Asylum Seekers Living in the Community Rights & Entitlements

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Asylum Seekers Living in the Community Rights & Entitlements"

Clifford Smith
5 years ago
Views:

1 Asylum Seekers Living in the Community Rights & Entitlements

2 WHO IS AN ASYLUM SEEKER?

3 Refugee Convention...A well founded fear of persecution for reasons of... race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion Australia signed the Convention on 22 January 1954

4 Different Modes of Arrival & Visa Plane: Arriving on a valid visa i.e. visitors, business, student visa then apply onshore Live in community Bridging Visas Boat: Arriving without a valid visa Placed in detention No Visa 4

5 Detention Release Community Detention No visa: No work/study Housing Healthcare Income Irregular Maritime Arrival - IMA Bridging Visa E Work rights Study rights Medicare Eligible for 6 weeks CAS Will be reassessed for ASAS 5

6 How the legal process impacts on rights and entitlements Primary Stages DIAC & RRT: May be eligible to apply for ASAS or CAS (criteria applies), some eligible for Centrelink (1A Met awaiting H & C checks) May have right to work, study or Medicare (depending on visa conditions) 6

7 How the legal process impacts on rights and entitlements Federal Court: If an error in law Costly process Loss of ASAS (can only apply for CAS) Must remain lawful or will lose work/study/medicare 7

8 Ministerial: How the legal process impacts on rights and entitlements Can only apply for CAS (ARC) BLA (Hotham) May lose work/study/medicare if at some stage became unlawful May lose work/study/medicare further ministerials 8

9 Entitlements - Health Free ambulance Free access to emergency departments in public hospitals Most community health centres will provide access to all services to asylum seekers with Medicare some will even without Medicare 9

10 Entitlements Housing Can access once off HEF funds this can vary depending on Housing service criteria. NASAVic HEF (Administered through ASRC, ARC, Hotham & Homeground). May have access to Baptcare, Brigidines & Hotham Mission By referral only 10

11 ISSUES FACING ASYLUM SEEKERS IN AUSTRALIA

12 What are the challenges facing asylum seekers in Australia? History of trauma and often torture Health and mental health issues At Risk Behaviours: suicidal ideation/self harm Separation from family/friends/culture Homelessness, limited social supports Language / culture barriers Lack of government assistance no right to work, No Medicare Lack of food, material items Lack of legal assistance Institionalised behaviours Detention release Lack of understanding of appropriate ways to behave Lack of knowledge of Australian laws and customs Difficulty adjusting to life in Australia Waiting process deteriorating mental health

13 Some of the strengths of asylum seekers are: Contribution Desire to live a peaceful life Resilience Perseverance Determination Skills Powerful motivation to be successful in their new community

14 ASRC Services 14

15 ASRC 11 years on ASRC is the largest asylum seeker organisation in Australia Assisting over asylum seekers in the last 11 years Providing over 250,000 pro bono through over 20 direct services each year 95% of funding comes from donations and philanthropy 15

16 ASRC Assisting 1270 asylum seekers Approx 35 paid staff and 750 active volunteers Operating budget over $2 million. 25 programs divided into 4 pillars: Aid, Justice, Empowerment & Community 16

17 Material Aid & Advocacy Foodbank Community Meals Drop In AID

18 EMPOWERMENT Social & Community Development Employment Home English Tutoring ESL Catering Service Cleaning Service

19 COMMUNITY Volunteer Program Youth and Students Corporate Engagement Community Speakers Fundraising 19

20 JUSTICE Casework Health Counselling Campaigns SASA Legal Kidszone

21 Casework role within the ASRC The ASRC Casework is the entry and exit point to all ASRC programs. The role of casework is to provide; intake, assessment, referrals (internal and external), information, generalist counselling, advocacy, goal setting and support around a range of different issues including health, housing, immigration, legal, social and recreational, financial, material aid, employment, education, and counselling Every primarily case managed client of the ASRC is allocated a caseworker to support them throughout the entire refugee determination process. 21

22 ASRC Casework Program - Casework Program Manager: Sherrine Clark - Intake Coordinator: Cate Coleman/Jess Bishop - Complex Case Coordinator: Jamine Louslati - Duty/Housing Coordinator: Andi Jones - Active Holding Coordinator: Natalie Kamber 70 Volunteers: one/two days per week 1270 clients 22

23 Casework & Asylum Seekers ASRC Casework program is the only casework service that provides ongoing support throughout the entire refugee determination process. Wide range of welfare issues: Housing, health, income, material, legal, mental health (including torture/trauma), family/social/cultural issues, education, etc. 23

24 Referrals to ASRC Casework Other asylum seeker services including: Red Cross Hotham Mission Brigidines Sisters Baptcare Sanctuary Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre IOM Foundation House VFST DIAC 24

25 Referrals to ASRC Casework Mainstream Welfare Services Church groups Migration Agents Other asylum seekers Taxi Drivers! 25

26 Eligibility for ASRC Services People who have lodged protection visa application Asylum seekers on a valid visa must make attempts to become lawful Asylum seekers living in the community not in detention No access to community detention (after Feb 2011) Asylum seekers from countries other than EU, US, Canada, New Zealand & Japan. 26

27 Access to ASRC - Priority Due to the significant increases in asylum seekers living in the community the ASRC will prioritise the following referrals; Asylum Seekers with no other supports Asylum seekers with no income/homeless Asylum Seekers at risk 27

28 Any Questions? Intake Queries: Cate Coleman and Jess Bishop Call on General ASRC Queries: 28

29 Thank you! Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Asylum Seeker information sheet for Victorian health services

Asylum Seeker health Information sheet 1 Asylum Seeker information sheet for Victorian health services This information sheet aims to provide clarity to health service staff in Victoria on asylum seekers