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.
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
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
Hume Region
Sian Thomson
Refugee Child Outreach Program Officer
Phone: 9422 5650 or 0438 727 426
Sthomson(at)bsl.org.au
Western Region
Stephanie Johnson
Refugee Child Outreach Program Officer
Phone: 9422 5650 or 0410 020 924
Sjohnson(at)bsl.org.au
