FLN Refugee Support program( RSP)
The RSP offers responsive support and referral services to newly arrived migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. It focuses on building the knowledge and skills necessary for individuals to achieve independence as quickly as possible. We currently have more than 350 clients registered with this service. The program provides practical help including: � � information about other services and other supports advocacy to ensure new arrivals are able to access the services they need
� information about Education and training and;
� direct referral to appropriate services and programs
Through the year clients presented with a range of needs and issues that were often intertwined and which, if unsupported, had the potential for profound negative impact on health and wellbeing and for aggravating pre- existing issues related to migration( e. g. moving to a new country, learning a new language, absorbing a new culture). All factors that reduce capacity for independence and learning outcomes, significantly delaying the benefits of successful re-settlement. RSP clients during the year have included newly arrived migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum and people on temporary protection visas. These clients were originally from countries such as Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Vietnam, China and Afghanistan. On average, women use the service more than men and often they are young ad of working age, single and unemployed women with children.
The year has seen us assisting with a range of issues impacting negatively on newly arrived migrants and refugees. RSP clients were assisted with needs and issues arising from:-
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Housing needs – including homelessness, unsafe and unsuitable conditions involving overcrowding, violent and anti-social behavior and overall poor and unsanitary environments. To assist, we provided information about the public and private housing systems, helped with completion and submission for housing transfer requests, with lodging of complaints and referred to housing agencies.
Our work also involved undertaking advocacy with government departments and seeking assistance from local MPs on behalf of clients. �
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Centrelink Issues – Many RSP clients experience financial hardship including problems with Centrelink payments, Centrelink debts and lack of knowledge about the Centrelink system generally( e. g. eligibility, type of benefits and access, application forms and processes, letters disclosing details of benefits and requests etc.). If not addressed, these issues add more financial stress and hardship to people already experiencing barriers and disadvantage. In response our RSP worker assisted with information about Centrelink and the benefits system, supported clients with enquiries and assisted with the completion of applications and with the lodgment enquiries and complaints. Immigration matters: Migration and visa concerns, overseas family sponsorship requests( e. g. Humanitarian visas), Temporary Protection visas issues, permanent residency and Australian Citizenship requests and understanding of immigration rights were all matters presented by clients of the RSP. Referrals to free immigration legal agencies( e. g. Refugee Immigration Legal Centre), support with the completion of visa, passports and Australian citizenship applications( which were then referred back to legal agencies for checking) formed part of the general support and assistance provided.