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communities
We work to connect refugees and humanitarian migrants with their wider community to develop new networks and relationships. This is a valuable way to learn about the local neighbourhood and the services available to support them.
As well as working with new arrivals, ARA offers skills-building and culturally sensitive training sessions for leadership teams within Australian community organisations and workplaces. By sharing our knowledge and collaborating holistically with community leaders, like minded organisations can better support refugee families to create their positive future in Australia.
General Client Support
As the largest Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) provider in South Australia, ARA provides holistic support to eligible clients including assessment, information, case management, and referrals to specialised services. With nearly 1,200 clients in the past year, this is ARA’s most significant program.
BICULTURAL CASE SUPPORT
Staff with backgrounds from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Congo, South America and Myanmar provide services to clients from their community and via a telephone interpreter service including support, information, advocacy and referrals to other services.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
ARA organises a range of workshops for community groups on topics of interest related to settlement, such as health, family relationships, voting and budgeting. ARA is also actively involved in a range of other community education initiatives such as the Health Expo.
SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
Volunteers visit clients to provide practical assistance, information and friendship. Support can include social connections, practicing English, explaining letters and filling out forms and providing information about community activities.
SOUTHERN OUTREACH
Arabic and Spanish speaking bicultural case managers provide an outreach support service each Wednesday at MarionLife. The service provides settlement information, support, advocacy, referral and linkages to other local support services.
WESTERN OUTREACH
Arabic and Spanish speaking bicultural case managers provide an outreach support service each Fridays at Careworks. The service provides settlement information, support, advocacy, referral and linkages to other local support services.
Cultural Awareness Workshops
ARA’s Cultural Awareness Workshops are for mainstream services, organisations and community groups. Their aim? To share understanding and knowledge to equip their teams to engage respectfully and proactively with people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
A powerful highlight of these workshops is the involvement of ARA’s inspirational Youth Ambassadors, who generously share their experiences and lead Q&A sessions for our participants.
Together, we explore cultural sensitivities and potential barriers to ensure our public services are inclusive and accessible for all.
Settlement Action Network
The Settlement Action Network (SAN) is a diverse group of agencies and people dedicated to addressing the common settlement issues faced by refugees and humanitarian migrants.
With more than 130 member organisations and 300 individuals, including not-for-profits, government agencies, community groups and educational institutions, SAN is a platform for discussing challenges such as youth transition issues, employment, housing, racism, domestic violence and community connections.
Through quarterly meetings and a comprehensive Directory of Services, SAN promotes a spirit of unity and cooperation in working towards positive outcomes for people seeking refuge. Any individual or organisation with an interest in supporting new arrivals is welcome to join.