$19.7 million to support refugees settling in Victoria

Refugees settling in Victoria will be able to better access health, justice, education and improved interpreting and translating services, under a $19.7 million package in the 2008-09 State Budget, the Premier and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, John Brumby, said today.

“Our Government is committed to making Victoria the best place to live, work and raise a family – and providing refugees and multicultural groups with the support and services they need to settle in Victoria is critical to this aim,” Mr Brumby said.

Mr Brumby said $2 million would go towards strengthening the interpreting workforce through increased recruitment, better training and better staff retention.

This strategy will create a larger pool of qualified interpreters to service growing and emerging communities, such as those from the Horn of Africa, as well as established groups such as the Chinese, Italian and Greek communities.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, said the funding would assess the use of new video and web conferencing technology to expand the reach of existing interpreters, especially to rural and regional communities.

“Language is the obvious and most significant barrier for the majority of refugees who settle in Victoria. Strengthening interpreting and translating services is crucial practical action the Brumby Labor Government is taking to support refugees,” Mr Merlino said.

“More than a million Victorians speak a language other than English at home. We are providing better quality and more available interpreting services, so that people unable to speak English can access the right services in our hospitals, schools, courts and legal centres.”

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Rob Hulls, said $17.7 million would go towards a Refugee Support Strategy targeting health, justice and education in refugee communities.

“During the past 10 years, more than 32,000 people granted visas through the Commonwealth’s Humanitarian Program have settled in Victoria – and it is important the State Government support them to settle into life in Victoria,” Mr Hulls said.

The 2008-09 State Budget funding for the Refugee Support Strategy includes:

• $8.2 million over four years for early intervention programs, information campaigns and multicultural liaison officers to improve access to justice services;
• $6.5 million over four years to schools and communities to meet refugee students’ needs, with programs such as specialised support and an After School Homework Program to help refugee students succeed at school; and
• $3 million over four years to expand the Refugee Health Nurse Program. The program focuses on early health assessment, referrals and health promotion.