scoa maia

The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) opposes the proposed extension of the Newly
Arrived Residents Waiting Period (NARWP). These changes will have negative impacts on the
Australian economy, social cohesion in communities, and the wellbeing of Australian migrants.
The pre-COVID success of Australia’s economy is by no means an accident, instead, it is built
on one of the key pillars of sustained economic growth: a well-executed and supported
migration program. This program has financially supported Australians since the last major
global crisis, the Second World War, and is crucial to our recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition, the notion that permanent residents are to be taxed the same rate as
citizens whilst receiving no social support from the government taxing them contravenes the
notions of fairness Australia is built on, with substantial impacts on Australia’s social cohesion
as a result.

The Department of Home Affairs is consulting on proposed reforms to the AMEP business model, expected to commence in 2023. Our submission details our response to questions in the Discussion Paper.
Our feedback has been developed through consultations with our members, including AMEP providers and settlement service providers, with the view that the AMEP is an essential component of achieving good settlement outcomes. In our response we consider the need to empower AMEP providers to deliver quality services, as well as to ensure all settlement programs work together to achieve the same end goal of good settlement.

MultiLink Community Services is a multi-disciplinary community organisation providing Settlement (SETS), Youth (ReconnectNAYS), Aged Care, Disability (NDIS), Employment & Training, Community Engagement & Capacity building and Financial Wellbeing services across South-East Queensland.

Australia’s Humanitarian Program is a core component of our migration program that ensures Australia meets our humanitarian
commitment to resettle refugees. Australia’s world-class settlement services play a crucial role
in supporting humanitarian entrants as they begin their life in Australia.

City of Stirling partners with SecondBite and Coles to collect and distribute food to share with newly arrived migrants and refugees who need it. Community-based volunteers are essential to supporting the success of this program. 

Allianz Australia and SSI’s award-winning partnership has been delivering new education and career opportunities for refugees and migrants since 2016. It is a holistic partnership, with co-designed programs across a wide range of activities that also directly engages and connects hundreds of Allianz staff with the settlement journey.

The Talking Around The World program, starting in 2016, offers free weekly conversation classes that focus on discussions and information in line with the National Settlement Outcome Standards (NSOS). Participants can learn and practice language and vocabulary around the 10 NSOS topics in an Australian context. 

Football Victoria and Melbourne Polytechnic worked together to provide accessible football/soccer programs for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to support their learning and physical and mental wellbeing.

In 2020 CRSI initiated, led and coordinated the implementation of a pilot ‘Group Mentorship’ program along with a range of collaborating organisations. The program aimed to harness the energies of local community groups to provide self-directed and holistic support for refugee households who arrived in Australia prior to the pandemic drawing on key features of Canada’s successful and long-standing community sponsorship program for refugees.