Information for people considering further study
To work in some jobs, you will need to have post-school training or education. Vocational education provides a combination of coursework and hands-on training for specific jobs. There are a wide range of courses to choose from.
The Victorian Government fund vocational education for some people seeking asylum. The ASRC runs the ASVET (Asylum Seeker Vocational Education and Training) program to help people seeking asylum and refugees to find and enrol in vocational training.
For more information to help you find the right course and enrol, visit the Student Resources page.
To be eligible for ASVET, you must:
The ASVET initiative covers a wide range of courses:
Applicants undertaking VCE, or courses at Certificate levels I to IV, are eligible for a Victorian Government subsidised Skills First place, and a concessional tuition fee rate.
Applicants undertaking a Diploma or Advanced Diploma are eligible for a Victorian Government subsidised place with tuition fees at the domestic student rate (unfortunately there is no concession rate for diplomas).
People seeking asylum are able to go to university, but all bridging visa holders and temporary refugees must pay international student fees unless they are granted a scholarship.
If you are not able to pay international student fees, there are a limited number of scholarships provided by Universities for people seeking asylum holding various bridging visas and temporary refugees. The Refugee Education Special Interest Group provide information on scholarships:
https://refugee-education.org/scholarships
The ASRC works with universities to provide 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 please contact the ASRC on (03) 9274 9807 or (03) 9274 9834 and make an appointment with an Education Advisor.
Apprenticeships and traineeships are learning pathways that combine both paid workplace training and some formal classroom training. For more information about what an apprenticeship is, click here.
People seeking asylum who are eligible for ASVET may be able to enrol in an apprenticeship. However there may still be some challenges involved.
An ASRC Education Advisor can tell you more. Please contact the ASRC on (03) 9274 9807 or (03) 9274 9834 to make an appointment.
Other options for study include non-accredited English language classes offered by community organisations and neighbourhood houses. The ASRC’s online English for Work classes are open to anyone seeking asylum.
The Pathways to Employment program supports people seeking asylum with their language, literacy and numeracy skills, to be ready for the Australian workforce.
English For Work is a language, literacy and numeracy course that covers topics such as Australian workplace culture, managing money, transport and communication for work.
Contact an ASRC Education Advisor on (03) 9274 9807 for more information.
You can use ID such as your passport or Immicard to check your study and work rights here.
If you don’t have any of the ID documents available or your Immicard has expired you can apply for a new one here or call ASRC on (03) 9326 6066 for assistance
Unfortunately you are not eligible for the ASVET program. The Refugee Education Special Interest Group provides information for people seeking asylum in all states and territories, at this link: TAFE access for TPV/SHEV and Bridging Visa holders.
That’s great! You can call the ASRC on (03) 9274 9807 or (03) 9274 9834 to make an appointment with an ASVET Education Advisor, and discuss your needs and options.
That’s great! The ASRC runs these language, literacy and numeracy courses.
To discuss further, call the ASRC on (03) 9274 9807 to make an appointment with an Education Advisor.
The ASRC offers a limited number of student placements each year, dependent on the organisation’s needs. Most of these placements are arranged through existing agreements with universities and TAFEs rather than on an individual basis. If you would like to pursue a student placement at the ASRC, please contact your university / tertiary education provider.
Yes! If you are school-aged, you can study in a Victorian state primary or secondary school, without paying international student fees.
If you are older and still want to complete VCE, then ASVET is an option for you. To discuss further, call the ASRC on (03) 9274 9807 or (03) 9274 9834 to make an appointment with an Education Advisor.
Brochures and other resources available for people considering studying.
For more information about Education at ASRC, please contact an Education Advisor on (03) 9274 9807 or (03) 9274 9834.
As you may be aware, there are changes occurring at the ASRC.
To plan for these changes to make the ASRC sustainable into the future:
The Footscray centre will close to all visitors every Wednesday.
Every Friday, some services will be closed but the Foodbank, Health, Legal and Hub services will remain open.
To access our services, you can phone 03 9326 6066 or come to the ASRC Footscray in person during opening hours.
The Reception Team will greet you and link you with our services.
As you may be aware, there are changes occurring at the ASRC.
To plan for these changes to make the ASRC sustainable into the future:
The Footscray centre will close to all visitors every Wednesday.
Every Friday, some services will be closed but the Foodbank, Health, Legal and Hub services will remain open.
To access our services, you can phone 03 9326 6066 or come to the ASRC Footscray in person during opening hours. The Reception Team will greet you and link you with our services.
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
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.