Bendigo Community Health Services - Multicultural services

Our staff are dedicated to making refugees feel welcome and included by supporting new families, couples and individuals to build a life and home in Bendigo and then continue health and wellbeing support across their life journey.

How do you help refugees? 

Our Settlement Services team works with new refugees to help them settle in Greater Bendigo.

Our Cultural Diversity and Relationships team provides ongoing health and wellbeing advice through one-on-one contact and translated awareness videos/information sheets in areas such as mental health, trauma and counselling, Australian culture and laws, youth camp, road safety, Coronavirus, gambling, NDIS eligibility, bushfire and summer safety information,  

The Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) is a national program funded by the Australian Government to help refugees to establish themselves when they first arrive in Australia.

The program  will assist clients to build the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and active members of our society, through a needs-based, case management approach.

HSP service providers work with clients to identify their needs and goals and develop an individual case management plan.  Service providers support clients to achieve outcomes in:

• Housing
• Physical and mental health and well-being
• Managing money
• Community participation and networking
• Family functioning and social support
• Justice
• Language services
• Education and training
• Employment

HSP clients are tiered according to their level of need and complexity of their circumstances. Tier 3 clients receive specialised and intensive services.

Orientation is a key component of the HSP consisting of core topics. These topics provide clients with the basic skills and knowledge that will allow them to independently access services, participate fully in the social and economic life of Australia, and continue their settlement journey beyond the HSP.

Eligibility

The program is assessed on an 'as needs' basis and refugees must meet program criteria:

• Refugee category visas (subclass 200,201, 203 and 204)
• Special Humanitarian Program visa (subclass 202)
• Protection visa (subclass 866)
• Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
• Temporary Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449)
• Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
• Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)

Holders of these visas may be eligible for services for up to five years after their arrival in Australia or five years after the grant of their onshore visa. In exceptional circumstances other visa sub-classes may receive the services and the five-year eligibility timeframe may be extended.

What is the cost of your refugee services?

All services are delivered free of charge.

Can you organise an interpreter?

Ask for interpreter when you contact our settlement services team and we will assist you. Several members of our team are fluent in the Dhari and Karen languages.