Evaluation of the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS)

2.2 IHSS 1
2.2.1 Historical overview
Until the 1970s, humanitarian entrants were eligible for accommodation at migrant hostels, along with
other migrants who arrived by assisted passage. However it became clear that more specialised
assistance was needed for humanitarian entrants who did not wish to live in migrant hostels. At the
same time, the community sector was seeking a greater role in meeting the settlement needs of
humanitarian entrants.
As a result, the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS), a network of volunteer groups, was
established in 1979 to provide assistance to humanitarian entrants with finding accommodation and
employment, general orientation and social support. At the same time the Committee for the
Allocation of Loan Funds to Refugees in Centres (CALFRIC) was established to provide support for
humanitarian entrants who wished to move from hostels into private housing by offering interest-free
loans to cover associated costs.
The CRSS and CALFRIC initiatives reflected formal recognition of the specific needs of humanitarian
entrants as a distinct category and initiated a partnership between government and the wider
community in the provision of settlement assistance. They also diversified settlement services by
providing an alternative to migrant centres.
A review of migrant hostels in 1984 led to the closure of several hostels and a general shift towards
self-contained accommodation. In 1986, the Review of Migrant and Multicultural Programs and
Services recommended that accommodation should be provided only for those with limited financial
resources, and especially for humanitarian entrants. It also recommended a shift to self-contained,
self-catering units with co-located support services. DIMIA established the On Arrival Accommodation
(OAA) Scheme in order to provide this kind of accommodation for humanitarian entrants. The former
migrant centres were closed and replaced with government-leased flats.
From the mid-1980s there were three categories of assistance:
OAA was provided for the highest needs entrants, refugee visa holders without proposers and
permanent visa holders released from detention without family or community support. They were
eligible for thirteen weeks of accommodation in government-leased flats, with extensions for
cases of special need. After the first week of accommodation, entrants in the OAA service
generally paid approximately 30% of their welfare benefits as rent and a small weekly contribution
towards utilities. Their eventual move to private accommodation was assisted by CALFRIC loans.
As CALFRIC was phased out from the mid-1990s, DIMIA developed a Rent Rebate Scheme by
which entrants whose rent and utility contributions had been paid in full were eligible for a rebate
of four weeks rental contribution. The OAA accommodation served as a useful base for access to
other settlement support services.
CRSS volunteers supported other high needs entrants - those without links in Australia, who had
experienced torture or trauma and refugee women entering under the ‘Women at Risk’ category.
Entrants were met at the airport and assisted with general orientation, practical assistance and
social support, generally for six months after arrival. DIMIA provided a contribution of around
$1,100 for single entrants and a further $300 per family member to enable volunteer groups to
recover some of the costs involved. CRSS volunteers also proposed families.
1
This information was provided by DIMIA and replicates the information in the Settlement
Services Review (SSR).
Evaluation of the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy 27 May 2003
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