plan Addressing Racism and Unfair Discrimination 2004–2008, and the ACT Women’s Plan reflect the government’s commitment to access and equity in the delivery of services.

The establishment of the ACT Human Rights Commission on 1 November 2006 was another important step towards improving access and equity in the ACT. The commission’s vision is ‘working towards an ACT community where rights are respected and promoted, responsibilities are understood and access to quality services is protected’.

Between 2006 and 2008, the ACT Government established a program to reduce isolation and promote the inclusion of migrant women in the ACT community. It included a website, quarterly newsletter and leadership programs, one specifically for refugee women.

Another program aims to help women return to work and achieve increased financial independence, targeting women on low incomes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from some other cultural and linguistic backgrounds, young women and women with a disability.

The ACT Office for Ageing commenced a research project on the comparative social isolation of older people in the ACT. Issues relating to aging increasingly have cultural or linguistic dimensions.

The ACT Government offers free childcare for the children of Humanitarian Program entrants attending English language classes at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Between 2006 and 2008, the ACT Government also funded additional English language classes.

It has committed a pool of between six and eight housing properties, which are available on a short-term rotational basis under the Refugee Transitional Housing Program. With Companion House and Centacare, and with the support of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the ACT Government has designed this on-arrival accommodation for refugees with the view to eventual independent living. Companion House also provides counselling and health care services.

The ACT Government also supports Humanitarian Program entrants in other ways, including through free medical care (emergency and non-emergency) in the ACT’s public hospitals and additional health care concessions for ambulance, dental services and glasses or contact lenses.

A number of members of emerging African community groups, some of whom came to Australia as refugees, were supported through educational initiatives including computing and language skills courses at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Office space has also been provided by the ACT Government to these community groups at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre.