Settlement Grants

The Settlement Grants Program (SGP) is an integral part of MARSS’ settlement services. We provide free settlement assistance through casework, provision of information, referrals and advocacy services.

Our clients

Any refugee or humanitarian visa holders, newly-arrived migrants on Family Visas with low English proficiency and some other streams and newly emerging communities in the ACT are deemed to be SGP clients. Clients accessing SGP services must be residing in Australia for under five years.

Assistance

We can assist you to:

  • Look for accommodation
  • Understand letters and documents
  • Access education (enrol children in school, find english classes etc)
  • Access health services
  • Deal with family issues and problems
  • Deal with Centrelink and other government agencies
  • With banking and financial institutions
  • With referrals to migration agents and lawyers
  • With referrals to gain recognition of your overseas qualifications
  • With referrals to other services
  • By providing emotional support, respect and understanding
  • With general settlement information

 

We also have a dedicated group of student volunteers who can assist our clients to fill in forms and paperwork between 11am-2pm on Fridays.

Outreach

We also offer our services once a month at CIT Bruce and CIT Gungahlin. These outreach services are also free. Please contact us to find out when we will be in your area next.

Additional activities

MARSS also hosts a number of information and orientation sessions that can help you get to know Canberra and everything it has to offer. Here is a list of our upcoming events:

  • Information session on business skills for Arts and Crafts group at MARSS 1 November 2012
  • Information session on family, drug and alcohol awareness and appropriate social behaviour in Australia 13 November 2012
  • Cultural awareness training for professionals 21 November 2012
  • MARSS Christmas party

 

Contact

If you would like to access any of our services, make an appointment to see a volunteer for form assistance on fridays, or would like more information about our range of services – please contact us to make an appointment.