scoa maia

The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission response to the Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) Foundation Skills Study Discussion Paper. SCOA represents settlement agencies across Australia providing direct services to people of refugee and migrant background. We are the national peak body for settlement. Our goal is to help ensure the best possible settlement outcomes for migrants and refugees settling in Australia. Our submission is based on previous consultations conducted over the past 24 months, in which issues relating to foundation skills, digital literacy, and employment were raised across the SCOA network. SCOA conducted a targeted consultation for this submission with over 23 attendees from various member organisations in April 2023. Our submission feedback is mostly in response to this question:

From May 2022 – March 2023, Centacare FNQ’s project worked across six different regions of Queensland to develop a guide of engagement for working effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Their work was reflective of the lessons learned during the pandemic and informed by both frontline services and communities. They used their learned perspectives on how to build capabilities and respond to this next phase of ‘living with COVID-19’.

The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) is grateful for the opportunity to review the draft terms of reference (TORs) for the Australian Multicultural Framework Review. SCOA is the national peak body for settlement. We represent a community of members whose core work is helping people make Australia home. Settlement and multiculturalism are both fundamental concepts for our sector.

The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission to the House Select Committee Inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services. SCOA represents settlement agencies across Australia for people of refugee and migrant background, many of which provide employment support and services.

The Ukrainian Helping Hand Project was developed by STARTTS, Be Kind Sydney and the Ukrainian Council of NSW.

SCOA is happy to provide brief comments in relation to the ParentsNext program to the Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services based on our network’s experience working with migrant and refugee women.

The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s inquiry ‘Migration, Pathway to Nation Building.’

Settlement Council of Australia launched the Stories of Multicultural Australia Project during Harmony Week in March 2022. With more than 40 participants from across Australia, this project is training the next generation of diverse storytellers for media commentary and helping them shape the conversation on multicultural affairs in Australian news media.