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What is Settlement Support New Zealand?

The Department of Labour is responsible for leading the New Zealand Settlement Strategy (new window) and improving settlement support. In 2005, it began establishing a network initiative of Migrant Resource Services, called Settlement Support New Zealand.

The Settlement Support initiative has a dual focus: better co-ordinated provision of settlement advice and information and more responsive mainstream services for migrants and refugees at the local level.

There are 19 Settlement Support Initiatives around New Zealand, including one in Dunedin, based in the Economic Development Unit of the Dunedin City Council.

In each initiative, a Settlement Support Co-ordinator is appointed to help migrants and refugees get in touch with the local information and services that they need to support their settlement.

At this local level, settlement outcomes are achieved by government agencies, service providers, and migrant and refugee communities working together.

The initiative aims to make local information needed by migrants, refugees and their families is available and easily accessible.

It aims to make local services become responsive to the new and different needs of migrants, refugees and their families.

It also aims to ensure local settlement planning reflects local settlement needs, and identifies gaps or eliminates duplication in services that support settlement.

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What is the New Zealand Settlement Strategy?

The New Zealand Settlement Strategy (new window) was launched by the Government in 2004.

There are six key goals to this strategy:

• Newcomers obtain employment appropriate to qualifications and skills.
• Newcomers are confident using English or able to access support.
• Appropriate information and services can be accessed.
• Supportive social networks are formed and a community identity established.
• Newcomers feel safe in expressing their ethnic identity, feel accepted and feel part of the wider host community.
• Newcomers are able to participate in civic, community and social activities.

The Government set aside $62.5 million to fund the strategy under the guidance of the Department of Labour. Of this, $11.7 million is targeted for the establishment of Settlement Support New Zealand.

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Does Dunedin have a local settlement network?

Yes. The Local Settlement Network (LSN) meets reguarly as does the Settlement Network Support Group. Electronic copies of the LSN minutes are available or contact the settlement support co-ordinator for paper copies.

Does Dunedin have a Settlement Strategy?

Link to Settlement Support Strategic Plan (PDF, 345 kb, new window) - This is the Dunedin City Council Strategic Plan for settlers to the city.

A hard copy version can be obtained from the Settlement Support Co-ordinator.

What does Dunedin's Settlement Support Co-ordinator do?

• Identifying local settlement support needs and the stakeholders and services that can meet them.
• Planning for settlement needs locally.
• Developing a local Settlement Network of stakeholders to achieve this.
• Connecting individuals with information and services that support their settlement.
• Supporting mainstream services in meeting the needs of new comers and refugees.
• Ensuring there is a clear local point of contact for migrants and refugees to access the information that they need to settle.
• Supporting settlement through responsive service provision.
• Organising orientation and specialist settlement workshops for new comers and refugees.
• Arranging for local service providers to come together for settlement-related discussions and workshops.

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Who is the Dunedin Settlement Support Co-ordinator?

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How will newcomers and stakeholders access information?

Information will be located in a variety of ways. These may include local websites, information brochures, a local phone number, or a face-to-face service provided by a local settlement support officer - whatever works best.

Workshops will be held locally - both for migrants and refugees, and for service providers. Those for newcomers will focus on particular areas of settlement need. Those for service providers will focus on local settlement needs and information sharing between organizations and individuals.