University Essay: Refugee Support Programs in Australia - HSW1000

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of refugee support programs in Australia, examining their historical evolution and current state. It delves into the socioeconomic determinants influencing refugee needs, analyzing the policies, community responses, and industrial developments that shape the landscape of support. The essay highlights key programs like the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) and the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS), while also addressing challenges such as the need for improved services for African refugees and the evolving focus on national security. The analysis covers the roles of government departments, such as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), and the importance of providing access to essential services for all humanitarian entrants. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to temporary migration and the protection of human rights, contributing to a deeper understanding of Australia's commitment to refugee support.

Running head: REFUGEE SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA
Refugee Support Programs in Australia
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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REFUGEE SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA
Australia has got a long history and evolution for supporting refugees and migrants I
needed assistance as well as accommodation. Australia has extended support programs in order
to cater to the needs of this people on humanitarian grounds. These programs and initiatives are
directed towards bringing harmony and coexistence in order to build a better community. These
services related to settlement programs so people migrating to Australia, has contributed
immensely to bring social coherence. The picture of the Australian society which provides
services and settlement programs to refugees have undergone a transformation in the last 60
years. It has evolved from basic accommodation to a wide range of services which are offered in
order to provide quality living and access to amenities which help to meet specific needs of these
people. Australia established its first Department of immigration in 1945 (Vaughan et al., 2016).
It has provided accommodation to more than 70,000 refugees for their humanitarian needs who
shifted to Australia from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and United Kingdom mostly.
These programs aim at accepting the people migrating to Australia as well as making
them participate to the economy of the country. These programs were laid out soon after the
World War II by the Commonwealth Government (Karlsen, 2016). However they have moved
towards multiculturalism by integrating diversity in the population through services and policies.
These programs include health services, tutorials for English language in order to build a
common tongue, and interpreting services to bridge the gap which persists. In the past 10 years,
these people have been made skilled, through different programs, taught English language and
focused largely on humanitarian entrants. Some refugees, who undergo these programs stay back
in Australia permanently while some return to their native origin or elsewhere (Earnest et al.,
2015). It often happens that the refugees who merely are seasonal migrants, become inadequately
benefited, whereas some emerge as highly skilled people under these programs. However, it will

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only get more challenging for Australia to consider and develop better services for these people
with varying needs, culture and ethnicity.
In the post-war period, in Australia, there were limited provision for assimilation. The
refugees had difficulties to blend in, as there were assistance for learning a common tongue and a
place a stay, in very less number. By the 1970s, the Australian government acknowledged the
need to provide scopes to these people and preserve their cultural identity (Gibbs & Block,
2017). The goals were replaced by the intention of integration and acceptance. The Department
of Immigration, run by the Australian government soon established programs and services such
as The Child Migrant Education Program, Translating and Interpreting Service and Committee
on Overseas Professional Qualifications in order to enhance the quality of living for these
migrants. In 1977, the Review of Post Arrival Programs and Services to Migrants, as reviewed
by the Galbally helped revised the policies and programs in order to move towards
multiculturalism. Multiculturalism operated as the force through the last decade of the 20th
century which helped in modifying the services and programs. These expansions collectively
contributed in building up better space for the refugees to find support and comfort for living.
The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS), which was introduced in 2000, ensures
services to the migrants on arrival (Alam & Imran, 2015). However, it still remains the carrier of
settlement assistance to the entrants who need programs in order to sustain and develop skills to
earn living in Australia.
In the past few decades, the focus has undergone evolution in order to promote tolerance,
acceptance and national security. The rising concern of threat to national security and tension
between the culturally diverse groups have shifted the focus to bring cohesion and harmony in
the society in order to avoid tumultuous outcomes. However, the administration has opted for

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stricter measures to Grant Visa which allows temporary and permanent settlement in Australia.
The agreement demands acknowledgement and adherence to the Australian values and laws to
stay and gain access to the refugee services. The government of Australia is trying to eradicate
extremism, violence and terrorism, which is rising everyday due to political and religious
extremism. The government in the review of 2003, addressed the demographic changes in
comparison to the formal process of government resettlement plans provided by other countries,
such as New Zealand, USA and Canada (Sampson, 2015). There are 14 countries participating
the resettlement program modelled by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) which allow the entrance of refugees annually. Australia resettled the highest number
of refugees in 2007, which amounted to be 64% of the total refugees, whereas, it was 13% in
case of Australia (Correa‐Velez, Barnett & Gifford, 2015). The review also outlined the
difficulties faced by the refugees and their varying experiences. It also highlighted scopes for
improving settlement services in terms of global standards. There can be better coordination
between the states and organizations which provide Commonwealth services in order to ensure
lesser chances of duplication.
Australia provides access to a wide range of services to the refugees which the people
having citizenships are allowed to exercise. The immigrants are provided with opportunities to
build network and find jobs as well as get help from agents who deal with real estates, in order to
find accommodation. However, it should also be noted that most of the immigrants do not
qualify to avail all the services which are offered (Allotry & Reidpath, 2018). Most of the
services only concern the humanitarian entrants who all comprise of a little proportion of the
total population is refugees. Therefore, the majority of the refugees do not get access to avail
most of the settlement services.

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The Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy comprises of services which are offered
to the immigrants on arrival, which come under the humanitarian program. These call generally
be availed for a period of six months, to recognize and meet the needs. It is noteworthy that these
get extended too, in exceptional conditions. The services which are provided under IHSS include
On Arrival Reception and Assistance, Short Term Torture and Trauma Counseling Services,
Accommodation Services and Case Coordination-Information and Referrals (Naidoo & Brace,
2017). The On Arrival Reception program intends to provide the basic amenities like medical
support, food and clothing at the initiate level of arrival. This also covers the emergency needs as
well as the orientation programs after meeting the eligible refugees. The immigrants are later
taken to places where they can get suitable accommodation for the time being. The Short Term
Torture and Trauma Counseling Services assesses the mental and emotional needs of the
immigrants and help them overcome the trauma. It also aims to raise awareness within the
society and among the other providers of Health Care services. Accommodation Services support
the entrants by helping them find affordable place for accommodation as well as provide goods
which are needed for developing one’s own household in Australia (Fozdar & Hartley, 2013).
The Case Coordination-Information and Referrals include assessment of well requirements in the
initiation phase and procurement of information which builds the identity of the people
concerned. It also connects the immigrants with mainstream agencies which provide various
services.
The Translating and Interpreting Service is directed towards breaching linguistic barriers
and build an effective communication process. Interpreters are assigned according to availability
and geographic specification who help in translating or overcoming linguistic difficulties among
the refugees. This Program eases down the process of availing services, which are often hindered

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due to difference in languages and dialects. TIS National also aims to provide translating and
interpreting services while seeking medical help and emergency services.
These programs help in building a harmonious community which accepts the refugees
alongside providing them with services which ensure quality living. However, there are scopes to
improve the services according to the global standards. The Refugee Council helps in advancing
Australia's humanitarian program and overcome the challenges. DIAC, which has recently
changed their name to DIBP or the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, has
intensified their policies to protect the state from external threats (Baker et al., 2018). It also
consults with the providers of the settlement services to recognize the areas of improvement. It
is, therefore, argues that all humanitarian immigrants should have access to the support programs
which the Visa class entrants are eligible to get. The Australian government and other agencies
should understand the need of the same, with respect to the humanitarian needs and aim towards
improving their programs.
There have been concerns regarding the needs of settlements about the immigrants
coming from Africa. In the last decade, there have been accounts of unaddressed issues related to
African refugees. Members of the refugee community and advocates have raised concerns
regarding the needs of the African entrants that their health conditions and trauma are not
addressed properly after experiencing brutality for several years (Liamputtong & Kurban, 2018).
There has also been rise in tension between African refugees and other communities which is
putting social integrity at stake. Hence, Australian government is intending to reduce the
acceptance of refugees. Australia also can improve their immigration policies by thinking in
terms of temporary migration. It has been accounted that Australia has provided settlement and
services which are related, only to permanent migrants or with skills. Hence, it can be said that,

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if the Australian government do not provide adequate support and assistance to the temporary
migrants, then it might lead to exploitation, exclusion and even racial tension.
Therefore it can be said that, Australia is revolving as a state which provides refugee
support. They have designed programs which aid and benefit the immigrants. These programs
ensure harmony and social order. Refugee support policies protect the human rights and also
help in establishing healthy relationship among all the people who constitute the society. The
settlement services have undergone evolution with time, over the past 60 years in Australia
which facilitate on arrival and long-term services. It is needless to say that the conditions of
refugee settlement programs do not stay the same and is subjected to evolution with respect to
the changing scenario of the World. Australia is increasing their concerns related to harmony and
security and hence, regulating the entrance of migrants to cope with the challenges and
vulnerabilities which are involved.

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References
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