Editing Immigration to Australia (section)

===Migration and settlement services===

The Australian Government and the community{{which|date=January 2019}} provide a number of migration-assistance and settlement-support services: 
* The [[Adult Migrant English Program]], available to eligible migrants from the humanitarian, family and skilled-visa streams, provides free English-language courses for those who do not have functional English. Up to 510 hours of English language courses are provided during the first five years of settlement in Australia.
* The Department of Home Affairs operates a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week telephone-based interpreting service called the Translating and Interpreting Service National, which facilitates contact between non-English speakers and interpreters, enabling access to government and community services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/home-affairs/department-home-affairs|title=Department of Home Affairs|date=25 May 2017|website=www.directory.gov.au|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627183123/https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/home-affairs/department-home-affairs|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Settlement Grants Program provides funding to assist humanitarian entrants and migrants settle in Australia and to participate equitably in Australian society as soon as possible after arrival. The program is targeted to deliver settlement services to humanitarian entrants, family migrants with low levels of English proficiency and dependants of skilled migrants in rural and regional areas with low English-proficiency.
* The Australian Cultural Orientation program provides practical advice and the opportunity to ask questions about travel to and life in Australia to refugee and humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia. The program is delivered overseas over five days before the visa holder begins his or her journey.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/lega/lega/form/immi-faqs/what-is-the-australian-cultural-orientation-program |title=What is the Australian Cultural Orientation program? |access-date=1 April 2018 |archive-date=1 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144744/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/lega/lega/form/immi-faqs/what-is-the-australian-cultural-orientation-program |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Refugee and humanitarian visa holders are also eligible to receive on-arrival settlement support through the Humanitarian Settlement Services program, which provides intensive settlement-support and equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to independently access services beyond the initial settlement period.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settlement-services/humanitarian-settlement-program| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030656/https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settlement-services/humanitarian-settlement-program| archive-date = 2018-03-23| title = Humanitarian Settlement Program {{!}} Department of Social Services, Australian Government}}</ref>
* The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme provides professional assistance, free of charge, to disadvantaged visa-applicants, to help with the completion and submission of visa applications, liaison with the department,{{which|date=January 2019}} and advice on complex immigration matters. It also provides migration advice to prospective visa-applicants and sponsors.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/63advice| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180211013740/http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/63advice| archive-date = 2018-02-11| title = Fact sheet - Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS)}}</ref>
* In response to the needs of asylum seekers, the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme was established{{by whom|date=January 2019}} in 1992 to address Australia's obligations under the [[Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees|Convention relating to the Status of Refugees]]. The Australian Red Cross administers the scheme under contract to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It provides financial assistance to asylum seekers in the community who satisfy specific eligibility criteria, and also facilitates access to casework assistance and to other support services for asylum seekers through the Australian Red Cross.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/66hss.htm |title=Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 66. Humanitarian Settlement Services<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=23 October 2012 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103235036/http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/66hss.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* A variety of community-based services cater to the needs of newly-arrived migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Some of these services, such as Migrant Resource Centres, receive funding from the Commonwealth Government.