African Humanitarian Settlement

Report of the Community Relations Commission Investigation into African Humanitarian Settlement in NSW

Since 2002, the Community Relations Commission and other NSW Government agencies have been alert to the fact that significant barriers to successful settlement are being encountered by newly arrived humanitarian entrants from Africa.

Since this time, the Commission and the NSW Government have consistently raised the urgent need to review the adequacy and coordination of services so as to lessen hardships faced by these emerging communities at meetings of the State, Territory, and Commonwealth Governments.

In September 2005, the Community Relations Commission resolved to undertake an independent investigation into the issue under sections 13(c) and 15 of the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act 2000.

The Commission conducted state-wide consultations with African communities, service providers and stakeholders to identify settlement needs. The Commission received 25 written submissions from government and community stakeholders addressing the investigation’s terms of reference.

The Commission released its Report in September 2006. The Report makes 41 recommendations to improve settlement outcomes for refugees and humanitarian entrants from Africa. The recommendations made in the Report are national in scope and relate to key agencies in both the Australian Government and the NSW Government.

Contents

• Cover (142kb)
• Part 1 (426kb)
  • Terms of Reference
  • Members of the Commission
  • Chair’s Foreword
  • Acronyms
  • Table of contents
  • Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • Chapter 2 - Settlement patterns and identified needs
  • Chapter 3 - Initial settlement needs
  • Chapter 4 - Health
  • Chapter 5 - Education and English language tuition
• Part 2 (221kb)
  • Chapter 6 - Employment and training
  • Chapter 7 - Family and community
  • Chapter 8 - Racism, community relations and crime
  • Chapter 9 - Co-ordinated response
  • Summary of Recommendations
  • Appendices
    1. Submissions received by the Commission
    2. NSW Health Service provision for Refugees
    3. African humanitarian enrolments in NSW government schools and TAFE NSW
    4. NSW Government Immigration and Settlement Planning Committee – structures and input
    5. References cited