Establishing a new home
The St Vincent de Paul Society has a long history of helping asylum seekers and refugees settle in Australia beginning with Archbishop Carr of Melbourne inviting the Society, in 1910, to welcome newly-arrived immigrants at the Port of Melbourne.
In 1952, with the arrival of thousands of displaced people from Europe, the Society established a migrant information centre and hostel accommodation. Our members visited people in the hostels and their homes as well as helping to settle thousands of refugees after the Vietnam war.
Since that time, the Society has re-established its commitment to assisting people seeking a safe haven in a new country following after facing unique issues and circumstances.
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria assists asylum seekers and refugees to re-establish themselves in a new country but providing support in various ways including advocating on their behalf as well as providing support to find housing plus furniture and fittings.
Each person's experience is different, some times traumatic. Each request is different.
The Society adapts to what is needed and will support the person/family to the best of their ability to obtain the best outcome.
A person’s refugee or asylum seeker status (including the circumstances of their arrival in Australia) determines their visa type and their access to benefits, work rights and other assistance.
In assisting asylum seekers and refugees we have found knowing this information helpful:
- What visa the person has and if they are receiving a Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) payment or had it removed recently.
- Is the person is receiving legal advice or has a lawyer been allocated by Refugee Legal or Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC).
- Has there been communication received from the Department of Home Affairs.
- Does the person/family have accommodation and is it ongoing during the application process.
- Ask what other organisations are providing support.
- What material assistance is needed for the person/family.
Further information is available on the Department of Home Affairs website: Explore visa options (homeaffairs.gov.au)
Queries regarding support from the Society, contact us on RASM@svdp-vic.org.au
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Definitions
Asylum Seeker
An Asylum Seeker is a person who is seeking protection as a refugee but whose claim has not yet been finally decided.
Refugee
A Refugee is a person who has fled their country of origin and is unable or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of persecution.
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