The Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division continues the work of the former Coordinator-General for Migrant Services.
Priority areas of focus in relation to settlement policy for refugees and humanitarian entrants are:
- reform and delivery of the settlement services programs, with a focus on settlement and integration outcomes
- identifying ways to build on improving employment pathways
- improving data capture and analysis to enable measuring of settlement and integration outcomes
- supporting the work of the newly-appointed Settlement Advisory Council.
The Coordinator-General for Migrant Services
In 2018, the Australian Government commissioned an independent review into the integration, employment and settlement outcomes for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia. Professor Peter Shergold AC, Ms Kerrin Benson AM and Ms Margaret Piper (the Shergold Review) led this review.
The Shergold Review identified services which could be improved, focusing on English language training and access to employment. Based on these findings, the Shergold Review presented seven recommendations to Government. These recommendations aimed to create stronger settlement outcomes for refugees and humanitarian entrants.
The role of Commonwealth Coordinator-General for Migrant Services (Coordinator-General) was a direct response to the Shergold Review recommendations.
The Coordinator-General was responsible for:
- providing national leadership on migrant services
- collaborating with and drawing together government, community, and industry
- driving the improvement of settlement and integration outcomes and
- promoting the contributions of refugees and humanitarian entrants to our nation.
Alison Larkins was appointed as Commonwealth Coordinator-General for Migrant Services in late 2019. The position ceased on 30 June 2022.
