Refugee and Settlement Program
Refugees are often subject to hardship and suffer extreme emotional trauma prior to arrival. Upon arrival, they face the challenge of fitting into unfamiliar surroundings that lack the social and cultural networks of their home country. Settlement can be further impaired due to barriers to social inclusion, such as lack of English verbal and literacy skills, recognition of previous education and work experience, understanding of Australian customs and way of life and financial support.
CatholicCare’s Refugee and Settlement Program provides settlement support services to refugee and humanitarian entrants from Africa, South East Asia and Middle Eastern countries. We help new settlers address isolation and social disadvantage, limited economic resources and the language and literacy barriers they experience when trying to access community services. CatholicCare also provides material aid such as furniture, clothing and bedding.
Through the traditional village-like groups, participants are taught life skills such as cooking, healthy eating, sewing, computing, personal care, transport, laundry, banking and money handling, shopping, tenancy, medication, emergency support services and English language skills.
CatholicCare also provides information and referrals such as maternal and health services, parenting programs, housing and employment support, domestic violence, family mediation, access to women’s refuges, the justice system and foster care.
The No Interest Loans Scheme provides financial assistance so refugee job seekers can address their employment barriers. Financial literacy education is provided in conjunction with English language skill development, helping participants understand financial management in Australia. We support children and young people through services such as the homework support program for primary and secondary school students.
CatholicCare has recently established a three year pilot project to train 120-150 refugee job seekers in gardening and landscaping . By building on the Burmese (Karen and Chin) and African refugees’ prior farming experience, we are providing further knowledge of basic horticulture, permaculture and use of water-efficient garden systems for designing and maintaining water-efficient organic vegetable and herb gardens.
CatholicCare’s approach is based on listening and working with the refugee communities to provide culturally sensitive services and a range of innovative programs.
Click here to read a 'Sudanese Family Ripped Apart by War Reunited In Suburban Melbourne', a story from The Age newspaper.
CatholicCare also offers an African Dads and Kids Program which is designed to encourage healthy, open and respectful communication between the parents and children of the recently arrived African refugee community. Click here for more information.
