Fact Sheet 64 - Community Assistance Support Program
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The Community Assistance Support (CAS) program provides assistance to lawful non-citizens living in the Australian community who hold bridging visas and meet the eligibility criteria listed below. CAS administers a range of services which focus on the wellbeing of people who hold bridging visas and have complex needs. These people must be clients of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship who are working with the department to resolve their immigration status.
The department's case management service assists clients who hold bridging visas to obtain a rapid resolution of their immigration status. Clients are generally eligible for case management services when one or more indicators of vulnerability are present, particularly in relation to the health and welfare of women, children and the elderly.
The case management service may refer a client to CAS if they are assessed as meeting specific eligibility criteria. CAS provides help to clients by arranging access to health and welfare services, providing financial assistance, and providing additional case management to resolve their immigration status.
CAS Eligibility criteria
CAS eligibility criteria target people who are vulnerable due to exceptional circumstances. To be eligible for CAS, clients must satisfy all of the following criteria:
- hold a bridging visa that is in effect; and
- have an unresolved immigration status and be cooperating with the department to resolve their immigration status; and
- be unable to access adequate support in the community or be unable to support themselves; and
- be highly vulnerable due to at least one of the following criteria:
- have a diagnosed mental health condition
- have a significant disability or serious health issue
- being an elderly person
- being a minor at risk of harm, including an unaccompanied minor
- suffering the effects of torture and trauma
- suffering domestic abuse or violence
- suffering impaired mental or physical ability
Client participation in CAS relies on their voluntary cooperation with the department to resolve their immigration status.
CAS and transition support
CAS can provide support to clients in their transition to the community after their release from immigration detention. The Australian Red Cross also provides these transition support services. Transition support helps clients settle in the community by ensuring clients are financially independent and able to access necessary community services. Transition support is available on a short term basis.
CAS and emergency funding
CAS clients may be eligible for emergency funding if they require immediate resolution of a hardship, or if there are limited options available for them to meet basic needs.
Emergency funding is provided only once as a timely and practical option to address an urgent need. It can include the following:
- essential healthcare and medical expenses
- emergency hospitalisation and ambulance expenses
- crisis accommodation
- an essential basic living allowance.
Community help
The Australian Red Cross is contracted as the lead agency in providing community help to referred clients.
The help provided depends on the client's individual needs and circumstances, but may include any or all of the following:
- help with basic living expenses
- help sourcing sustainable accommodation
- essential healthcare and medical expenses
- counselling
- other help to meet basic health and welfare needs.
Further information
Further information about the Case Management service is available on the department’s website:
See: Case
Management in DIMA (PDF file)
Contact CAS for further information about the CAS program.
Email: Community.Assistance.Support@immi.gov.au
Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au
The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Recorded information is available outside these hours.
Fact Sheet 64. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last reviewed November 2011.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.