Services for refugees and asylum seekers
General support
Refugee Council of Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia is a non-profit organisation with information on and advocacy for refugees and humanitarian entrants. It is not a part of the Australian Government.
81-85 Barry Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: (03) 9348 2245
Fax: (03) 9342 9799
Email: melbourne@refugeecouncil.org.au
Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Ecumenical Migration Centre
The Brotherhood of St Laurence provides a full range of services including job training and placement programs, care for the elderly and people with disabilities, early childhood development programs and support services for newly arrived refugees and migrants. They deliver these services over a large area spanning from Craigieburn in Melbourne’s north, through inner Melbourne and down to Frankston on the Mornington Peninsula.
67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Vic 3065
Tel: (03) 9483 1183
Fax: (03) 9417 2691
Email: info@bsl.org.au
The Ecumenical Migration Centre
Attached to the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the EMC specialises in the delivery of services to migrants. The centre also builds bridges into mainstream services and opportunities.
95-97 Brunswick Street , Fitzroy Vic 3065
Tel: (03) 9416 0044
Fax: (03) 9416 1827
Email: svassos@bsl.org.au
Accommodation
The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy
The IHSS provides intensive initial settlement support to newly arrived refugees. This includes helping entrants to find appropriate and affordable accommodation and provides them with basic household goods to start establishing their own household in Australia.
Asylum Seeker Project – Hotham Mission
Works with asylum seekers in the community lawfully awaiting an outcome on their refugee or humanitarian claim, providing free housing, pay for emergencies and monthly cash relief.
2/579 Queensberry St, North Melbourne, 3051
Tel: 03 9326 8343
Fax: 03 9326 7470
Email: asp@sub.net.au
Translation
Translating and Interpreting Service
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/help_with_translating/
This Federal Government funded 24-hour 7 day a week telephone and on-site interpreting and translating service covers most community languages.
Tel: 131 450
Health
Victorian Refugee Health Network
www.refugeehealthnetwork.org.au
The network brings a range of health and community services together in order to respond to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers. Services listed included:
- Royal Melbourne Hospital: Victorian Infectious Disease Service Immigrant/Refugee Clinic on Tuesday mornings from 9.00 to 12.00. Tel: (03) 9342 7212.
- Dandenong Hospital Outpatients: Refugee Health Clinic on Monday afternoons from 1.30 to 4.30. Tel: (03) 9554 1000.
- Geelong Hospital ID Outpatients: Immigrant/Refugee Clinic on Tuesday mornings. Tel: 5226 7254.
NSW Refugee Health Service
http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/sswahs/refugee/default.htm
Gives health information to refugees and provides clinical assessments and referrals, particularly for recent arrivals.
Suite 5, Level 2, 157-161 George St, Liverpool NSW 2170
Tel: 02 8778 0770
Fax: 02 8778 0790
Email: refugeehealth@swsahs.nsw.gov.au
The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Trauma and Torture:
FASSTT is a national network of Australia’s eight specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma who have come to Australia from overseas.
6 Gardiner St, Brunswick, Victoria, 3056
Tel: 03 9389 8932
Fax: 03 9387 0828
Email: admin@fasstt.org.au
Legal
Non-government organisations offering legal advice to refugees and asylum seekers include:
Refugee Advice and Casework Service, Sydney
Level 12, 173-175 Phillip Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Tel: (02) 9114 1600.
Refugee Immigration and Legal Centre, Melbourne
Level 1, 121-123 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065
Tel: (03) 9413 0101 (Reception)
(03) 9413 0100 (Advice Line, open Wednesdays 10.00 to 4.00 and Fridays 2.00 to 4.00)
Refugee and Immigration Legal Service, Brisbane
170 Boundary Street, West End, Queensland, 4101
Tel: (07) 3846 3189
CASE for Refugees, Perth
245 Sterling Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Tel: (08) 9227 7311
Migration
Australia’s Department of Education and Citizenship
This government department offers information about settling in Australia and how to make an application for citizenship.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
Makes recommendations about refugees’ suitability for resettlement to Australia.
Employment
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