Procurement
Over the past two years, the Department of Home Affairs has worked closely with the Refugee and Humanitarian Settlement Sector, our clients and the community, to identify improvements to our already world-class settlement services.
This consultation has resulted in the development of a new Humanitarian Integration and Settlement Program (HISP) to better support humanitarian entrants to build the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and active members of the community and economy.
The HISP will combine and enhance the current Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) and Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO) and aligns with the
Refugee and Humanitarian Entrant Settlement and Integration Outcomes Framework.
Under the HISP, support will continue to be delivered through an individualised case-management approach with a focus on matters that include health and well-being, housing, English literacy, access to education and economic participation.
Changes to current arrangements will include streamlining the initial AUSCO Program to focus on immediate client needs, allowing for earlier engagement with clients to improve client case management preparation and enhance funding arrangements to provide more certainty, flexibility and less administration for providers.
The HISP will be delivered through two procurements:
Both RFTs closed on 6 March 2025. Following comprehensive evaluation processes, the department anticipates that outcomes in relation to both RFT processes will be made available in early 2026. The current HSP and AUSCO Programs will continue while the procurements are conducted.
Sector consultation sessions
On 16 and 17 July 2024, 174 settlement sector members and other interested parties participated in two separate online HISP consultation sessions. These sessions were led by the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA). Eight reform areas relating to the HSP and AUSCO Programs were discussed.
These included:
- pre-arrival assessment
- basic household goods
- health considerations
- economic participation
- case management and service flexibility
- funding models
- service provider workforce considerations and reporting.
The department appreciates the time participants’ dedicated to the discussions.
The information gained from previous feedback and consultations will help shape the future HISP.
A short summary of the key points raised in the sessions is available in Refugee and Humanitarian Sector Online Consultation Sessions Summary 16-17 July 2024
Earlier consultation on Australia’s settlement services
On 17 November 2023 the department released a Request for Information (RFI) that sought input on future settlement services in Australia.
The RFI sought feedback from the settlement sector and other interested parties about delivery model options and costings for the provision of settlement services for refugee and humanitarian entrants.
These services included:
- short-term and long-term accommodation
- basic household goods
- immediate orientation and foundation services.
The development of the RFI was informed by the views and feedback received through a consultation process undertaken in 2022.
These processes included:
- the release of a discussion paper, Next steps to improve Australia’s settlement and integration of refugee (473KB PDF) in April 2022, seeking the community’s thoughts on how Australia can continue to improve its delivery of world-leading settlement and integration services
- three roundtables in late 2022 led by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, including one with former refugee and humanitarian entrants, to gain their views from a ‘lived experience’ perspective
- seven focus groups, held in late 2022 by the department in cities across Australia with people with lived experience
- an online survey in late 2022 of grassroots settlement providers, including Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS).
