Fact Sheet 67 - The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program
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Overview
The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program is provided to refugee and humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia. The Program provides practical advice and the opportunity to ask questions about travel to and life in Australia. It is delivered overseas, before they begin their journey.
The Program is the beginning of the settlement process for people coming to Australia under the Humanitarian Program. AUSCO is available to all refugee and humanitarian visa holders over the age of five. The course is delivered over five days to ensure that all topics are covered in sufficient detail.
As at 30 June 2008, there have been around 1300 courses held in Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Romania, the Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe assisting over 25 700 people.
Refugee and humanitarian visa holders are eligible to receive specialised settlement support upon arrival through the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS).
See: Fact Sheet 66 - Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy
Program objectives
AUSCO is designed to:
- prepare visa holders for travel
- enhance settlement prospects
- create realistic expectations for their life in Australia
- provide information about Australian laws, values and lifestyle.
Program delivery
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is currently contracted to deliver the course on behalf of the department.
The IOM is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration by providing services and advice to governments and to migrants. The IOM has about 400 offices in over 120 countries across the world.
AUSCO Program Consultative Committee
The department has established an expert consultative committee comprising refugee advocates, educational specialists, IHSS providers, law enforcement and community groups as well as recently arrived refugee and humanitarian entrants. The committee assists in the development of curriculum materials and teaching resources for the AUSCO program.
Curriculum
The course is tailored for delivery to four separate groups – adults, youth, children and pre–literate people. In addition there are Family Day sessions for all family members.
The curriculum is designed to give participants confidence and independence starting their new lives in Australia, and is an opportunity for them to meet others making the same journey.
Topics covered during the course include:
- an overview of Australia including government, geography and climate
- travel to Australia including arrangements for the airport, the flight, transit and arrival
- settling in, including on-arrival assistance
- cultural adjustment, including communication and behaviour
- healthcare including Medicare, hospitals, immunisation and preventative health
- education including learning English, schools, teritary and community education
- finding a job including Centrelink, Job Network, recognition of overseas qualifications and experience and Australian working conditions
- money management including banking, budgeting, taxation and credit
- housing including renting and household management arrangements
- public transport and driver’s licences
- Australian law, values and citizenship
- access to torture and trauma counselling
AUSCO teachers utilise a variety of teaching methods throughout the course including brainstorming, simulations, case studies, debates, discussions, problem solving and role plays.
The department also provides classroom and reference materials such as videos and DVDs, maps, posters, newspapers, and books about Australia.
A student handbook is supplied to participants and provides information on all AUSCO topics. This is available in various client languages and was last updated in July 2008.
Participants are also given copies of the Beginning a Life in Australia booklet which is available in 37 community languages on the department's website.
See:
Beginning a Life in Australia
Review and improvement
The AUSCO curriculum resources are monitored and updated regularly to ensure that they are relevant for the target audience and presented in an interesting and culturally appropriate way.
The department has also partnered with the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program. The partnership supports three AYAD staff to assist the IOM in Thailand on projects to improve the delivery of the AUSCO course.
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 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.
Fact Sheet 67. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 17 November 2008.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.