Settlement service providers and NGOs will be able to continue caring for people seeking asylum and other vulnerable temporary visa holders through to the end of the financial year, thanks to another funding injection by the NSW Government.
While the responsibility to provide funding to these organisations sits with the Federal Government, over the past two years the NSW Government has provided the needed funding.
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said 15 organisations that support asylum seekers and temporary protection visa holders will receive a share of $3.65 million to cover their operations until 30 June 2023.
“Earlier this year, the NSW Government provided these organisations with $4.2 million to help them through to the end of December this year,” Mr Coure said.
“Now we are giving them a further boost to ensure they can confidently continue providing medical, housing, telecommunications or transport support for some of society’s most vulnerable people.
“People seeking asylum and temporary visa holders rely heavily on this support, and thanks to our government stepping up, they will not go without.”
This latest funding allocation means the NSW Government has provided some $20 million to support these organisations over the past two years.
Mr Coure added that additional funding had also been secured to support the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors’ (STARTTS) Witness to War Program.
“This additional funding will help STARTTS continue this important program, which supports individuals and families impacted by overseas conflict, including those from Ukraine and Afghanistan,” Mr Coure said.
“As a multicultural society, we know that those living here come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have a wide range of lived experiences.
“Our investment into these organisations shows we understand the various needs of those living across NSW and want to ensure they are supported as best as possible.”
