Settlement Services

Bendigo Community Health Service (BCHS) has two settlement programs to help recently arrived people of refugee background make a new life in Bendigo.

• Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP).

Families are case managed and referred into mainstream services including health, schools, and importantly orientated to a new life in a new country and taught how to navigate these systems. For more information go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/settling-in-australia/humanitarian-settlement-program

• Specialised Intensive Service (SIS).

This is a component of HSP and is available to people with multiple complex challenges such as disability, severe health needs, poor mental health, homelessness, domestic & family violence, child welfare concerns, family and/or relationship breakdown, social isolation, financial hardship, or legal issues. For more information go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/settling-in-australia/humanitarian-settlement-program/specialised-and-intensive-services

• Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS).

HSP families have an option to transition into SETS. This program provides case work, advocacy, referral, information provision, group work, assessment etc. This program has a focus on youth. For more information go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/settling-in-australia/sets-program/sets-client-services

Eligibility Criteria

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:

• 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)

In exceptional circumstances other visa sub-classes may receive the services and the five-year eligibility timeframe may be extended.

Referral pathway

Each program has a different referral pathway:

• Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP).
  Most referrals come from AMES Australia, although someone may have moved from their original location to Bendigo and so may need to be referred. Practitioners can reach out to either AMES Australia or the BCHS Settlement Services Manager on (03) 5406 1200.
• Specialised Intensive Service (SIS).
  Complete the referral form located at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/settling-in-australia/humanitarian-settlement-program/specialised-and-intensive-services
• Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS).
  Ring (03) 5406 1200 and ask for the Settlement Services Manager.