South Australia boasts a world leading refugee settlement program that offers protection to people fleeing conflict and persecution in their homelands, a new report has found.
The state accepts up to 1400 refugees each year, providing on-arrival support and case management as well as accommodation and housing, cultural orientation and access to education and employment.
This intensive, wrap-around support, facilitated by settlement agency AMES Australia and it partners, has meant that refugees in South Australia quickly become independent and are able to contribute back to the South Australian community, the report, titled ‘Bound for South Australia: A world leading settlement destination’, says.
The report says new refugee arrivals benefit from a range of tailored settlement programs and initiatives in South Australia largely under the aegis of the federal government’s refugee settlement arrangements.
“Services include on-arrival support and accommodation. Newly arrived refugees are initially housed at a dedicated accommodation facility and are supported to find long-term, appropriate housing in the community,” the report says.
“Refugee clients can access an intensive orientation program which provides information about navigating Australian society, including schooling and education, public transport, healthcare, banking, employment and rights and responsibilities. They are provided with the tools and resources they need for long-term stability and successful integration.
“Key partnerships ensure new arrivals have access to a range of health, mental health, family violence and trauma services as well as connections to government agencies and local support groups. This ensures clients have access to essential services and social opportunities,” the report says.
In 2023-24 229 adult refugees were supported into sustainable jobs and 115 more received ongoing employment strategy development support with 109 achieving job interviews.
Twenty-seven refugee businesses were established with support from AMES Australia.
More than 210 families have been supported with children’s school enrolments and 356 adults were supported to enrol in English language tuition.
Three refugees were assisted to enrol in tertiary and vocational training and two more with obtaining recognition of overseas skills and qualifications.
In 2023-24 there were more than 8,100 individual attendances at orientation sessions covering settlement services, housing, health, managing money, life in Australia, transport, family life and services, Australian law, education and employment.
Long-term appropriate housing was secured for 226 client families and around 350 families were supported with on-arrival accommodation.
Ninety-nine per cent of people exiting the refugee support program had secured permanent accommodation.
The report says refugee settlement generates around $19 million in economic activity for South Australia each year, including more than $3 million in federal investment and $15 million in extra tax receipts and spending.
“The settlement of refugees in South Australia adds more than $19 million to South Australia’s economy each year through federal government investment, harnessing the skills and entrepreneurialism refugees bring with them,” the report says.
“This includes South Australia’s share of the and the $21.2 million the federal government invests in refugee settlement each year (1) and of the $9.1 million invested engagement and transitions support programs.
“It also includes the $5.1 million paid in tax by refugees who gained employment in South Australia in 2023-24 and the $10.2 million in cash injected into the economy by those workers and entrepreneurs.
“The skills and experience possessed by refugees represents almost a 1 per cent boost to productivity in South Australia,” the report said.
Consultant economist Dr Ian Pringle, who produced the report, said South Australia had unique refugee settlement arrangements.
“What sets South Australia apart is the level of community input into successful settlement outcomes,” Dr Pringle said.
“From schools to sporting clubs, local councils, community groups and faith organisations, there is an all of community approach to making sure refugees settle well and are made to feel welcome,” he said.