St John the Apostle ~ Kippax :: Canberra, Australia

REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT
COMMITTEE

The Refugee Resettlement Committee is a not-for-profit Parish based organisation run by volunteers. It is politically independent and is not reliant on government aid. Running costs are met from funds raised within the community.

MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS

Our Mission is to undertake activities that facilitate the settlement of refugees* and their families into Australian society, with dignity and hope.

Our goals are to:

provide direct assistance and advocacy to refugees and their families to facilitate settlement into Australia
provide friendship and social opportunities to encourage refugees and their families to be come involved in Australian community life
contribute to the formation of favourable Government and community policies that affect the experience of refugees and their families
includes new arrivals under the Special Humanitarian Program,asylum seekers and all other refugees whether their status was recognised before or after their arrival in Australia. [back]

OUR COMMITMENT

RRC volunteers are committed to the provision of direct practical assistance to refugees from arrival until they can meet their own material and social needs, independently.

Our volunteers advocate for:

refugees to receive their rightful entitlements and
development of equitable and compassionate policies,procedures and outcomes in dealings with refugees.
[back]

WHO DO WE HELP?

The Refugee Resettlement Committee helps refugees living in the north side of Canberra, Australia only.

Within our resources, including geographical limits, we assist refugees in need whether they are under permanent resident visas or other visas issued to asylum seekers pending resolution of their status. [back]

HOW DO WE HELP?

Potential refugee clients may be referred to us by our current clients, women's refuges and providers of emergency accommodation, such as YWCA, as well as by local settlement agencies including the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services, Companion House and the St Vincent de Paul Soceity. In helping to provide settlement services for the refugee clients, whom we accept after assessment, RRC volunteers liaise with the above organisations, and other settlement, welfare, community organisations. These include local Community Centres and multicultural organisations such as Multicultural Youth Services. The RRC also liaises with the ACT and Federal Government Departments and agencies including Centrelink and Medicare. Some of the above organisations provide information, training and support for RRC volunteers.

The practical face to face services that RRC volunteers may provide to mewly accepted clients varies with the length of time they have been in Australia. These services may include welcoming them and helping them with shopping and with settling into new accommodation. RRC volunteers provide transport, company and support in dealing with banks, Medicare and Centrelink: and with schools or child care for their children and English classes for adults. We help refugee clients seek long term accommodation and in dealing with Housing ACT. We help them to use public transport, libraries and other community services.

We visit them in their homes and help them understand how to operate appliances: We provide them with local information, help them understand letters from government agencies and schools and pay bills. We offer friendship and social support and take them on outings to help them avoid social isolation or social exclusion We provide transport and support in keeping health related appointments and accessing chemists, pathologists , etc. We help them to learn to use buses and understand bus timetables and in their search for more permanent accommodation. We then assist with their relocation. Settlement may take several years and we help them meet their changing needs by accessing specialist services." [back]

HISTORY FROM 1979 TO 2011

Our Committee has operated since 1979 under several different Government arrangements.

For almost 22 years we provided direct practical assistance to refugees through the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme (CRSS). We were registered by the Immigration Department as a CRSS group and received limited government funding to assist refugees in specified ways. We operated to a very large extent by seeking donations from the public.

In 1997, our Committee was awarded Austcare’s National Paul Cullen Award for outstanding services to refugees. In 1999, to mark the 20th Anniversary of CRSS, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs awarded our Committee a Certificate of Appreciation for providing invaluable and continuing assistance in the settlement of refugees in the ACT.

CRSS ceased to operate from 1 July 2001. To that time we had provided a full range of settlement assistance to 45 families (175 persons) from 9 different countries to settle in the ACT, mainly in Belconnen. We also provided some assistance to humanitarian entrants from Kosovo in this period

Between 1 July 7 2001 and 1 September 2009, our Committee functioned as a Community Support for Refugees (CSR) - a group of volunteers registered through the Immigration Department under its Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS).

We assisted a number of different contractors in the IHSS which provided initial intensive settlement support for short periods, usually about 6 months. Our Committee continued to provide settlement support on a needs basis for humanitarian entrants who had been exited from IHSS. We also supported people with humanitarian needs, who had arrived outside the IHSS arrangements and who had Temporary Protection Visas. In 2004, we joined ACT Government coordinated arrangements to assist a number of Afghanistani asylum seekers recently released from detention on Nauru. In just over 4 years, we provided various forms of settlement assistance to 53 families (165 persons) from 8 different countries.

Since October 2005, RRC has provided various forms of settlement assistance to 40 families (138 persons) from 7 different countries."

In almost 32 years of operation, the RRC has helped 138 families (478 persons) from 17 different countries. These families have had additional children born in Australia since they arrived. These people have come from many different cultures and many religious faiths, Christian and non-Christian. Many of them are now making outstanding contributions to Australia.

CURRENT POSITION

In the 2010-2011 financial year, it is likely that the number of humanitarian entrants to Australia will peak at 13,750 and they will come from the three key regions of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. However, a mahor change in settlement arrangements will occur in April 2011 when the current Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) will be replaced by the new Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) arrangements. In the ACT and Regions, it is likely that there will be a change in the main contractor delivering HSS. this will mean that RRC will seek to make arrangements with the new contractor which may involve dealing to a greater extent with new arrivals than has been the case since 2008. RRC expects a high continuing demand for our services and we remain keen to attract active new members.

The practical face to face services that we provide are described in the previous section on “How do we help” and details on how to become a member are to be found in the membership section below. [back]

An Executive of usually 7-9 members is elected annually. The Executive provides leadership and develops policy to identify and help meet the needs of members and refugees. In addition to dealing with all administrative matters associated with the operation of the Committee, including the distribution of Newsletters and general information, the Executive arranges meetings of the general membership as well as organising training and mentoring as necessary.

Registered members can choose to undertake those settlement tasks which best suit their talents and available time. Mentoring can be arranged and general training provided by way of a combination of internal sessions addressed by guest speakers and external sessions provided by various settlement and community organisations.

As many of the appointments and functions for refugees occur within business hours we have a special need for volunteers available during those times- eg part time workers and retirees. Other activities can be effectively performed in the evenings or at week ends.

Registered membership of the Committee is subject to formal interview and an orientation program. Because of the sensitivity of the activities of registered members, volunteers will be required to make a formal undertaking with regard to the Settlement Service Principles and the Privacy and Confidentiality Agreement under which the group operates. Prospective members will also be required to undertake a police check. In addition, members are asked to sign undertakings, one of which is to work within the RRC to support and assist RRC clients to gain the knowledge and confidence to participate actively in social, cultural, economic and recreational activities of the Australian community and to use opportunities to generate community support for them.

Executive Membership:

Peter Peterson	President
	Vice President
Chris McKay	Secretary
Timothy Riley	Treasurer
Adolofo Moran	Membership Officer
	Community Liaison Officer
Tricia Johnson	Support Officer
Sherry Tibballs	Support Officer

For further details please contact us by email at RRC.Secretary@stjohnkippax.org.au or through the Parish Secretary on
6254 3236. [back]

LINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.

You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office

Mercy Refugee Service

Jesuit Refugee Service

International Catholic Migration Commission

National Council Of Churches in Australia

The Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT Inc.

The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)

ACT Multicultural Council

Canberra Multicultural Community Forum

ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services

Refugee Council of Australia

Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

United Nations High Commission for Refugees

Companion House www.companionhouse.org.au

CatholicCare www.catholiccare.cg.org.au

sted text for a proposed new section. It is a useful list for us, particularly in our advocacy role, but may be too much for this website. My main idea in proposing it was to help interested people understand that the RRC is part of a large network of church , community and government organisations. What do you think? Is it too much and need trimming to a smaller number of examples ?
LINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au

INKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au
United Nations High commission for RefugeesNKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au
United Nations High commission for RefugeesNLINKLINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au
United Nations High commission for RefugeesS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au
United Nations High commission for RefugeesKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION.
You may be interested in learning more about refugees, their settlement in Australia and some other organisations involved in refugee settlement in the ACT and other parts of Australia. The RRC is in a large network of church, community and government organisations. The following is a small sample of some of the websites that you may wish to access.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
www.acmro.catholic.org.au
Mercy Refugee Service
www.mercyworks.org.au/programs/refugee_services
Jesuit Refugee Service
www.jrs.org.au
International Catholic Migration Commission
www.icmc.net
National Council Of Churches in Australia
www.ncca,org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc
www.mrccanberra.org.au
The Multicultural Youth Service (Canberra)
www.CMY.net.au
ACT Multicultrural Council
www.actmc.org .au
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
www.cmcf.org.au
ACT Department of Disability,Housing & Community Services
www.dhcs.act.gov.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia
www. fecca.org.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
www. immi.gov.au
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
www.unhcr.org.au
United Nations High commission for Refugees