Report card released on Fairfield’s refugee settlement plan

An ambitious plan to help the approximately 12,000 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants settling in Fairfield City reveals it fell short of meeting 14 of its 40 priorities.

Marie Saliba of the Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan. Picture: Supplied

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An ambitious plan was launched in June 2017 to help the 12,000 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants settle into Fairfield City.

The Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan would co-ordinate the efforts of 20 agencies to make sure the new arrivals were healthy, had access to shelter and could gain employment.

On Monday, a report was released chartering the program’s success and shortcomings over its first year.

The two-year plan – a partnership between Core Community Services and Fairfield City Council – revealed out of the 40 priorities set, 25 met expectations, one exceeded them and 14 fell short.

Humanitarian Program Arrivals in Fairfield City. Pic: Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan.

The plan is a general success, but better support from government would help it meet more goals, Marie Saliba, co-ordinator of the plan, said.

“There’s a strong desire for newly settled refugees to be part of these opportunities,” Ms Saliba said.

“They have a choice to choose where to settle and it’s important for them to have a sense of community.”

She singled out domestic and family violence as one of the priorities that would benefit from additional resources and funding.

The report recommends extending the plan for a third year, which would see Ms Saliba continue as co-ordinator.

“The services are working really well together and I think that will continue (if the program ends in June 2019).

“But in terms of advocating for more to be done at the State and Federal level for Fairfield, that would be lost,” she said.