Inclusions and Exclusions Family Settlement in a Changing Immigration Environment 1 For permission to reproduce contact Amrit Versha Amrit Versha C Permission to reproduce contact Amrit Versha

Objectives Create an awareness and understanding of the important elements of Australia’s migration program. Raise awareness of the eligibilities and ineligibilities of income and access associated with some of the Visa subclasses Create an understanding of how access restrictions impact on the integration of children into the mainstream society Amrit Versha C

The Migration Program has two main branches, Migrants and Refugee’s The Migration Program has two main branches, Migrants and Refugee’s. These can be further broken down into Temporary and Permanent. Migrants Refugee Temporary Program Permanent Program Temporary Permanent Economic Economic Tourist and Holiday Makers Short Stay Business Professional Development Business Visa’s with significant capital Temporary Protection Visa Asylum Seekers Bridging Visas Refugee (200) In Country Special Humanitarian (201) Emergency Rescue (203) Women At Risk (204) Special Humanitarian Program (202) Unaccompanied Minors (covered by Guardianship Of children Act) Skilled Skilled Independent Australian Sponsored Link Designated Area Sponsored Skill Matching Database Skilled After 2 yrs Student Skilled Independent Regional Temporary Business Parent Aged Parents Contributory Parents Partner Child Spouse Fiancé Inter-dependence Own Child Adopted Child Orphan Relative Other Compiled from www.immi.gov.au Fact sheets 20, 29, 33,36, 39,40,60,69 Bridging Visas Social and Cultural Stream Amrit Versha C

Total Migration from 3 key categories Amrit Versha C DIMIA (2006) Population Flows: Immigration Aspects 2003 - 2004 Edition, p.30-31 and DIMIA (2006), Factsheet 20: Migration program planning levels

Source Countries for Australian Migration UK has one of the largest portion of over stayers Amrit Versha C Migration Program Statistics www.immi.gov.au, 2007

In 2003/2004 there were only 82 boat arrivals Key Comparisons Refugees Total accepted 13 000 refugees per year In 2005-06 planning year 14,144 visas were issued Source countries consist of: Sudan Iraq Afghanistan Burma Liberia Burundi Sierra Leone Congo In 2003/2004 there were only 82 boat arrivals Amrit Versha C

Refugee Visas 2004/05 Total 13008 Refugee 5,511 Women at risk 841 SHP 6,585 On shore humanitarian 17 On shore refugees 895 (source Refugee council of Australia www.rcoa.org.au/stats) Amrit Versha C

Off-shore refugee program (a) Refugee category. Refugees are people outside their country of nationality, who are subject to persecution in their home country and have been identified in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as in need of resettlement (b) Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category. SHP entrants are people outside their home country who have suffered substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights and who have been proposed by an Australian citizen, resident or community group in Australia (c) Special Assistance category (SAC). This visa category was discontinued after the 2001-02 program year. This category was for people who, while not meeting the refugee or special humanitarian criteria, were nonetheless in situations of discrimination, displacement or hardship. Amrit Versha C

On shore refugee program Humanitarian category: This includes people granted permanent resident status on humanitarian grounds or granted Temporary Humanitarian Concern (subclass 786) visas Onshore Refugee category is further divided into Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) subclass 785 Permanent Protection Visa (PPV) subclass 866 Amrit Versha C

Settlement assistance Refugees & proposers are assisted through the IHSS program which includes Case Coordination, Information and Referrals On Arrival Reception and Assistance Accommodation Services Short Term Torture and Trauma Counseling Services Amrit Versha C

Where is the child? No eligibilities Limited eligibilities The general trend of migration & assistance through disintegrated systems implies that their integration will be limited as it is not well controlled Amrit Versha C

Some interesting Studies that look at Refugee children A new Country and no place to call home: Hanover Welfare services 2004 Seeking Asylum alone: A study of Australian Law Policy and Practice regarding unaccompanied and separated children: MCrock Faculty of Law Sydney University 2006 Asylum seekers and refugees in Australia: Issues of Mental Health and Well being: S.Raman and S.Goldfeld 2003 Scarred for life, but still alive. Children in conflict areas are often subject to physical harm. (Source: Burma Issues, 2003)   Amrit Versha C

Convention on the rights of the child & the Story of a Tamil family Article 2 States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians, or family members. Article 3 1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. 2. States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, and, to this end, shall take all appropriate legislative and administrative measures. Amrit Versha C

Listen to people don’t make assumptions and exclude them. Human services workers: Bridge the gap between those who make decisions and those who have to suffer the effects of those decisions Listen to people don’t make assumptions and exclude them. If a person does not speak English or is not eligible for a service then work a bit harder to include them. A few minutes of your extra work may change someone’s life. Sometimes access also means goodwill, open-mindedness and a way around funding guidelines. Amrit Versha C

Source of information www.immi.gov.au www.rcoa.org.au DIMIA (2004) Australia's Support for Humanitarian Entrants, p.2 1. DIMIA (2005) Australian Institute of Family studies Australian Treaty Series 1991 No 4: DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE CANBERRA Amrit Versha C