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Red Cross has been administering the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme (ASAS) since its inception in 1992. The scheme is funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and provides financial assistance and health care to asylum seekers living in the ACT.
Caseworkers assist people to meet a wide range of needs including health support, counselling, accommodation, material aid, social support, education and legal referrals.
The scheme operates in each State and Territory.
Services
All services are provided free of charge. They include:
- income support to cover basic living expenses (89 per cent of Centrelink Special Benefit)
- general health care including pharmaceutical
- Health Services Australia medical costs
- Australian Federal Police check costs
- casework support
- referrals to other agencies (legal, medical, counselling, social, education, housing, material aid).
Eligibility
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship determines the eligibility of persons for support under ASAS. A person must be awaiting a decision on an onshore Protection Visa application and must also be one of the following:
- a person who has been waiting over six months for an outcome of their Protection Visa application
- an unaccompanied minor
- an elderly person
- a person unable to work due to effects of torture & trauma, a disability or an illness (mental or physical)
- a parent with child under 18 yrs old
- a full-time carer
- a pregnant woman
- a person who is the spouse, de-facto spouse or sponsored fiance of a permanent resident or citizen of Australia or New Zealand
- a person in a situation of financial hardship which is a result of a change in circumstance since their arrival in Australia.
To apply for assistance or for more information please contact Carla Preston, Acting Manager, Migrant Support Programs on 02 6234 7612.
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