Are you thinking about studying a post-school qualification? There are a number of options available for people seeking asylum, and the ASRC can help you find out more and refer you to education providers.
The Asylum Seeker Vocational Education and Training (ASVET) program is a Victorian State Government funded initiative which supports eligible people seeking asylum and refugees to access Skills First VET courses. Since 2016 the ASRC ASVET Program has made over 1200 referrals for eligible people seeking asylum and refugees to study courses at TAFEs, Learn Locals and private training providers.
Low English language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills can prove a difficult barrier to cross for people seeking asylum looking for work.
The Pathways to Employment (PTE) program aims to support people seeking asylum with low LLN skills to be ready for the Australian workforce.
English For Work is a language, literacy and numeracy course designed in-house by ASRC’s expert volunteer EAL teachers. Classes are delivered at three levels and run four times per week, covering topics such as Australian workplace culture, managing money, transport and communication for work.
Our team-teaching model, supported by member’s one-on-one PTE Advisor sessions, offers members individual support tailored to their needs and goals whilst also promoting peer support in the classroom.
People seeking asylum and refugees with temporary visas are not eligible for government support such as subsidies or HECS and HELP loans for university level study. The ASRC works with universities to share information about university scholarships and provide access support for people seeking asylum. We collaborate with universities to run information sessions for people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas across the Melbourne metropolitan region. For more information about the different scholarships available go to:
The Government has announced it will provide pathways for TPV/SHEV holders and TPV/SHEV applicants to
be assessed for RoS visas. RoS visas are permanent visas that allow holders to live, work and study in Australia,
access government services such as Medicare and Centrelink, and sponsor eligible family members for
permanent residence.
Click here for Permanent Visa Pathways for TPV/SHEV Holders & Applicants Fact Sheet
The Fact Sheet is also available in: Dari – Urdu – Arabic – Tamil
⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY: END OF YEAR CLOSURE ⚠️
The ASRC in Footscray and the Refugee Resource Hub in Dandenong will be closed to the public from December 22nd, 5pm to January 9th, 10am, with two exceptions:
Services available on the two open days:
If you are a donor and want to donate food or material items, please do so when we reopen on January 9th. Learn more
If you want to make a financial donation to the ASRC, please visit here.
The ASRC will return to normal operating hours (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) on Monday, January 9th, 2023
Need more information about services available from the ASRC or other community organisations? Please visit here.
Find this information in Urdu, Arabic, Tamil, Persian, Dari, Vietnamese
Thanks for your interest in supporting the ASRC Telethon on World Refugee Day, Monday 20th June.
Complete this form with your details and we will send you an email reminder before the event as well as alerts throughout the day when key activities happen.
Please note: all requests submitted to the Marketing Services Model will not be worked on until 1 July 2022 to allow the team space to focus on projects such as the Winter Appeal and Telethon.
You are welcome to submit requests and we’d love to support – we ask that you please supply a reasonable due date, keeping in mind we will not tend to the request until July. Thank you!
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners across Australia and pay respect to their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. We acknowledge sovereignty of the lands upon which we work and live have never been ceded.
The centre is OPEN again from Tuesday 11th – Friday 14th (10am – 5pm).
We will return to normal operating hours (10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday), from Monday 17th of January onwards.
The centre is OPEN again from Tuesday 11th – Friday 14th (10am – 5pm).
We will return to normal operating hours (10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday), from Monday 17th of January onwards.
You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/
If you applied for a TPV or SHEV visa between 2015 and 2017 and have not already attended a Protection visa interview with the Department, please contact the ASRC urgently for legal assistance. CALL: Fast track hotline 0422035324 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email legal@asrc.org.au
The application interview is your only chance to explain your case to the Department. Update your contact details with the Department to receive your Interview Invitation (the ASRC can also help you do this).
Click here to learn more (Info sheet Fast Track interviews).
Click here to read info sheet in other languages.
“I can’t erase racism by myself. It’s only if we all come together to accept that there is an issue and work together that we can make a change.”
Prudence Melom, founder and CEO of E-RACED
“Growing in a refugee camp and experiencing hardship from a young age I felt very misunderstood among my peers in Australia. Kids my age did not understand why my skin was darker, they didn’t understand why my accent was a little different and they didn’t understand why I came to Australia.
“I was inspired to start E-RACED after experiencing first hand the effects of racism in this country and the power of sharing my story to completely change people’s attitudes. Never underestimate the power of one-on-one interactions and sharing stories to change the world.”
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Need help from the ASRC? Call 03 9326 6066 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm) to book an appointment.