CENTRELINK'S FAIRFIELD PROJECT HELPS YOUNG REFUGEES GET AHEAD

The Minister for Human Services and local Federal MP, Chris Bowen today celebrated the achievements of 38 local residents who have graduated from Centrelink Fairfield’s Young Refugees Initiative at a presentation in Wetherill Park.

The pilot program was rolled out in only two locations – Fairfield in NSW and Broadmeadows in Victoria. It targeted young, local refugee job seekers aged between 16 and 24 years who felt disconnected from local service delivery.

“Working closely with other community and support groups, Centrelink developed a very specialised and locally-focussed program to help newly-arrived young refugees with education, training and support,” Mr Bowen said.

“Within one year, graduates of the program achieved wonderful results. Now 11 of this group have jobs and 27 have pursued further study, which is an extraordinarily positive outcome,” Mr Bowen said.

Program coordinators assessed each person's needs and sought solutions through collaboration with local community groups; service providers; and government and non-government agencies.

“The Young Refugees Initiative is an important part of the Government’s strategy to use government services to help people who have had extra difficulty finding work due to their circumstances,” Mr Bowen said.

“Sometimes, all people need is a leg up or a foot in the door and this program really reaches out to young people who are disengaged from mainstream educational institutions and support services to ease the transition from school to TAFE.”

The Social Inclusion Pathways for Refugee Youth program is a partnership of Fairfield High School; Wetherill Park TAFE; Department of Education and Training (DET);New South Wales Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS); Friends of STARTTS; Newly Arrived Youth Support Service; Centrelink; and Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre.

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