Evaluation of the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS)

Executive summary
Introduction
The Commonwealth Department of
Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous
Affairs (DIMIA) and the Commonwealth
Department of Health and Ageing (DHA)
commissioned Urbis Keys Young to carry out
a combined evaluation of the Integrated
Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) and
of Commonwealth funded services for
survivors of torture and trauma.
The purpose of the evaluation was to review
the services to provide better information for
future development including funding.
Specifically the evaluation was to:
The evaluation has identified a number of
positive outcomes achieved by IHSS services
over their initial years of operation. These are
as follows:
There is increased equity in service
provision – most eligible entrants are
consistently receiving at least a core set of
services.
Timely provision of service – eligible
entrants begin to receive these services
from the moment they arrive in Australia
and throughout their initial settlement
phase.
Basic support needs are being met and
few major gaps have been identified.
There is a very high level of satisfaction
among clients.
assess whether services are meeting their
objectives and whether there are any
gaps, omissions or duplications.
There is evidence of increased
professionalism in the way services are
delivered.
identify any modifications necessary to
deliver services to clients in a more
efficient, effective and equitable manner.
assess the extent to which services to
survivors of torture and trauma funded by
the Commonwealth Government are
meeting client needs in accordance with
the principles and standards stated in the
relevant contracts and funding agreements
between DIMIA, DHA and the Forum of
Australian Services for the Survivors of
Torture and Trauma.
provide practical and implementable
recommendations to improve service
delivery for all aspects of the services.
The evaluation involved an extensive
consultation process with the two
Departments; clients of the services; service
providers and a range of other stakeholders as
well as a review of background data and
documentation and an evaluation website with
the capacity to receive submissions.
Details of the methodology for the evaluation
are at Appendix A.
The delivery of services is consistent with
stated IHSS principles.
Reliance on a sole provider and the
potential for client dependency has been
reduced.
The evaluation has also identified a number of
general areas requiring attention in future
development of the IHSS.
While overall client needs have been met,
there is a lack of common understanding
of what constitutes initial settlement
needs, how much service is appropriate
and when and how clients should be
referred to other IHSS and non IHSS
agencies. There are also some gaps in
the model, for example relating to how
urgent physical health needs are
addressed in the first two weeks after an
entrant’s arrival. Finally, there is some
evidence that recent arrivals may have
higher support needs than previous
groups.
Integration of the IHSS services has, in
many instances, been inadequate and the
divisions between agencies have created
silos that affect smooth and efficient
Evaluation of the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy 27 May 2003
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