The project provides practical settlement services to recently arrived families and humanitarian entrants to help them become self-reliant and involve in wider Australian society. This is done through delivering casework / management services, orientatations, providing a mix of individual and community based information targeting specific needs, and developing community development strategies to build capacities. The project also helps clients get access to mainstream services such as Centrelink, Medicare, educational, training, employment and accommodation.

The project have helped families and community members solve all sorts of settlement issues and problems they confronted with in their early stage settling in Australia. Through partnership and joint programs and activities, the project has established extensive / close relationships with other organizations and agencies.

Project Worker
Ahmad Ali

Afghan project focus on Dari / Farsi / Pashtu speakers who are newly arrived and/or humanitarian entrants within the Auburn SLA. It aims to improve access to mainstream services through casework and information sessions. Clients increased their self-esteem and self confidence through increased English level and communication skills from the language classes. They also gained valuable life skills such as sewing and gardening, applied for housing assistance and got access to case work and financial help (vouchers).

The project targets refugee and humanitarian entrants from African backgrounds with a focus on Sudanese, and Sierra Leonean women. The aim of the project is to improve client access to mainstream services through case work, group information sessions and cultural transition activities.

One of the challenging issues has notably been the emerging issues challenging young people in particular African young women. This will be highlighted with our funding bodies as an area of potential growth in terms of service needs for clients. Although the journeys of our clients continue to be challenging, it is with great hope that the provision of services from ADSi are enhanced to meet the changing and variable needs of the communities that we service. Networking and ongoing support from our community partners and stakeholders have been detrimental to the sustainability of this project and I wish to acknowledge this ongoing support.

This project focuses on improving access to mainstream services through casework and provides information sessions to eligible Arabic speaking clients with a special focus on Iraqis. Information sessions may include such topics as the Australian political and legal systems, changing gender roles, health and social isolation.

Clients who come to ADSi needing assistance from this project are usually stressed, depressed, need urgent help with settlement issues such as: housing, legal support, family reunion, form filling, medical and health, tenancy and information about the Australian system. Now most clients are able to access the services provided and have knowledge about settlement and mainstream services and programs that are available for newly arrived entrants in living in the Auburn LGA and surrounding suburbs.

The project aims to improve access to mainstream services through information sessions, referrals, casework, group workshops, advocacy and cultural transition activities to eligible Humanitarian clients in Auburn LGA. ADSi works collaboratively with other services through the provision of relevant information or training to ensure the service providers are aware and understand humanitarian clients’ needs, increasing the availability and accessibility of the services.

Community development and capacity building are the key elements of this project. Various activities and short courses are provided to clients through partnerships with other organizations.

Regular community consultation meetings were held to provide feedback from clients and other stakeholders. This is to ensure ADSi provides most relevant and appropriate services to its clients.

Immigration Assistance Project aims to provide assistance for newly arrived Humanitarian entrance. The project conduct information sessions by registered migration agent for clients to inform them about general policy and options for family members and the application process. It also provides casework to assist clients to sponsor family members to Australia. Casework involves:

• Advising clients of most appropriate visa options.
• Country and legal research.
• Preparing visa application.
• Gathering supporting documentary evidence.
• Lodgement of the application.
• Referral for ongoing support if required.

The SGP Housing project provides assistance and information to those permanent residents* (Humanitarian & Family migrant visa )who have arrive in Australia in the last five years and are homeless or at risk of homelessness to access accommodation.

Services include,

• Assisting clients to access crisis or short term accommodation
• Assisting clients to apply for social housing assistance and private rental properties
• Providing relevant information related to housing issues
• Providing support, referral, assistance and advocacy to clients who are experiencing tenancy issues
• Conducting group information sessions to assist clients in accessing  housing services and understanding tenants’ rights

The Women’s Project focuses on the settlement needs of newly arrived refugee and humanitarian entrant women; including issues relating to housing, family communication, women’s health and self esteem & confidence building. This is achieved through direct casework services, referrals, advocacy, information sessions and workshops.

Casework services can be provided directly in Dari/Farsi/Pashtu, as well as other languages with the assistance of translating and interpreting services.