FAQs

Refugees are regular people who, through no fault of their own, have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety. People often have little or no warning before they are forced from their homes due to war or persecution, and many refugees have to undertake dangerous journeys to reach safety.

They must leave behind their family, friends and most or all of their belongings, and they cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, to which Australia is a signatory, defines a refugee as: “Any person who owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country.”

This definition is used by the Australian Government to determine whether our country has protection obligations towards an individual. If a person is found to be a refugee, Australia is obliged under international law to offer protection and support and to ensure that they are not sent back unwillingly to the country of origin. (RCOA)

Newly arrived humanitarian entrants have overcome incredible challenges to call Australia home. Many have undertaken dangerous journeys in search of safety and most arrive on our shores with just a suitcase to their name.

Humanitarian entrants receive services that aim to help them overcome these challenges and reach their full potential in Australia. These services fall under a number of different categories outlined below.

Government assistance

Government assistance to help new arrivals to settle takes account of their essential needs and circumstances. Basic settlement information is provided to all migrants and humanitarian entrants before they migrate to Australia. It is expected that skilled migrants, and sponsors of family migrants, will undertake their own more detailed research into settlement issues and that these migrants will generally be able to settle into the community and into work without needing a high level of government support. In recognition of their special needs and circumstances, humanitarian entrants are the highest priority for government-funded settlement services.

Mainstream services

Migrants will generally use mainstream services provided by governments, community organisations and the private sector to address a number of their settlement needs. Many mainstream agencies, such as health and employment services, provide services to eligible migrants as they do to all eligible Australians, past the immediate settlement period.

Specialised settlement services

Specialised settlement services are designed specifically to assist refugees with their critical early settlement needs. Services are provided by governments, the private sector and community organisations. Some specialist services, such as torture and trauma counselling services, are directed towards the special needs of humanitarian entrants.

Some of the specialised settlement services include:

• Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
• Complex Case Support (CCS)
• Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS)
• Settlement Grants Program (SGP)
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)

The Humanitarian Support Program provides initial settlement support to families and individuals who have been granted a permanent visa under Australia’s humanitarian program. The Settlement Transition and Support Program provides services to humanitarian entrants once they have completed the Humanitarian Support Program.

A migrant is a person who makes a conscious choice to leave their country to seek a better life elsewhere. Before they decide to leave their country, migrants can seek information about their new home, study the language and explore employment opportunities. They can plan their travel, take their belongings with them and say goodbye to the important people in their lives. They are free to return home at any time if things don’t work out as they had hoped, if they get homesick or if they wish to visit family members and friends left behind.

Refugees are forced to leave their country because they are at risk of, or have experienced persecution. The concerns of refugees are human rights and safety, not economic advantage. They leave behind their homes, most or all of their belongings, family members and friends. Some are forced to flee with no warning and many have experienced significant trauma or been tortured or otherwise ill-treated. The journey to safety is fraught with hazard and many refugees risk their lives in search of protection. They cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves. (RCOA).

Newly arrived humanitarian entrants have overcome incredible challenges to call Australia home. Many have undertaken dangerous journeys in search of safety and most arrive on our shores with just a suitcase to their name.

Humanitarian entrants receive services that aim to help them overcome these challenges and reach their full potential in Australia. These services fall under a number of different categories outlined below.

Government assistance

Government assistance to help new arrivals to settle takes account of their essential needs and circumstances. Basic settlement information is provided to all migrants and humanitarian entrants before they migrate to Australia. It is expected that skilled migrants, and sponsors of family migrants, will undertake their own more detailed research into settlement issues and that these migrants will generally be able to settle into the community and into work without needing a high level of government support. In recognition of their special needs and circumstances, humanitarian entrants are the highest priority for government-funded settlement services.

Mainstream services

Migrants will generally use mainstream services provided by governments, community organisations and the private sector to address a number of their settlement needs. Many mainstream agencies, such as health and employment services, provide services to eligible migrants as they do to all eligible Australians, past the immediate settlement period.

Specialised settlement services

Specialised settlement services are designed specifically to assist refugees with their critical early settlement needs. Services are provided by governments, the private sector and community organisations. Some specialist services, such as torture and trauma counselling services, are directed towards the special needs of humanitarian entrants.

Some of the specialised settlement services include:

• Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
• Complex Case Support (CCS)
• Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS)
• Settlement Grants Program (SGP)
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)

The Humanitarian Support Program provides initial settlement support to families and individuals who have been granted a permanent visa under Australia’s humanitarian program. The Settlement Transition and Support Program provides services to humanitarian entrants once they have completed the Humanitarian Support Program.

No. A refugee who has permanent residency in Australia receives exactly the same social security benefits as any Australian resident in the same circumstances.

Australian citizens and permanent residents with dependent children on lower to middle incomes (including refugees) may also be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefits or Parenting Payments. However, none of these allowances are paid at a higher rate than the single age pension.

Refugees apply for social security through Centrelink like everyone else and are assessed for the different payment options in the same way as everyone else. The two-year waiting period for Centrelink eligibility that applies to other newly arrived permanent residents is waived for refugees and humanitarian entrants, in recognition of the fact that (unlike other migrants) they often arrive in Australia with few or no financial resources. However, Centrelink payments are calculated at exactly the same rate for both refugees and non-refugees and there are no separate Centrelink allowances that people can receive simply by virtue of being a refugee. (Parliament of Australia).

SMRC is a not-for-profit community based agency, in operation since 1993. We provide services to migrants and refugees living in the southern region of Melbourne, covering the local government areas of City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey and Shire of Cardinia and surrounding areas.

We provide support to people looking to apply for citizenship through our delivery of citizenship classes which include application information.

SMRC does not offer migration advice.

Yes, if you have multiple complex needs, we will make an assessment and determine your pathway.

Yes, we have multi-lingual staff and/or we use an interpreter service when needed.

We can provide information about how to look for housing and if necessary make referrals and links to a housing service.

A care plan is a plan where you and the SMRC coordinator discuss what you need and what you would like to get out of the service. Your care plan is reviewed annually or as your situation changes. We begin with a service assessment in order for us to look after you appropriately while you attend the program.

Yes, we encourage that you have a person to help you and act on your behalf if you feel you need this assistance. This may be a family member, friend or someone from the Advocacy Service. SMRC will always respect your rights when making a decision about your care and service provision.

SMRC provides a number of ethno-specific programs such as our social or outings groups. While many of these are culturally specific, anyone is free to join. It is recommended you know the language of the group you would like to join as many of these groups speak only in their own language.