Fact Sheet 66 - Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy

Under its Humanitarian Program, Australia helps thousands of refugees and others in need of humanitarian assistance. Many humanitarian entrants are traumatised by the experiences which have caused them to leave their home countries.

Australia's assistance to those in humanitarian need does not end at selecting people and granting visas for permanent stay in Australia. The Australian Government views successful settlement as a key objective of the Humanitarian Program and is committed to ensuring that people settling in Australia have the support and help to rebuild their lives and become fully functioning members of the Australian community.

Integrated Strategy

The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) delivered by the department provides initial, intensive settlement support to newly-arrived humanitarian entrants. IHSS service providers assess entrants to identify settlement needs, and deliver services to meet these needs in a coordinated way.

IHSS services are generally provided for around six months, but may be extended in particular cases. Volunteer groups also work with service providers to support entrants and assist them to settle into the local community.

IHSS services available

Services provided under the IHSS are:

• Case Coordination, Information and Referrals, which includes a case coordination plan based on an initial needs assessment, information about and referral to other service providers and mainstream agencies and help for proposers to fulfil their role of assisting SHP entrants
• On Arrival Reception and Assistance, which includes meeting eligible entrants on arrival, taking them to suitable accommodation, providing initial orientation and meeting any emergency needs for medical attention or clothing and footwear
• Accommodation Services, which helps entrants to find appropriate and affordable accommodation and provides them with basic household goods to start establishing their own household in Australia
• Short Term Torture and Trauma Counselling Services, which provides an assessment of needs, a case plan, referral for torture and trauma counselling and raises awareness among other health care providers of health issues arising from torture and trauma experiences.

When humanitarian entrants exit the IHSS, they are referred to general settlement services provided through migrant resource centres, migrant service agencies and organisations funded under the Australian Government’s Settlement Grants Program,which is also delivered by the department.
See: Settlement Grants Program

Eligibility

The IHSS provides intensive settlement support to refugees and Special Humanitarian Program entrants. The IHSS also provides access to Short Term Torture and Trauma Counselling for holders of Permanent Protection Visas (PPVs) when they access the services on entering the community.

Humanitarian entrants are eligible for IHSS services on a needs basis as shown in the table below.

IHSS Services	Refugee	SHP Entrants	PPV Holders	TPV/THV Holders
Case Coordination, Information and Referrals	y	y	n	n
On Arrival Reception and Assistance	y	y	n	n
Accommodation Services	y	y	n	n
Short Term Torture and Trauma Counselling	y	y	y*	y*

* PPV holders are eligible for Short term Torture and Trauma Counselling when they access the service upon first entering the community.

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 66. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 06 January 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.