Settlement support for refugees
After a refugee is granted permanent legal status in their country of asylum or in a third country, they may receive support to integrate and settle in the community. The settlement support provided to refugees in Australia varies depending on how they arrived in Australia and their visa type.
Refugees who are resettled to Australia receive support from the government to build their lives in Australia, called the ‘Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP)’. This is generally provided for 6 to 12 months after arrival. Refugees arriving in Australia through the refugee pathway are typically met at the airport and provided initial housing and information about emergency services. Following arrival, the support provided may include treatment for urgent health needs, referrals to relevant services, including torture and trauma counselling, English language courses, orientation classes, and assistance to find housing and employment.
Humanitarian entrants arriving under the Special Humanitarian Program are supported by a proposer in the community and therefore it is expected that the proposer will be responsible for their travel costs, accommodation, and other settlement needs.
Refugees who were granted a protection visa in Australia after seeking asylum may be eligible for English-language programs or for specialised intensive support if they have serious health needs or other complex barriers. They are not eligible for the broader range of settlement support provided under the HSP.
An independent review in 2019 found that the range of settlement services were poorly coordinated and did not offer holistic, end-to-end support allowing for successful social and economic integration. The review encouraged the government to invest further in assisting refugees to access the labour market and to capitalise on the significant community goodwill in Australia to support the settlement of resettled refugees and other humanitarian entrants.
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Last updated 25 February 2024