Canberra's Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services are set to lose funding and shed almost half their workforce as part of a redesigned humanitarian settlement program announced this week.
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From October 27 this year, MARSS will lose their fee-for-contract service to help settle refugees in Canberra. The contract will go to the Australian Red Cross Society to deliver the program to the ACT and surrounds.
![Canberra Migrant and Refugee Settlement Service chief executive Dewani Bakkum is disappointed with the loss of funding. Photo: Elesa Kurtz Canberra Migrant and Refugee Settlement Service chief executive Dewani Bakkum is disappointed with the loss of funding. Photo: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/d34e3bd8-b333-45ec-b129-0352011c0668/r0_0_2000_1255_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
MARSS will retain funding under the Department of Social Services grants for community settlement, until at least June 30, 2018, which focuses on activities to help settle refugees into the community rather than basic support services.
MARSS chief executive Dewani Bakkum said the service, which had received the funding for the past five years, would lose about seven staff positions because of the changes.
"We did tender for the redesigned program and are disappointed to have not been successful," Ms Bakkum said.
"Beginning as a migrant resource centre our organisation is underpinned by local cultural organisations and a community-based approach to settling refugees into the Canberra community. It was difficult to compete against tenders from national and international aid and settlement organisations tendering for multiple regions across Australia," she said.
Ms Bakkum said MARSS would continue to provide services funded by the settlement services program and the ACT government, which include vocational training programs and community development programs.
ACT senator and assistant minister for social services and multicultural affairs Zed Seselja said the redesigned program would have a better focus on individualised, needs-based support.
He said Australia's settlement services were recognised as some of the best in the world, and this would help that "proud tradition" continue.
"Australia's Humanitarian Program intake of 13,750 places has increased to 16,250 places for 2017-18, and will increase to 18,750 places in the 2018-19," Mr Seselja said.
"This follows the additional intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees which was announced in 2015, for which all visas have been granted and the remaining few families are finally settling."
The streamlined program merges existing settlement services into one comprehensive program with a "renewed focus on English language, education and employment". It is hoped the changes will reduce red tape for service providers and improve delivery, among other things.
"We are committed to ensuring humanitarian entrants are able to overcome barriers, start a new life and integrate into Australian society as quickly as possible," Senator Seselja said.
The service providers are: Australian Red Cross Society (ACT and Surrounds and WA), Settlement Services International Limited (Sydney and regional NSW), MDA Ltd in partnership with Access (Qld), Melaleuca Refugee Centre (NT), and AMES Australia (SA, Tas, Vic).