Afghan Australian Settlement

Community programs, education, training, and employment.

Afghan mother and child

About the Afghan Australian Settlement program

Our strong connections with the Afghan community stem from our long-standing program work and placed-based service delivery in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

More than 11% of residents in the City of Greater Dandenong were born in Afghanistan, with more than two-thirds speaking Hazaragi, the language of Hazara people (2016 Census). The City of Casey is the 8th fastest growing municipality in Australia with more than 10,500 Dari and Hazaragi-speaking community members.

Many Afghan women, young women, and families face barriers to engaging with community, education, training, and employment. Our Afghan Australian Settlement program seeks to overcome these barriers and is funded by the Migration Council of Australia.

Who is eligible?

This program is open to newly arrived Afghan women, young women, and families based in the south east region of Melbourne.

Our service areas include;

  • City of Casey
  • City of Greater Dandenong
  • City of Kingston
  • City of Monash
  • City of Cardinia

What we do

Our program supports women to participate in community, education, and work, whilst increasing their sense of self-agency, belonging, and empowerment. The program offers individual, regular mentoring support as well as workshops that build knowledge and/or skills.

Our workshops include topics such as:

  • Driver education and learner permit with access to heavily subsidised driving lessons
  • Financial literacy
  • Women’s health and wellbeing
  • Digital literacy
  • Education
  • Employment