The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Families SA, including the child protection and family support functions, is now part of the new Department for Education and Child Development. Youth Justice remains with DCSI and the Department now includes Multicultural SA, Northern Connections, Office for the Southern Suburbs, Office for Volunteers, Office for Women, Office for Youth and Social Inclusion. Contact details for these offices are available on the Contacts page.

The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates are in progress. Departmental information can still be found using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Refugee children

Last Updated Dec 2008

Caring for refugee children at risk

When refugees arrive they can sometimes be unaccompanied minors who need to be cared for appropriately. Families SA provide the following services to these children and young people:

Wards

A ward is a child under 18 years of age without an adult relative care provider. Wards may come to Australia with a Permanent Visa through the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs’ (DIMIA) Humanitarian Settlement Services Scheme or may be awaiting completion of their visa processing.

The program provides case services for the wards. Wards are provided with one-on-one support from a worker who ensures that the wards are:

In culturally appropriate placement or alternative accommodation
Linked with support systems
Provided with health and services
Involved in education and training, social, sporting, recreational and cultural activities appropriate to their needs.

Non-wards

A non-ward is a child under 18 years of age who arrive in Australia with Humanitarian Visas and is in care of an adult relative. Case management is provided, in conjunction with other agencies, for a period of 12 months, or until they reach 18 years of age. The service delivery model is child centred and aimed to assist the whole family to South Australian community life.

Humanitarian and Temporary Protection Visas

The program provides settlement support and case management services to families with children under 18 years of age, who are released from detention, on Temporary Protection Visas that do not entitle them to access Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) funded Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Services Scheme. These families receive settlement services funded by the South Australian Government to meet their specific needs for 12-18 months. Support includes:

Registration with Centrelink, Medicare, Education and Training
Liaison and coordination with Australian Refugee Association (ARA), Housing SA, Red Cross, Migrant Health Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service (STTARS)
Community Orientation for children and their families (egshops, public transport, child care, community centres, libraries etc)
Assistance with finding private rental accommodation and negotiating employment
Social and recreational activities
Linking families with local cultural and religious groups

Bridging Visas

The program currently provides case coordination services to families with children under 18 years of age on Bridging Visas, in partnership with Australian Refugee Association and the ‘Circle of Friends’ volunteer group. When families are given a Bridging visa (while waiting completion of visa processing), they are not eligible to work or to any Commonwealth Centrelink or Medicare benefits.

Protecting children in Immigration Detention

The program investigates, assesses and makes recommendations to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to improve the care and well being of children and their families.

Alternative Care Program

The program provides culturally appropriate foster care for children who arrive without carers. We recruit, assess, train and support carers to meet the needs of children and young people in their care.

Social and recreational

The program has provided many social, recreational and culturally appropriate programs and activities for young people. Programs have included drivers’ education, living skills, health and well being.

Contacts

Families SA Refugee Services
300 Richmond Road
Netley SA 5037
Phone: 8226 4901