Finding trusted government information and services is now easier for refugees in NSW. Launched during Refugee Week, the NSW Settlement Hub offers support and information for every stage of the settlement journey, alongside stories from people who have made NSW their home.

Resources are available in multiple languages and formats, including videos in the 13 languages most spoken by refugees in NSW. The online Hub covers many aspects of life in Australia, from healthcare, education and community services to language support, transport and the legal system.

For the first time, the NSW Settlement Hub brings together information previously spread across more than 300 government and service provider websites into a single, trusted Hub. This makes it easier for people from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds to access the services and support they need throughout their settlement journey.

Alongside practical resources, users can hear lived experiences of settling in NSW from people with refugee backgrounds. They can also explore step-by-step examples of the types of government and non-government supports an individual or family may typically need to access.

Settlement services, community organisations and support workers can use the Hub to help people find the right information and navigate services. Of the, on average, 4,000 refugees who arrive in NSW each year, a quarter settle in regional areas. The Hub includes local information for key settlement locations, including Albury, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, and Wagga Wagga, to support refugees across the state.

The NSW Settlement Hub is part of the NSW Government Settlement Strategy, which aims to improve outcomes for people from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds living in NSW.

The NSW Settlement Hub is available at https://settlementhub.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“NSW has a proud history of welcoming people from refugee backgrounds and helping them build new lives in our communities.

“We know that navigating government services and finding the right information can be overwhelming, especially when you’re starting over in a new country.

“The NSW Settlement Hub changes that. For the first time, refugees across NSW can find what they need; in their language, in one place, whether they’re in Parramatta or Wagga Wagga.”

NSW Coordinator General for Settlement Professor Peter Shergold AC said:

“When refugees thrive, everyone benefits. By improving access to information and services, refugees are better placed to participate in society and realise their own aspirations. In return, NSW benefits from their skills, drive and resilience.

“The NSW Settlement Hub puts practical information all in one place to help people find their own path forward.”

Multicultural NSW Acting CEO James Jegasothy said:

“Every person from a refugee background who settles in NSW has a unique journey.

“The first step is knowing where to go for support on that journey. We are proud to launch the NSW Settlement Hub, to make it easier for refugees in NSW to access the information and services that will allow them to thrive in NSW.”

Tsering Tsomo, refugee living in Wagga Wagga, said:

“I have been living in the regional city of Wagga Wagga since July 2023, and it is the only place I have lived since coming to Australia. I enjoy living here but it can also make finding information more difficult, with fewer settlement services and fewer people from similar cultural backgrounds who can provide guidance.

“If the NSW Settlement Hub had been available when I first arrived in Australia, it would have saved me a lot of time and confusion.

“I would have found in one central place all the relevant and updated information about services, rights, education, employment, healthcare, and community support. It would have reduced the need to search through multiple websites or rely entirely on unverified sources.”