
The Effects of Discrimination of Refugee and Migrant Housing Needs

SCoA Achievements 2018-2019

SCoA Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019

ATCR 2019 Report

Recognising Overseas Skills and Qualifications

My Health Record

Volunteering and Settlement in Australia

- 65 per cent of new arrivals engaged in volunteering within the first 18 months of their arrival to Australia.
- People mainly volunteer as a way to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English, and/or gain local work experience.
- There are personal and professional benefits from volunteering.
- Organisations gained many benefits from their volunteers.
- More than two-thirds of organisations surveyed reported that they and their volunteers need more formal support, and would benefit from funding for training programs, supporting material, and from forming new partnerships and sharing resources.
SCoA’s 2019 Federal Election Platform

SCoA Policy Focus – Access to Justice

Barriers and Exclusions: The support needs of newly arrived refugees with a disability – February 2019

SCoA Annual Report 2017-2018

Fundamentals of effective settlement – 2018

Multiculturalism in Australia

SCoA Policy Focus – Loneliness

Humanitarian Settlement Program online survey – 30 August 2018

The future of employment services in Australia: July 2018

SCoA Achievements 2017-2018

SCoA Submission on Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period: March 2018

The Federal Government has proposed to increase the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period (NARWP) for social services payments from two years to three (and, subsequently in the 2018 Budget, to four years).
In March 2018, SCoA made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee outlining our concerns about the proposed increase.
Our Submission can be accessed below.
SCoA Member Survey: May 2018

Peak Bodies Urge Increased Oversight of Migration Services: 1 May 2018


MEDIA RELEASE
1 May 2018PEAK BODIES URGE INCREASED OVERSIGHT OF MIGRATION SERVICES
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) have joined forces to call for increased Government funding for the oversight of migration services in Australia. In a joint submission to the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration, the two peak bodies acknowledge the critical role played by migration agents in often-complex applications for migration but stress the detrimental impact that unregistered migration agents have on vulnerable individuals applying to visas. The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “FECCA believes that registered migration agents are currently regulated and supported by a strong system and that the majority adhere to sector regulations and guidelines. “However, the robust regulation of migrant agents, combined with a well-resourced effort to reduce the impact of unregistered practice, is in the best interests of CALD and migrant communities and those with family members keen to migrate.” The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) said that the role of migration agents should be acknowledged. The Chairperson of SCoA, Dewani Bakkum, said: “Our members witness firsthand the true value of the contribution made to multicultural Australia by those it welcomes as migrants, as well as the challenges those people face when attempting to settle in their new communities. “We believe that stringent regulation and accreditation of migration agents is crucial to ensure strong, safe and prosperous CALD and migrant communities. Confidence in the visa application process must be maintained.” FECCA and SCoA have recommended to the Committee that:- The current system of regulation of migration agents be maintained, including strong registration and stringent accreditation processes, as well as swiftly enforced penalties for exploitative and unethical migration agents;
- The allocation of resources to further investigate the volumes and patterns of unregistered migration agents and education agents providing unlawful immigration services in Australia;
- A comprehensive effort be made to inform clients of migration agents of their rights as consumers, and a streamlined process for migrants to raise concerns and have them arbitrated as efficiently as possible;
- Consideration be given to additional resourcing to the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), including the maintenance of a compensation fund for individuals who are left out of pocket as a result of unethical behaviour.