Your Guide to Asylum Seeker Support in South Australia: Where to Go and What to Do

If you or someone you know is an Oromo asylum seeker in South Australia, a network of support is available—from legal advice to healthcare, settlement services, and community connections. Here is what you need to know.

The First Step: Legal Advice and Your Asylum Application

When you arrive in Australia as an asylum seeker, your immigration status is the most urgent concern. Your legal rights, your ability to work, and your access to many services depend on the type of visa you hold or have applied for.

Legal Services Commission SA offers a free legal advice and representation service to people seeking protection in Australia . They can help you find out if you are eligible for a Protection Visa or another more suitable visa, understand the application process, respond to visa cancellations or refusals, and assist with completing and lodging a Protection Visa application .

To start: Call the Free Legal Helpline on 1300 366 424 (9am–5pm, Monday–Friday). Interpreters can be arranged for those who need them .

Other specialist legal services in SA include:

  • Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia (RASSA): A community legal service that provides pro bono migration legal assistance to asylum seekers who are eligible to apply for a Temporary Protection Visa or a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa .
  • JusticeNet SA: Coordinates free legal help for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. They run a Pro Bono Connect service to link clients with a private legal practitioner for free legal representation, when other avenues of assistance have been exhausted .
  • Australian Refugee Association (ARA): Provides assistance to refugees and may be able to assist with a broad range of visa applications .
  • Administrative Review Tribunal (ART): If your visa application has been refused, you may be able to apply for a review. Legal Services Commission SA can provide independent help to support your review .

Finding Your Community: Settlement Support

Connecting with community-based organisations can help you navigate the complex settlement process and access practical support.

AMES Australia supports newly arrived humanitarian entrants and other refugee visa holders during initial settlement (6-18 months) in metropolitan Adelaide through the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) .

Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC) supports migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants with settlement, community, employment and wellbeing services across South Australia . They offer:

  • Settlement support and casework for new arrivals and refugees
  • English language learning and language support programs
  • Employment training and job readiness support (MRCWorks)
  • Community development, engagement and cultural activities
  • Family, children’s and youth programs

Contact AMRC: Visit their website or call to find out about their services.

Australian Refugee Association (ARA) supports refugees, humanitarian entrants and migrants to settle, build independence and participate fully in Australian society. They provide practical settlement, migration, employment and community services .

Contact ARA: Parabanks Shopping Centre, Shop 94, 68 John St, Salisbury SA 5018 | Tel: (08) 8354 2951

Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS): Life Without Barriers provides SRSS support for asylum seekers facing multiple vulnerabilities .

Healthcare: Accessing Medical Support

As an asylum seeker, accessing healthcare can be complex, especially if you have limited Medicare eligibility. However, SA has a specialist health service for people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

Refugee Health Service (RHS) is a specialist state-wide health service for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in South Australia . Established in 1994, RHS provides primary health care services with a focus on families and individuals with complex health and psychosocial needs .

Services include:

  • Comprehensive health assessments
  • Multidisciplinary care coordination and clinical management of complex conditions, including infectious diseases
  • Mental health and wellbeing support
  • Health literacy education
  • Assistance with NDIS access
  • A daily nurse-led drop-in clinic for assessment and care

Contact RHS: 21 Market Street, Adelaide SA 5000 | Phone: 7133 9996 | Email: health.CALHNICRHSNurses@sa.gov.au .

Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday .

If you need an interpreter: Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) first on 13 14 50 and ask to be connected to the Refugee Health Service.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Many asylum seekers have experienced trauma and face significant stress during the settlement process. Specialised mental health support is available in SA.

STTARS (Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service) assists people from a refugee or migrant background who have experienced torture or have been traumatised as a result of persecution, violence, war, or unlawful imprisonment prior to arrival in Australia .

Services include:

  • Counselling for high needs groups
  • Child and Youth Program
  • Working in schools to support families and children who are survivors of torture and trauma
  • Mental Health Clinic
  • Training and Professional Advice for Multicultural Mental Health

Contact STTARS: | Phone: 08 8206 8900 (Salisbury) | 08 8206 8900 (Mt Gambier) | Email: intake@sttars.org.au | http://www.sttars.org.au

Financial Support and Concessions

Asylum seekers living in South Australia can apply for concessions to help with household, transport, and some health costs .

One application form covers:

  • Concessions for energy and water bills
  • The Cost of Living Concession
  • Transport Concession Card (TCC) for:
  • Concession fares on public transport
  • Low-cost glasses at GlassesSA optometrists

Eligibility: To be eligible, you must either have applied for protection and hold a Bridging visa E (BVE), or be receiving support from the Australian Government’s Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) .

Designated agencies that can help you apply:

  • Red Cross Australia: U5/12 Percy Court, Adelaide | Phone: 8100 4500
  • St Vincent De Paul Society: Ozanam House, 202 Franklin Street Adelaide | Phone: 8112 8700
  • Life Without Barriers (SRSS applicants only): 100 Greenhill Road, Unley | Phone: 8193 9400 | Email: justin.lehmann@lwb.org.au

What to Do: A Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Seek legal advice immediately. Contact the Legal Services Commission SA on 1300 366 424 for free advice on your visa status and protection visa application . If you are already in the protection visa process, RASSA may be able to provide pro bono legal assistance .
  2. Connect with settlement services. Contact AMES Australia or the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC) to access settlement support, case management, and connections to services .
  3. Access healthcare. Visit the Refugee Health Service at 21 Market Street, Adelaide, or call 7133 9996 for a health assessment . If you need an interpreter, call TIS first on 13 14 50.
  4. If you have experienced trauma, seek mental health support. Contact STTARS on 08 8206 8900 for free specialist counselling .
  5. Apply for concessions. If you hold a BVE or receive SRSS support, contact a designated agency (Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul, or Life Without Barriers) to help you apply for household, transport, and health concessions .
  6. Connect with your community. Reach out to the Australian Refugee Association, AMRC, or other community organisations to access culturally appropriate support and a sense of belonging.

A Message of Hope

Seeking asylum is a journey of courage. You have already taken the most difficult step by seeking safety. In South Australia, you are not alone—a network of legal experts, healthcare providers, community organisations, and support services is ready to help you rebuild your life with dignity.

For the Oromo community, organisations like the Australian Refugee Association and AMRC provide culturally sensitive support. The Oromo community in Australia is active and growing, with community organisations dedicated to preserving Oromo culture and language .

You are not alone. Help is available. And your new life in Australia is beginning.