Settlement Services - St Vincent de Paul Society QLD
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    Settlement Services

    Support services for newly-arrived individuals and families of refugee backgrounds.

    As part of our commitment to assisting the most vulnerable in our society, the St Vincent de Paul Society provides support services to newly-arrived individuals and families of refugee backgrounds.

    The St Vincent de Paul Society has a long history of helping migrants and refugees. Catholic social teaching places a special onus on the St Vincent de Paul Society to help those who seek asylum, having fled war, persecution, injustice or intolerance. As a signatory to the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees, Australia has international obligation to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of their mode of arrival.

    The Society has a number of programs in different states and territories that support individuals and families of refugee background as they settle into life in Australia. Our focus is to encourage independence and self-reliance through a holistic and person-centred approach. We support people to focus on their strengths and goals to promote their economic and personal wellbeing and community connectedness.

    Examples of assistance provided:

    • Housing support
    • Referrals to specialist agencies – eg. QPASTT, RAILS, TAASQ, legal aid etc
    • Document help – completing forms, explaining correspondence.
    • Enrolling clients in TAFE and school
    • Assisting clients to find work opportunities
    • Linking clients to mainstream agencies and services – eg. GP’s, dentist, libraries etc.
    • Client advocacy – e.g. within court process.

    Who is eligible?
    Eligible clients are those clients who arrived in Australia on a humanitarian visa and family stream migrants with low English proficiency. We can assist clients who have been here from 6 months up to 5 years after arrival. To download a referral form, click here.

    Where is this offered?
    The Society’s Settlement Service is funded by the Department of Social Service (DSS). This funding governs who we can assist (i.e. eligible clients) and what geographic locations we are able to service. The service covers a wide geographic area from Ipswich to Inner Southern Brisbane suburbs. When a client outside our geographic area is referred we make a case by case assessment whether we are able to accept the referral or refer to a different organisation.

    Please select a location from the list below
    South Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan
    Appointment Only