Refugee Child Outreach
This program works with children in their early years and their families to assist them in meeting their needs in their new country.
The program is open to families with young children of refugee background, who are asylum seeker or arrived in Australia on community detention. 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 understand Australian health care services
- play sessions in the home to encourage healthy parent-child relationships
- assistance with parenting and child development
- help to access early years activities in their local community
- assistance in finding support for children with special needs, such as a child with a disability
- assist parents to understand employment and education services
- information sessions and group work to assist families with their early years needs
Who is eligible
Parents and carers who:
- have children under eight years of age
- arrived in Australia as refugees and asylum seekers within the past two years
- live in Melbourne in the local council area of Hume or Whittlesea
Who can refer
- Self-referrals
- maternal child health
- refugee health nurses
- Child FIRST
View suburbs
Hume: Broadmeadows, Dallas, Meadow Heights, Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn
Whittlesea: Epping, Epping North, Lalor and Thomastown.
Other areas of Hume and Whittlesea will be considered.
Partners
We acknowledge the Leith Foundation for its valuable financial contribution.
Contact us
Hume and Whittlesea Regions
Stephanie Johnson
Refugee Child Outreach Program Officer
Phone: 9422 5650 or 0410 020 924
Sjohnson(at)bsl.org.au
