Changes to services due to COVID-19
Support under the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program continues to be available to clients during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the way that services are delivered has changed.
Currently, many providers are assisting clients using the telephone or online. In some cases, service providers can see clients face to face for urgent issues or if online services are not possible.
Service providers have access to telephone interpreting services for clients who do not speak English well.
See
advice from the department to SETS service provider organisations regarding service arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SETS program aims to equip and empower humanitarian entrants, other eligible permanent migrants and their communities to address their settlement needs, in order to improve social participation, economic well-being, independence, personal well-being and community connectedness. The program commenced on 1 January 2019.
The program fills an important gap in the post-arrival period for eligible clients who do not have family and other community supports to rely on. The program is complementary to the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) and other Commonwealth support to humanitarian entrants and for other vulnerable migrants.
SETS is an enhanced version of the former Settlement Grants program. A policy review and
independent evaluation of Settlement Grants found that the program provides effective early intervention that contributes to clients achieving full participation in society as soon as possible. Enhancements were made to the program to ensure that grant funding continues to:
- appropriately deliver against the Government's policy objectives, in particular English, education and employment (the 3Es)
- align with the HSP and the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
- be targeted, flexible, and innovative in providing timely and effective early intervention support to the most vulnerable based on specific emerging needs
The program includes two components:
SETS – Client Services
SETS – Client Services provides clients with settlement-related information, advice, advocacy, and assistance to access mainstream and other relevant services. Services will be delivered in accordance with a needs-based approach.
This component has a key role in:
- facilitating acquisition of English language skills
- supporting engagement with education and training, and
- building employment readiness with services complementing other settlement and mainstream services
SETS – Community Capacity Building
SETS – Community Capacity Building helps new and emerging community groups and organisations support their specific communities towards collectively increasing the social participation, economic and personal well-being of community members, to ensure that positive settlement outcomes are sustained in the long term.
Support may include:
- development of leadership and governance skills
- linkages to the broader community
- interaction with government and local stakeholders
- access to resources and facilities.
