The ‘Links for Life’ project worked in collaboration with a number of organisations around Tasmania to show participants the events and activities that have cultural significance in Tasmania and across Australia.
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into this inquiry. SCoA is the peak body representing the vast majority of settlement agencies across Australia providing direct services and support to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Our members include organisations large and small, who are committed to the successful settlement of migrants and refugees across the country. Their services range from greeting new arrivals at the airport, through to assisting them to secure housing, learn English, make social connections, access services and find their first job.
Migration has been widely heralded as key to Australia’s social and economic success. The foundation of this success has been the effective settlement of the migrants who have come through the migration program. The capacity and willingness of migrants to work hard to build a
new life in Australia ensures the migration program achieves the social and economic outcomes intended.
The Settlement Council of Australia puts forward in this pre-budget submission a proposal for increasing the economic participation of migrants and refugees in Australia. It is widely acknowledged that migration will be a key plank of the recovery from COVID-19.1 However, in order to maximise the benefits of migration, it is essential that the policy and program settings are optimised to promote independence and economic participation.