"We need to reform Australia's migration settlement programs"

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration will be holding two public hearings in Adelaide (11 April 2017) and Melbourne (12 April 2017) this week gathering evidence for their inquiry into migration settlement outcomes. Deputy Chair of the Migration Committee and the Federal Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou MP talks to Panos Apostolou about her work in the committee and explains the need for this inquiry.

MP Maria Vambakinou among a group of Australians at last December "FUSE 2016 National Multicultural Youth Summit" Source: Supplied

The Committee will hear evidence from a variety of organisations providing services and support to newly arrived migrants and refugees. Victoria Police and Crime Statistics Victoria are also giving evidence.

The migrant settlement outcomes inquiry is examining issues including the effectiveness of settlement services, national and international best practice, the importance of English and whether current migration process adequately assess a prospective migrant’s settlement prospects.

The inquiry is also considering matters relating to youth migrants and the character test provisions in the Migration Act 1958.

 

Public hearing details

-Adelaide 11:00am, Tuesday 11 April, Thebarton Senior College, 40 Ashley St, Torrensville. Melbourne

- Melbourne 9:00am, Wednesday 12 April, Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, 1-29 Southern Cross Drive, Roxburgh

The hearings will be streamed live at www.aph.gov.au/live 

Find more info here: www.aph.gov.au/migration