Settlement Services

MARSS supports migrants, refugees, humanitarian entrants and asylums seekers with the knowledge and skills to identify, understand and take action to address their identified settlement needs through casework, advocacy, and referrals. MARSS delivers workshops, information sessions and counselling to all clients based on the 10 areas of NSSOS {(National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards); Settlement Council of Australia,2021}.

Settlement Services provides clients with settlement-related information, advice, advocacy, and assistance to access mainstream and other relevant services. Services are delivered in accordance with a needs-based approach and align with the priority areas identified in the National Settlement Framework (based on the 10 National Settlement Standards) –

1. Education and Training – Newly arrived people can readily access and participate in high quality education and training pathways.
2. Employment – Newly arrived people achieve positive employment outcomes, supported by services which are responsive, diverse, sustainable and effective.
3. Health and Wellbeing – Newly arrived people experience positive health and wellbeing, and are fully engaged in effective and responsive health and wellbeing programs and services, including primary prevention and early intervention programs.
4. Housing – Appropriate, affordable and long term housing is available and accessible for newly arrived people, within reasonable proximity to social and community supports and employment opportunities.
5. Language Services – Translating and interpreting services, and a wide range of high quality translated and interpreted resources, are widely available and accessible for newly arrived people.
6. Transport – Affordable and accessible transport options are readily available to newly arrived people, to facilitate their social and economic participation, and their wellbeing.
7. Civic Participation – Newly arrived people are fully engaged and participating in the Australian community, and exercising their individual and collective rights and responsibilities under the law.
8. Family and Social Support – Newly arrived people are fully supported to establish and maintain safe, healthy, positive and meaningful family and social relationships throughout their settlement journey.
9. Justice – Newly arrived people have full access to the legal and justice systems, in order to ensure the realisation of their rights and responsibilities.
10. Finance – Newly arrived people are able to confidently navigate the financial landscape, and make good decisions that enable their financial and material wellbeing.

The National Settlement Outcomes Standards are underpinned by 10 key principles and practices that form the foundation for achieving the Standards:

1. Evidence based: A strong evidence base underpins service delivery and policy, and services contribute to the ongoing development of this evidence base.
2. Collaboration: Strong and effective collaboration occurs across different programs, services, organisations, and sectors.
3. Fostering Independence: Services emphasise and encourage the development of independent capabilities through access to knowledge and skills development.
4. Cultural Competence: Services and systems demonstrate an ability to understand, communicate, and effectively support people across cultures.
5. Intersectionality: Services and systems recognise and seek to address the fact that people draw strength from and are disadvantaged by multiple aspects of their lived experiences including experiences of race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, (dis)ability and religion.
6. Strengths-Based: Services value the capacity, skills, knowledge, connections and potential in individuals and communities.
7. Person-Centred: Person-centred approaches are used, informing both the systemic and practice levels.
8. Engagement: Service delivery and policy are underpinned by effective engagement with newly arrived individuals, families, and communities.
9. Continuous Development: New programs and initiatives are continually being developed, and existing ones continually improved.
10. Advocacy: Services engage in both individual and systemic advocacy, as well as supporting newly arrived people to develop their skills, confidence, and networks to engage in their own advocacy.

(Settlement Council of Australia November 2020; published 2015)