Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance (ASRA) Program
Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance (ASRA) Program
Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance (ASRA) is a collaboration of seven partner agencies who work together to support well-being, provide basic financial assistance and develop collaborative efforts to sustain asylum seeker support.
Communify leads the partnership coordination and provides housing support for asylum seekers through the ASRA Program.
ASRA was established to support asylum seekers who have been left vulnerable with no access to financial means or support. However, for specialist and financial support, there are eligibility requirements.
Who we help
The following people can apply for specialist support through ASRA for housing, health, emergency relief, employment and legal support:
a. People seeking asylum:
- who came to Australia by boat, and
- do not have a permanent visa, and
- reside in Queensland, and
- who have been assessed as vulnerable, and
- are not receiving support from the SRSS (Status Resolution Support Services) Program.
OR b. People arriving in Queensland escaping from identified conflict zones who are in significant hardship. As of December 2024, this service is available for people arriving from the Middle East, though please note that the service is strictly capped at 50 participants maximum.
How we help
Incidental Support
Though there are eligibility requirements to access financial and other ongoing supports through ASRA, all asylum seekers are welcome to visit one of our outreach hubs for support with form filling, service information and social connection.
Ongoing Specialist Support
For asylum seekers who meet the above eligibility criteria, we can provide the following support through the ASRA program:
- access to monthly emergency relief payments
- crisis intervention
- case management support
- housing support
- support to access health services
- pathways to employment.
The seven partner organisations in the ASRA Program provide the following areas of specialised support:
- Communify Queensland: ASRA program management / lead agency, and tenancy support
- RAILS: Legal support
- Multicultural Australia: Emergency relief, vulnerability assessment, case coordination, and employment support
- QPASTT: Trauma counselling and mental health support
- World Wellness Group: Health advocacy, nurse case management and mental health support
- Indooroopilly Uniting Church (IUC) Hub: Hub coordination and welfare
- Common Ground Queensland: Tenancy management
How to contact us
For those who cannot attend an ASRA Outreach hub, phone or online appointments are also available. Telehealth appointments may be available for health issues.
Multicultural Australia
For emergency relief and general ASRA referrals, please contact Multicultural Australia:
Phone: 07 3337 5400
Email: [email protected]
Address: 28 Dibley St, Woolloongabba QLD 4110
WWG
For health referrals, please contact WWG:
Email: [email protected]
For mental health referrals, please contact WWG:
Email: [email protected]
RAILS
For legal referrals, please contact RAILS:
Phone: 07 3846 9300
Email: [email protected]
Communify
For program-related enquiries, please contact Communify:
Catherine Whybrow, ASRA Program Coordinator:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0424 658 767
Where to find us
Our Outreach Hubs operate at the following locations:
Logan Hub
St Paul’s Community Hub, 3 Saint Pauls Drive, Woodridge
- Open Wednesdays 12pm-2pm
- Find on map and get directions
Indooroopilly Hub
Indooroopilly Uniting Church Refugee and Asylum Seeker Hub
- Open Thursdays 2-5pm and every second Saturday from 2pm-5pm (dependent on availability of volunteer support)
- Find on map and get directions
