DIMIA Annual Report 2002-03
OUTCOME TWO OUTPUT ITEMS
OUTPUT 2.1 - SETTLEMENT SERVICES
2.1.1 Settlement Planning and Information Delivery
Performance Information
| OUTPUT COMPONENT | MEASURES | RESULTS |
| 2.1.1 - Settlement Planning and Information Delivery | Quantity: Annual report to Ministerial Council covering State and Territory Settlement Planning Committees. |
The usual annual report on State and Territory Settlement planning Committees' progress towards addressing national and local settlement priorities and the National Settlement Project was overtaken by discussion of the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants in June 2003. |
| Quality: Satisfaction of Ministerial Council and Stakeholders. |
The annual report was not considered in 2002-03. The Ministerial Council noted the new directions for settlement, outlined in the Review, including the recommendations for Settlement Planning Committees and that there would be ongoing consultation on the implementation of the Review of Settlement Services. |
Objective
To provide a planning framework for the delivery of settlement services and information for recently arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants which complements the services governments provide direct to all Australian residents.
Description
The primary settlement planning framework is the National Integrated Settlement Strategy (NISS) which links a number of planning structures to address settlement issues.
The NISS aims to facilitate improved coordination and cooperation across levels of government and non-government agencies in meeting migrant service needs.
The key organisational elements at the national level are the Ministerial Council and the Standing Committee on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC).
At the state/territory and local levels are the state and territory and regional Settlement Planning Committees (SPCs).
The state and territory based SPCs consist of representatives from Commonwealth, state and local government agencies and representatives of non-government agencies that provide settlement services.
Each year the committees develop their settlement plans to address local settlement priorities.
Analysis of Performance
Report of the Review of Settlement Services
The Report of the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants found that, while the concept of integrated planning remained relevant, the NISS had not yet realised its potential because of a lack of shared understanding of its objectives, scope and priorities.
The review recommended a more pro-active, regionally based planning process for DIMIA funded settlement services, which is supported by improved data analysis capacity and more open communication and consultative arrangements, and which is used as a basis for seeking grant applications.
A report on the outcome of the review was provided to the Ministerial Council for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in June 2003.
RRAC acted as an external reference group to the review.
The review was a major focus of the RRAC meetings in 2002-03 and individual members attended the review consultations in their states.
RRAC members will continue to provide advice directly to the Minister in relation to issues arising from the review and will be available to act as one avenue through which stakeholders can provide comment and input.
Mrs Jeannie Mok from Queensland joined RRAC in 2002-03, following the resignation of Ms Michelle Nguyen.
National Settlement Project for 2002 and 2003
In November 2001 the Standing Committee on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs endorsed Promoting Awareness of Newly Arrived Young People, Particularly Refugees as the National Settlement Project for 2002.
RRAC identified young refugees as a potentially vulnerable group who may have difficulties accessing mainstream support services due to a range of cultural, health and language barriers.
An interdepartmental working party provided advice on the range of current Commonwealth settlement and youth programs and how these services may be brought together strategically to address the needs of refugee and newly-arrived young people settling in Australia.
As part of this national project, youth information pages were developed within the department's Settling in Australia web pages.
These pages provide links to both general and state/territory specific information on issues such as health, work, study, recreation and sport.
In November 2002 the Standing Committee on Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs endorsed Supporting Settlement in Rural and
Regional Australia, a National Settlement Project for Settlement Planning
Committees for 2003.
Information Available
The department's internet based statistical reporting facility known as the Community On-Line Database (COLD) was developed to provide statistical data on settler arrivals and location for use by government and community agencies in their planning and provision of migrant services.
The database provides an important tool for the planning, targeting and evaluation of settlement services which in turn contributes to improved service delivery for those migrants in need. There were 6,947 reports requested during 2002-03 (Fig.13).
The average number per month was 578 (an increase of 23 per cent) compared with 470 per month in 2001-02 when the service was first made available.
Figure 13: Settling in Australia (Cold Report Requests 2002-03)
The department has a range of information to assist individual migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants.
The state and territory Settlement Information Kits within the Settling in Australia web pages of the DIMIA website provide essential information to assist potential and newly arrived migrants and refugees settle in Australia.
The kits are updated twice a year and translated into 21 community language scripts.
The kits were accessed 208,238 times in 2002-03 compared to 123,723 in 2001-02, an increase of 68.5 per cent. This is an average of 17,300 times per month in 2002-03 compared with an average of 10,300 times per month in 2001-02.
Figure 14: Settlement Information Kits Comparison of website visits per month 2001-02 and 2002-03
The Settling in Australia web pages have continued to be updated as relevant information is identified and as new relevant sites are located on the internet.
This online information includes links to areas of important settlement concern such as employment, education, health services, housing and taxation.
The updated web pages under 'Service providers and agencies' includes:
- information on settlement publications and statistical reports
- recently released settlement related information that may be located on other websites
- information on government and non-government services for use by service providers who assist clients in rural and regional areas.