Growth in need for refugee services for young people
Refugees and Australia’s response continues to receive attention in the media. What is less known about is the state’s Refugee Minor Program and the key role it provides to people accross Victoria who have come to Australia as refugees unaccompanied by a parent or anyone who can assume the responsibilities of a guardian. The program is managed by the Southern Metropolitan Region and provides statewide support to refugee children and young people.
The program has significantly changed over recent times. Ten years ago there were less than 80 young people in the program and were likely to be from Somalia or Ethiopia. The program itself was not a single program but an adjunct to child protection in a number of regions.
Today the program works with more than 400 young people. The young people referred to the program by the Commonwealth Government are now likely to be from Afghanistan, Burma or Liberia and have experienced high levels of trauma; war, their journey and from settling in Australia. They may also suffer from ongoing threats to family members who remain exposed to danger in their country of origin. The program works proactively to address the settlement and support needs of these young refugees in the absence of parents and other adult family members.
Recent Victorian Gvernment funding has strengthened the planning and support for these young people into independence at the age of 18 years.
For further information please contact Ms Diana Orlando, Refugee Minor Program Manager on (03) 9213 2169.
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