The Settlement Journey - Strengthening Australia through migration

The Settlement Journey:
Strengthening Australia through
migration

The Settlement Journey:
Strengthening Australia through migration

© Commonwealth of Australia 2012
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ISBN: 978-1-921662-10-2.
Contents
Message from Senator the Hon Kate Lundy 1
Introduction 2
The Australian Government’s settlement policy 3
Settlement services benefit all Australians 3
The settlement journey 4
Australia’s settlement services are targeted to
meet the needs of new arrivals
Hawo Ali’s settlement journey 8
What makes successful settlement? 12
Conceptual framework for understanding settlement outcomes 13
Working together to improve settlement outcomes 14
Dipika Mistry’s settlement journey 16
Key principles 20
How are we tracking? 22
6

Message from Senator the Hon Kate Lundy
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Sport and
Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation
I welcome the opportunity to present the Australian Government’s settlement policy,
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration.
Australia is a nation built on immigration and shaped by the settlement experience.
Since 1945, more than seven million people have migrated to Australia to help form
one of the most linguistically, culturally and religiously diverse nations on earth.
With more than a quarter of the current population born overseas, the process of
building a new life in a foreign country is a lived experience for many of us.
The amazing breadth and diversity of Australian society and our country’s commitment to multiculturalism is testament
to the centrality of settlement to our nation’s story.
Australia is a world leader in the provision of settlement services. This policy recognises the important support that
settlement services provide to newly arrived migrants and refugees as they adjust to a new life in Australia and start
making valuable contributions to Australia’s ongoing economic, social and cultural development. The inspiring stories
of Hawo Ali and Dipika Mistry in this booklet demonstrate how settlement services help new arrivals enrich our country.
Australia’s settlement policy is an important element of the government’s vision of a socially inclusive society in which all
Australians are valued and have the opportunity to participate fully.
It also commits the government to new ways of working in partnership with the settlement sector based on mutual trust,
respect and collaboration. This commitment is enshrined in the National Compact between the government and the
not-for-profit sector which forms a key part of the social inclusion agenda.
We are in a challenging period of change. The increased provision of services by the settlement sector to asylum seekers will
influence this settlement policy over time, and will be fully considered in the review of the Strategic Settlement Framework
in 2015.
I commend this booklet to you. It demonstrates how our settlement policy benefits new migrants and builds a strong
Australia through migration.
Kate Lundy
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 1

2
Introduction
In September 2009, the Australian Government announced the Strategic Settlement Framework, which set out new directions
for the reform and strengthening of Australia’s settlement services. These new directions followed national consultations
in relation to key settlement programs in 2008 and 2009. Consultations were conducted with community organisations,
government agencies and other interested stakeholders. Focus groups were also held with former migrants and humanitarian
entrants to seek feedback on their needs and ideas to better support their successful settlement.
The framework set out the following priorities for reform:
• greater emphasis on individual needs
• greater focus on the needs of youth
• greater focus on whole-of-government strategies
• a more structured approach to orientation
• more flexibility in program delivery and funding to support innovation and partnerships
• more opportunities to support sustainable regional settlement
• an evidence based approach to policy and program development
Since 2009, the government has substantially reformed many of Australia’s settlement programs in line with these key themes.
The reforms were implemented in the first half of 2011, and included a major redesign of humanitarian settlement services and
the Adult Migrant English Program to better align these critical programs with the needs of migrants and humanitarian entrants.
The government’s reform agenda continues in 2012 with the implementation of substantial changes to the Settlement Grants
Program, the roll-out of a range of initiatives to better support migrant and humanitarian youth and the signing of new contracts
for the Complex Case Support Program.
The government’s social inclusion agenda has also been a key driver for change, influencing both the design and delivery of
settlement programs.
These reforms underscore the government’s commitment to finding new and innovative ways to improve the settlement
outcomes of migrants and humanitarian entrants.
The Australian Government’s settlement policy
The Australian Government’s settlement policy supports the economic, social and
humanitarian benefits of migration.
This involves:
• addressing the needs of new arrivals to help them develop the knowledge
and skills they need to become active and independent participants in
Australian society
• governments and society being responsive to the cultural, linguistic and religious
diversity of migrants.
Settlement services benefit all Australians
Migrants and humanitarian entrants enrich the fabric of our nation and help build
a stronger Australia.
Through participation in the educational and economic life of Australia,
migrants and humanitarian entrants contribute their ingenuity, hard work and
determination to improve their own lives. In doing so, they help to enhance
Australia’s ongoing economic strength and diversity. Migrants and humanitarian
entrants facilitate trade and investment between Australia and their countries of
origin. The Migrant and Economic Outcomes and Contributions report of April
2011 estimates that the 2009–10 Permanent Migration Program will contribute
$1.2 billion over ten years to the Australian economy.
Through participation in the social life of Australia, migrants and humanitarian
entrants contribute their knowledge, skills and time. They have a high level of volunteering and a
genuine desire to give back to the Australian community. Their enormous contributions to other new arrivals and the broader
community were recognised in research recently undertaken by the government.
Through participation in the cultural life of Australia, migrants and humanitarian entrants add their cultural, religious and
linguistic diversity to the dynamic face of our nation. Their contributions to sport, art, cuisine, and cultural festivals add new and
exciting layers to the fabric of our nation.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 3

4
The settlement journey
Migrants are drawn to Australia by the economic and lifestyle opportunities available here,
while humanitarian entrants come for protection from conflict situations. All want to make
a better life for themselves in this country. Many say they love living in Australia because
they are safe, free from discrimination, and able to contribute to our society no matter
who they are and where they came from.
The settlement journey begins when migrants and humanitarian entrants access
pre-embarkation information about Australia, either online or through a specialised
training program.
After arrival, settlement services focus on enabling self reliance, developing their English
language skills, and connecting with mainstream services and the broader Australian
society. While the length of time that new arrivals take to feel settled varies, settlement
services give them the best start to life in their new country. The settlement journey may
involve seeking and maintaining employment, pursuing further education or working as
a volunteer.
The People of Australia: Australia’s Multicultural Policy and the Access and Equity Strategy
and Framework promote equitable participation in our society. These policies recognise
that our cultural diversity is at the heart of our national identity and all Australians should
be able to access government programs and services, regardless of their cultural, linguistic
or religious backgrounds. A unique feature of Australia’s multicultural policy is that those
who choose to call Australia home have the right to practice and share their cultural
traditions and languages within the law and free from discrimination. The National Anti-
Racism Strategy reinforces this policy by working to prevent and reduce racism in Australia.
Retaining cultural identity during a period of significant adjustment provides an anchor for
new settlers, a bridge between the old and the new.
Becoming an Australian citizen plays an important role in making migrants feel they
belong to our nation. It is a significant milestone on the settlement journey, and has deep
significance for many migrants and humanitarian entrants. In becoming citizens, migrants pledge their loyalty to Australia and
its people, give a commitment to uphold our laws, and respect our democratic rights and responsibilities. Australian citizenship
marks the beginning of their formal membership of the Australian community.
The settlement journey—from migration to settlement
On-shore Off-shore
Pre-settlement
community services
Pre-embarkation settlement
information
Humanitarian Entrants Migrants
Community Detention support Australian Cultural Internet
for asylum seekers Orientation Program Employers
Family
Specialised Humanitarian Services
Humanitarian Settlement Service
Complex Case Support
Support for Unaccompanied
Humanitarian Minors
General Settlement Services
Adult Migrant English Program
Settlement Grants Program
Translating and Interpreting Service
Equitable Participation in Multicultural Australia
Australia’s Multicultural Policy
Access and Equity Strategy
Diversity and Social Cohesion Program
Australian
Settled Citizenship
Social participation
Economic wellbeing
Independence
Personal wellbeing
Life satisfaction and community connectedness
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 5

6
Australia’s settlement services are targeted to
meet the needs of new arrivals
Settlement services are designed to assist eligible migrants
and humanitarian entrants in the first five years of arrival in
Australia. These services are designed to complement, not
replace, the services available to all Australians.
The amount of settlement support provided by the Australian
Government is based on need. Those arriving as skilled
migrants are expected to settle in Australia with limited help.
Family migrants (spouses, children and parents of Australian
residents) and family members of skilled migrants who speak
little or no English, are able to get help to learn English and
access some settlement support services.
The most intensive assistance is provided to
humanitarian entrants in recognition of their greater
needs, in alignment with United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees principles and best practice.
Many have escaped from life threatening situations
and war torn societies, become separated from their
immediate family, lost their homes and possessions
and lived for many years in refugee camps. They
may face multiple disadvantages because of their
experiences, including mental health issues, physical
disabilities, illiteracy, poor English language skills,
disrupted schooling, and limited opportunities to gain
skills, qualifications and work experience. Despite this,
humanitarian entrants are resilient and enthusiastic
about making a contribution to Australian society, and
the support they receive helps them to get started.
The Australian Government works with settlement service
providers in a partnership based on cooperation and mutual
respect. Settlement services are delivered by community
based organisations which have strong links with migrants
and humanitarian entrants and their communities. Community
detention and bridging visa arrangements provide
opportunities for asylum seekers to establish links in the
community. For example, attending school or a cultural group
can speed up the pathway to successful settlement if a
permanent visa is granted.
The close collaboration between community detention
service providers and settlement service providers ensures
the smooth transition of asylum seekers from community
detention into the community. This includes support with
locating housing, income support arrangements and
introduction to the range of settlement services.
Migration and Humanitarian Program numbers and
composition vary from year to year. Settlement service
providers need to manage variations in arrival numbers,
respond to culturally and linguistically diverse migrants, and
meet the needs of new and emerging communities. Their
experience in settling new arrivals from around the world
stands them in good stead to understand new issues and
work with other providers and mainstream agencies to
resolve them.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 7

8
Hawo Ali’s
settlement journey
Hawo Ali had high expectations when she arrived in
Melbourne from Somalia in 1998 with her husband
Mukhtar and five children. ‘I thought the computer
would do everything—all the housework and cooking,’
Hawo laughs. ‘It was a bit of a shock to discover that
I had to do it all myself.’
Seven years earlier, the Somali civil war had forced
Hawo, Mukhtar and their family to move from the
capital Mogadishu to their tribal homelands of Baidoa,
the third largest city in Somalia. They lived in Baidoa
for four years, until the fighting extended across
Somalia. ‘We were woken by gunshots one night,
and my husband Mukhtar received a gunshot wound
to his back as we were fleeing,’ recalls Hawo. Their
home was burnt down during the attack and the
family escaped across the border to Kenya, where
they applied for refugee visas to Australia.
They were met at Melbourne airport by a humanitarian
settlement services worker who helped them find their way
around and a place to live. The humanitarian settlement
services worker also helped them to enrol in the Adult
Migrant English Program (AMEP) at AMES soon after
they arrived. Hawo couldn’t go to English classes at first,
because she was looking after her children, and used the
AMEP Home Tutor Scheme to learn English at home. ‘The
Home Tutor provided to me through the AMEP for the first
two years became part of our family,’ says Hawo fondly.
‘She still comes around to see us.’
While still learning English, the family used the Translating
and Interpreting Service (TIS) National to communicate
with doctors and government agencies. Hawo says the
interpreting service provided by TIS National was critical
during the birth of her sixth child Najma. ‘I’d had five
Hawo and Mukhtar with their five oldest children with Mukhtar’s brother
(left),
at the Nairobi airport prior to their departure.
Hawo and her friend on an orientation excursion with AMES.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 9

10
children, and never had a caesarean before. Without
TIS, I wouldn’t have known what was going on.’ She
now has eight children, ranging from seven years to
23 years of age.
Using funding provided for community development,
CatholicCare Melbourne helped Hawo and other
Somalian women to establish the Somalian
Women’s Development Association in Footscray.
The association brings Somali, Ethiopian and
Sudanese women together to cook and sew,
reducing their sense of isolation and giving them
a chance to build friendships with other women in
the community. Hawo was actively involved in the
association for six years, in the latter years as a
mentor to new refugee women.
Mukhtar worked as a taxi driver while Hawo actively
pursued vocational study after she finished learning
English with the AMEP. Hawo now has certificates in
hospitality, vocational studies (media), and child care
services, and a Diploma of Children’s Services. While
studying and looking after her eight children, she
worked part time in occasional child care. She is now
the child care coordinator at the Teddy Bear Family
Day Care Centre in Footscray, where Mukhtar is also
working. As well as working full time and looking
after the family, Hawo is now studying an Advanced
Diploma in Children’s Services at Melbourne
University and wants to complete a Bachelor in Early
Childhood Education.
Hawo has instilled in her children the discipline of
study and the importance of being active in the
community. For the first six months after arrival, the
Hawo and Mukhtar at home in Altona Meadows with five of their
eight children.
Hawo at work at the Teddy Bear Family Day Care Centre in Footscray.
children received intensive English tuition at Footscray City Primary
School. Hawo and Mukhtar couldn’t help the children with their
education because they were still learning English themselves, so
they sought support from the youth homework club provided by
AMES and from a private tutor. ‘I organised our neighbour’s son to
tutor the children in all their school subjects. When he graduated
from high school, his mother took over tutoring the kids. She
refused to be paid, so I insisted she stay and have dinner with us
instead,’ remembers Hawo.
All five of the eldest children attend university. The eldest, Ahmed,
has graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from RMIT,
while the other four children are studying optometry, arts/law, health
science and dentistry respectively. All the children are active in local
sports, with the boys playing soccer with the Altona City Soccer
Club, and the girls playing basketball and learning karate.
Hawo and Mukhtar have impressed on their children the importance
of giving back to the community. As the older children graduated
from high school, they in turn have tutored other children.
Australia is now home for the family, who became citizens in 2000.
‘We love Australia because of the opportunities available to us and
the kids. Becoming citizens was important to us, because it gave us
the right to vote and be part of the community,’ says Hawo warmly.
The family now live in Altona Meadows, and are thrilled that the
beach is only a ten minute walk away. ‘Australia is a safe place to live.
The Australian Government has given us and our children a future.’ For Hawo, it is important to reciprocate by being active in
the community. ‘We have an obligation to help those who come after,’ she says.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 11

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What makes successful settlement?
The cornerstone of successful settlement is participation
Participation in the social and cultural life of Australia helps migrants and
humanitarian entrants feel part of their local community. Social participation
activities foster cross cultural respect, understanding and belonging. This
sense of belonging is often cited by new arrivals as critical to feeling settled
in Australia. By gaining Australian citizenship, migrants and humanitarian
entrants demonstrate their ongoing commitment to Australia.
Participation in education and employment positively impacts on new arrivals’
self esteem and economic wellbeing. It provides the opportunity for them to
use and further develop their skills and to contribute to their family and
to Australia.
Greater independence enables more active participation
Having links in Australia and support to access community and government
services provides a vital early bridge for new arrivals. Ultimately, a growing
sense of independence is crucial to becoming an active and valued participant
in the economic, social and cultural life of Australia. Increased independence is
also critical to a sense of control over their own destiny, enabling them to chart
their own settlement journey.
Personal well being and life satisfaction links to being
connected to the community
Feeling part of a community can strongly influence a new arrival’s comfort and
happiness about living in Australia. Whether it be family and friends, the local
community, an ethnic or religious group, sports or arts related or the broader Australian community, feeling connected to
and welcomed by others can overcome the sense of isolation that is often a feature of the initial settlement experience.
Conceptual framework for understanding
settlement outcomes
The following diagram provides a conceptual framework for understanding settlement outcomes. It includes both systemic
indicators, which are important for the design and targeting of government policies and programs, and life outcome indicators.
These are used to identify the issues that need to be addressed overall to achieve effective settlement outcomes. These key
settlement dimensions are interrelated and should not be considered in isolation in the achievement of successful settlement.
Outcome Settlement in Australia
Settlement
Dimensions
Key
Settlement
Indicators
Social
Participation
• English
Proficiency
• Participation in
education and
training
• Participation in
community life
(e.g. school,
sports)
• Citizenship
Economic
well-being
• Employment
circumstances
• Level of income
• Level of debt
• Job satisfaction
• Satisfaction with
accommodation
Personal
well-being
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Self-esteem
• Relationships
Demographic Attributes
Independence
• Access to
transport
• Access and use
of community
and government
services
• Source of
income
• Ability to make
life choices
• Gender equality
Life Satisfaction
and Being
Connected to the
Community
• Sense of
belonging in
Australia
• Sense of being
treated well
by the local
community
• Level of
discrimination
and cultural
religious
expression
Country of Birth, Gender, Age, Marital Status, Family status, Location, years of schooling,
work experience, Length of Time in Australia
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 13

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Working together to improve settlement outcomes
Many non-government organisations and
government agencies provide services
to migrants and humanitarian entrants
on arrival and well beyond the initial
settlement period.
The National Compact, an important part
of the social inclusion agenda, commits
the Australian Government to new ways
of working in partnership with the
settlement sector based on mutual trust,
respect and collaboration.
Consistent with the spirit of the National
Compact with the not-for-profit sector, the
government is committed to consultation
on an individual, organisation and collective
level. The government will engage with the
sector and peak bodies on an ongoing basis
as well as in relation to specific policies and
issues as they arise.
The principles outlined in the National Compact extend to settlement service providers and new arrivals. There is a strong
emphasis in settlement programs on mutual responsibility, based on the shared rights and responsibilities that are fundamental
to living in Australia. This emphasis on rights and responsibilities is also a key element of The People of Australia: Australia’s
Multicultural Policy and is enshrined in the Australian citizenship pledge.
The government will continue to work
collaboratively across departments and
agencies to ensure that newly arrived migrants
and humanitarian entrants are provided
opportunities to participate equitably in
Australian life. The social inclusion agenda
commits all commonwealth government
agencies to ensuring policies and programs are
responsive to cultural diversity, and to collecting
data on outcomes for culturally diverse groups
as part of the social inclusion measurement
and reporting framework.
To ensure that government programs and
services are responsive to Australians
from all culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds, the government has asked
the Australian Multicultural Council to help
strengthen the independence of access and
equity reporting and provide for a more robust
reporting framework.
The Australian Government is committed to working with state and territory and local governments. The Council of Australian
Governments’ Select Council on Immigration and Settlement has been tasked with developing a framework to improve
services and outcomes for migrants. The framework will focus on:
• improving the coordination of service delivery within and across jurisdictions
• enhancing collaboration and the effective use of resources across the three tiers of government.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 15

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Dipika Mistry’s
settlement journey
Dipika Mistry loves connecting with customers in
her role as a customer service assistant at Cincotta
Discount Chemist in Merrylands. ‘I listen to customers
politely and sympathetically, and develop a relationship
with them,’ says Dipika passionately. ‘Customers
often ask for me when they return to the store.’ Such
is Dipika’s commitment that her husband Prashant
frequently found himself giving customers a lift home
when he came to pick Dipika up from work.
Dipika and Prashant came to Australia with their two
children under the Skilled Migration Program from
Vadodara in India in 2006. Both had worked in India;
Dipika as a customer assistant in a shop and Prashant
as an electrician working for General Electric.
Prashant spoke English well when he arrived and
found a job as a purchasing officer for a stationery
company, but Dipika needed to improve her English
before she could find work.
Dipika enrolled in the Adult Migrant English
Program (AMEP) at Navitas English and completed
Certificates II and III in Spoken and Written English.
While studying, she volunteered as a parent helper
at Parramatta Public School, helping out during
Education Week, on working bees, and in charity
fund-raising.
Through the AMEP, Dipika was selected to participate
in the Settlement Learning Pathways to Employment/
Training (SLPET) program, which provides employment
related English in conjunction with a vocational training
course. ‘I learnt how to greet people, how to start a
conversation, how to prepare my resume, to find a job,
how to dress, interview skills, everything really. We did
role plays in class to help us build our confidence,’
she remembers.
Dipika and Prashant Mistry on their wedding day in India.
The family at home in Australia with Dipika’s visiting parents.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 17

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Through this course she completed the Certificate in Customer Service and
Basic IT Skills, and undertook work experience at the Cincotta Discount
Chemist. Manager Adrian Watson was so impressed with Dipika that he hired
her as a full time customer service assistant. ‘Dipika has a strong work ethic,
is attentive to customers, and has good English language skills,’ he says.
Dipika and Prashant chose to migrate to Australia because of its stable
economic situation and good climate. ‘We really came to Australia for our
children. There are better employment prospects here in Australia than in
India. It can be difficult to find a job in India even if you are qualified,’ explains
Prashant. ‘Also our son Raj had a congenital health problem, which was
operated on when he was six months old. He made a full recovery, but we
wanted him to grow up away from the extreme heat of India.’ Raj is now a
cricket enthusiast, developing his batting skills on the St Oliver’s School team
as well as playing cricket every afternoon with the neighbourhood kids in Harris
Park, where the family own an apartment.
Daughter Richa attended English as a Second Language classes at Parramatta
Public School for the first two years after arrival, and played netball and
newcomb ball while at primary school. She is now
concentrating on her studies at Macarthur Girls High
School, and performs traditional Indian dance at local
festivals, including Harmony Day celebrations.
The Mistrys have no family in Australia, but found that
the local community in Western Sydney provided critical
support early in their settlement period. The family
became Australian citizens in 2009. ‘Australians are very
friendly, and we were made to feel very welcome. We
are Australians now.’
Dipika at work at the Cincotta Discount Chemist.
Dipika and her family at their Australian citizenship ceremony with the then
Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor Tony Issa OAM.
The Australian Government’s settlement policy
Welcoming migrants and
humanitarian entrants
• Beginning a Life in Australia booklet
• Australian Cultural Orientation
program
• Humanitarian Settlement Services
• Settlement Grants Program
• Employers, family and volunteers
• Cultural and religious freedom
Settlement policy
Maximising the economic, social and
humanitarian benefits of migration by:
• addressing the needs of new arrivals
• being responsive to diversity
Working together
• Settlement services sector
• National Compact with the not-for-profit
sector
• Across government departments
• Across federal, state and local governments
Key Principles
Providing support based on need
• Humanitarian Settlement Services
• Complex Case Support
• Support for Unaccompanied
Humanitarian Minors
• Settlement Grants Program
• Adult Migrant English Program
• Translating and Interpreting Service
• Torture and Trauma Counselling
How are we tracking
• Undertaking research to build an
evidence base
• Reviewing the Strategic Settlement
Framework in 2015
Maximising opportunities for
migrants and humanitarian entrants
to participate and contribute to
Australian society
• Settlement Grants Program
• Adult Migrant English Program
• Access and Equity Strategy
• Australia’s Multicultural Policy
• Australian citizenship
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 19

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Key Principles
1. Welcoming migrants and humanitarian entrants
Australian society is usually vastly different to that of the countries
that many migrants and humanitarian entrants have left behind,
and most know few people when they arrive in Australia.
Settlement services welcome new arrivals to the Australian
community and way of life.
Before arriving in Australia, humanitarian entrants attend the
Australian Cultural Orientation Program offshore, which provides
tailored and practical travel and settlement advice. Migrants can
access key settlement information through the Beginning a Life
in Australia booklet online before they migrate.
On arrival, Humanitarian Settlement and Settlement Grants
service providers are a vital initial point of contact, providing
orientation, information and social support. Family, friends and
employers also provide support to migrants and humanitarian
entrants during their settlement journey.
Members of the public who volunteer in settlement programs
play an important role in welcoming new arrivals into the
Australian community and helping them to understand their
new home.
2. Providing support based on need
Settlement programs are tailored to meet the needs of different
groups of new arrivals. Humanitarian entrants are provided with specialised and individualised support through Humanitarian
Settlement Services, while those with a multiplicity of needs receive additional intensive assistance through the Complex Case
Support Program. Unaccompanied humanitarian minors are supervised by a case worker and have access to welfare support
services. The Settlement Grants Program (SGP) provides additional casework services and support for humanitarian entrants
and eligible migrants with longer term needs.
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) provides up to 510
hours of free English language tuition for those eligible migrants and
humanitarian entrants who speak little or no English. Humanitarian
entrants can receive additional tuition in recognition of their higher
level of need. People who do not speak English can use the
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National to help them access
services in Australia.
The special needs of youth are also recognised and provided for in our
key settlement programs.
3. Maximising opportunities for migrants and
humanitarian entrants to participate and contribute
to Australian society
Australia’s Migration Program is targeted to meet Australia’s labour market needs and
to help build the Australian economy. Our Humanitarian Program reflects Australia’s
international commitment to sharing the responsibility for protecting refugees and
resolving refugee situations. Australia’s settlement programs provide initial assistance to
help migrants and humanitarian entrants to go on to make significant economic, social
and cultural contributions to Australian society.
SGP services connect new arrivals with mainstream services such as education and
employment providers, and help them to participate in Australian society by linking them
with the local community. In the AMEP, new arrivals receive English language tuition,
settlement information, and educational and vocational counselling to guide them to
achieve their goals. They may also get help to transition to work or further training
through the Settlement Language Pathways to Employment/Training Program, which
combines English language training with work experience.
The participation of migrants and humanitarian entrants in Australian society is also
facilitated through Australia’s Access and Equity Strategy, which promotes equitable
access to government programs and services, while The People of Australia: Australia’ s
Multicultural Policy provides the foundation on which to build a culturally diverse and
socially cohesive nation. Approximately 80 per cent of migrants and humanitarian entrants recognise the value of belonging to
our multicultural country and make a formal commitment to Australia by becoming citizens.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 21

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How are we tracking?
The government is taking steps to ensure that the program reforms introduced through the Strategic Settlement Framework
improve the settlement outcomes of migrants and humanitarian entrants in Australia. We are building an evidence base through
research and evaluation activities, which include:
• the five year longitudinal survey of refugees and other migrants, Building a New Life in Australia, which will trace the
settlement journey of migrants and humanitarian entrants from arrival through to citizenship
• research across government departments to gain a greater understanding of the pathways and impediments that new
arrivals face
• the ongoing evaluation of settlement programs, such as the AMEP longitudinal study 2011–2014.
We will undertake a review of the Strategic Settlement Framework in 2015 using this evidence base to ensure that settlement
programs remain effective, flexible and responsive to the changing needs of migrants and humanitarian entrants into the future.
The Settlement Journey: Strengthening Australia through migration 23

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