Fact Sheet 98 – Settlement Services For Refugees

What support do refugees receive when they arrive in Australia?

The Australian Government provides settlement support to around 13 750 refugees and others in humanitarian need who are granted visas under the Humanitarian Program each year. This includes people resettled under the Refugee Program, the Special Humanitarian Program and asylum seekers who are granted protection visas in Australia.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship administers the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) program which provides intensive settlement support to these clients on arrival, and throughout their initial settlement period. This support could include meeting them when they arrive, help finding suitable accommodation, initial orientation and a package of basic household goods such as simple furnishings, linen, some white goods and kitchen equipment. Clients are helped to gain access to Centrelink, Medicare, health services and banking as well as to understand Australian society, including Australian laws and culture. The department expects that most clients will have reached their initial settlement outcomes within 6–12 months after arrival.

Refugees are also provided with English language courses through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and may be referred, if required, to other specialist and mainstream services.

Along with HSS, refugees may be referred to migrant resource centres and organisations funded under the Settlement Grants Program (SGP). These programs help newly arrived refugees become self-reliant and participate in the Australian community as soon as possible.

The government allocated approximately $330 million in 2011-12 towards these direct settlement programs.
See:
Fact Sheet 66 – Humanitarian Settlement Services
Fact Sheet 94 – English Courses for Eligible Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants in Australia
Fact Sheet 92 – Settlement Grants Program

Do refugees receive more than other Australians?

There have been a number of concerns raised within parts of the Australian community that more assistance is provided to refugee entrants than to other Australians, such as pensioners. There is no truth to these claims.

Refugees do not receive higher benefits than other social security recipients. They have the same entitlements as all other Australian permanent residents. Refugees do not have their rental bonds automatically paid for by the government, nor do they receive a lump sum payment from the government upon arrival.

What income support do refugees receive?

When refugees arrive in Australia through the Humanitarian Program, they can immediately gain access to income support payments under the same eligibility criteria as any other Australian permanent resident.

At present, the maximum fortnightly rate for the age pension, disability support pension and carer payment is $689.00* for a single person. The maximum fortnightly rate for Newstart allowance and special benefit is $486.80* for a single person with no children.

* Effective from September 2011. More information is available on the Centrelink website.
See: Centrelink

Where do refugees settle?

Refugees are often located close to family members or their proposers living in Australia. If they do not have links in Australia they are settled, where possible, in regional locations that provide the best access to reasonable housing and employment prospects.

Further information about the role of proposers can be found in the 'Proposing an Applicant' page.
See: Proposing an Applicant

Are refugees accommodated in public housing?

Refugees must meet the same requirements as other Australians to be eligible for public housing. They are not given preferential treatment and must remain on waiting lists, as do other Australians in need of public housing.

Are refugees taught English?

Eligible migrants and refugees are entitled to up to 510 hours of English tuition under the AMEP. This helps them settle more effectively in Australia by giving them skills to engage with the community at large, and to find work.

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National provides free interpreting services to non-English speaking Australian citizens and permanent residents communicating with approved groups and individuals including doctors in private practice and pharmacies.
See:
Fact Sheet 94 – English Courses for Eligible Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants in Australia
Fact Sheet 96 – Eligibility for Settlement Services
Fact Sheet 91 – Translating and Interpreting Service

Why are refugees brought to Australia from other countries?

Australia has a Humanitarian Program because, as a member of the international community, we share responsibility for protecting refugees worldwide and for resolving refugee situations.

The Humanitarian Program helps people who are subject to persecution or substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home countries and have fled their home country. It is one element in a whole-of-government approach to addressing humanitarian situations.

The program helps people in humanitarian need resettle in Australia and rebuild their lives while also making a contribution to the diversity and prosperity of Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program

What about asylum seekers who arrive by boat—do they receive more than other refugees or Australian citizens?

Asylum seekers who arrive by boat and are found to be owed protection are granted protection visas under the Humanitarian Program and are provided with the same entitlements as any other newly arrived refugee.

What help do asylum seekers receive?

Asylum seekers in Australia are not eligible to receive financial assistance through Centrelink. In response to the needs of asylum seekers, the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme (ASAS) was created in 1992 by the Australian Government to address Australia’s obligations under the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

ASAS is administered by the Australian Red Cross under contract to the department. ASAS provides financial assistance to asylum seekers in the community who satisfy specific eligibility criteria. ASAS also facilitates access to casework assistance and other support services for asylum seekers through the Australian Red Cross.
See: Fact Sheet 62 – Assistance for Asylum Seekers in Australia

Are refugees given health checks?

All refugees resettled in Australia are subject to strict health, character and national security checks before being granted a visa. This is consistent with the requirements to be met by all applicants for an Australian permanent visa.

What do refugees contribute?

Refugees arriving in Australia naturally face challenges in adjusting to the Australian way of life. Despite these challenges, most refugees and their families settle successfully and make a positive contribution to the Australian community. The significant contribution refugees make to Australia, however, has not always been understood.

Professor Graeme Hugo from the University of Adelaide, on behalf of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, has examined the variety of ways in which refugees and other humanitarian entrants contribute to Australian society.  Professor Hugo’s research shows that these people make an important contribution to Australia in many areas including social engagement, workforce participation, business ownership and volunteering within the community.  He found that most refugee families, especially those in the second generation, are able to adjust effectively over time and eventually match and in many cases exceed Australian-born levels of economic and social contribution.

Some of Australia's more prominent former refugees include research biologist Sir Gustav Nossal, stand-up comedian Anh Do and his filmmaker brother Khoa Do, artist Judy Cassab and 2009 Victorian Australian of the Year, African-Australian community leader, Dr Berhan Ahmed.
See: A Significant Contribution: The Economic, Social and Civic Contributions of First and Second Generation Humanitarian Entrants (1.9MB PDF file)

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 98. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last reviewed December 2011.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2010.