Refugee Child Outreach

This program works with families to help them meet the needs of their children in their new country.

Families with young children who have recently arrived in Australia as refugees often come from circumstances in which it was hard for parents and carers to meet the needs of their children. Settling in a new country can be challenging, and navigating a complex system of services for children can be confusing.

The Refugee Child Outreach program is free, and offers:

support to access services such as playgroups, childcare, kindergarten and maternal and child health centres
assistance to attend medical appointments
play sessions in the home to encourage healthy parent-child relationships
advice on parenting and child development
help to access children’s activities in their local community
assistance in finding support for children with special needs, such as a child with a disability.

Who is eligible

Parents and carers with permanent residency who:

have children under eight years of age
arrived in Australia less than five years ago as refugees, or on a family stream visa, and who have a low level of English
live in Melbourne in the local council areas of Brimbank, Hobson’s Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley and Yarra.

View suburbs

Brimbank: Albanvale, Albion, Ardeer, Brooklyn, Cairnlea, Calder Park, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Hillside, Kealba, Keilor, Keilor Downs, Keilor East, Keilor Lodge, Keilor North, Keilor Park, Kings Park, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes, Tullamarine

Hobsons Bay: Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn, Laverton, Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Williamstown, Williamstown North

Hume: Attwood, Broadmeadows, Bulla, Campbellfield, Coolaroo, Craigieburn, Dallas, Gladstone Park, Goonawarra (Sunbury), Greenvale, Jacana, Kalkallo, Konagaderra, Meadow Heights, Melbourne Airport, Mickleham, Oaklands Junction, Roxburgh Park, Sunbury, Somerton, Tullamarine, Upfield, Westmeadows, Yuroke

Maribyrnong: Braybrook, Footscray, Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Seddon, Tottenham, West Footscray, Yarraville

Moonee Valley: Aberfeldie, Airport West, Ascot Vale, Avondale Heights, Essendon, Essendon Fields, Essendon North, Essendon West, Flemington, Keilor East, Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, Strathmore, Strathmore Heights, Travancore

Yarra: Abbotsford, Alphington, Burnley, Carlton North, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Cremorne, Fairfield, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill, Richmond

Partners

We acknowledge the Australian Government for its valuable financial contribution under the Settlement Services Program.

Contact us

Stephanie Johnson, Refugee Child Outreach Program Officer – (Hume and Yarra)
Phone: (03) 9422 5612 or 0410 020 924
Email: sjohnson(at)bsl.org.au

Nilamon Nguyen, Refugee Child Outreach Program Officer – (Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley and Hobson’s Bay)
Phone: (03) 9300 8616 or 0438 727 426
Email: nilamon.nguyen(at)bsl.org.au