Specialised and Intensive Services
Overview
Specialised and Intensive Services (SIS) is a component of the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) available to humanitarian entrants and other eligible visa holders who have complex needs.
SIS offer clients short term needs-based support to help them access appropriate mainstream services and develop the necessary skills to manage their needs independently.
SIS are delivered by HSP service providers on behalf of the Department.
Eligibility
Eligible visa subclasses
Refugee and humanitarian visas:
- Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)
- Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
- Protection visa (subclass 866)
- Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
- Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
Other visa streams:
- Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)
- Child visa (subclass 101)
- Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117)
- Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309)
- Partner (Temporary) visa (subclass 820)
- Partner (Permanent) visa (subclass 801)
- Resolution of Status (Temporary) visa (subclass 850)
- Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)
To be eligible for SIS, holders of a visa appearing in the other visa streams list must also:
- have low English proficiency, and
- come from a refugee-like background.
Australian Citizens are not eligible for SIS.
Timeframe to access SIS
Limited timeframes apply for eligible visa holders to access SIS.
Holders of the following visas must be referred to SIS within 5 years of arrival in Australia:
- Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)
- Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
- Child visa (subclass 101)
- Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117)
- Partner (provisional) visa (subclass 309)
Holders of the following visas must be referred to SIS within 5 years from the date of their initial visa grant:
- Protection visa (subclass 866)
- Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
- Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
- Resolution of Status (Temporary) visa (subclass 850)
- Resolution of Status (subclass 851)
Holders of a Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) must be referred to SIS within 5 years from the date they arrived in Australia on their Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309).
Holders of a Partner (Permanent) visa (subclass 801) must be referred to SIS within 5 years from the date their Partner (Temporary) visa (subclass 820) was granted.
Multiple and complex barriers
To access SIS, eligible visa holders also must demonstrate an inability to independently engage with appropriate supports and be impacted by multiple and complex barriers that may include:
- disability
- health needs that are severe, critical, long term and/or unmanaged
- mental health issues
- homelessness or housing instability
- domestic and family violence
- child and youth welfare concerns
- family and/or relationship breakdown
- social isolation
- financial hardship
- legal issues.
How to refer a person for SIS
To refer a person for SIS, please complete the online SIS Referral Form.
If you experience technical difficulties completing the online form, please contact the Department for assistance by emailing SIS@homeaffairs.gov.au.
If you are unsure of whether a person is eligible for SIS, please contact the Department for assistance by emailing
SIS@homeaffairs.gov.au.
If you are unable to access the online referral form, you can contact
SIS@homeaffairs.gov.au to request a paper version of the referral form.
What happens after a referral is submitted
The Department will assess the eligibility of the person referred and notify the referrer of the outcome. If the person/s meets the eligibility criteria, the Department will engage a HSP service provider to deliver SIS.
The length of time that a person can receive SIS is based on individual need, but will generally be up to six months.
