Your Guide to Asylum Seeker Support in the Northern Territory
If you or someone you know is an Oromo asylum seeker in the Northern Territory, a network of support is available—from free legal advice and healthcare to settlement services and emergency relief. Here is what you need to know.
The First Step: Specialist Legal Support
Seeking legal advice is the most urgent step for any asylum seeker. In the Northern Territory, a new service has made accessing justice easier than ever.
Refugee Legal NT is the Northern Territory’s first independent, specialist community legal centre for people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants . Launched in August 2025, the service provides free legal support for protection visas, family reunion, and other migration matters .
Co-located at Melaleuca Australia’s office in Darwin, Refugee Legal NT is embedded within a holistic ecosystem of settlement and wellbeing programs—a model described as nationally recommended but rarely achieved .
To access this service: Contact Melaleuca Australia on (08) 8985 3311 or email admin@melaleuca.org.au to be connected with Refugee Legal NT .
Other Legal Support Options
- Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission: Provides free and confidential legal information and advice for most legal problems in the NT. Priority is given to disadvantaged and vulnerable people, including refugees and migrants . Phone: 1800 019 343 (ask for an interpreter first by calling TIS on 13 14 50) .
Finding Your Community: Settlement and Support Services
Connecting with community-based organisations can help you navigate the complex settlement process and access practical support.
Key Service Providers
Melaleuca Australia is a central provider of services for refugees and asylum seekers in the NT . They offer:
- Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) for newly arrived humanitarian entrants
- Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) for asylum seekers facing multiple vulnerabilities
- Health Support Services (comprehensive primary care and refugee health assessments)
- Counselling and Wellbeing Services (specialised mental health, torture and trauma counselling)
Contact Melaleuca Australia: 24 McLachlan Street, Darwin NT 0800 | Phone: (08) 8985 3311 | Email: admin@melaleuca.org.au
Anglicare NT – Refugee & Migrant Settlement Services (RAMSS): A free and confidential service assisting individuals and families who have lived in Darwin, Palmerston, and rural areas for less than five years . They provide support with accommodation, income, health, legal issues, education, employment, and immigration . Phone: (08) 8985 0000 .
Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory: Provides advocacy and support for culturally diverse communities. Phone: (08) 8945 9122 .
Darwin Asylum Seeker Support & Advocacy Network (DASSAN): A volunteer-run organisation providing advocacy, welfare, emotional support, and brokering pro-bono services for asylum seekers in Darwin . Contact through their website: https://www.dassan.org/ .
54 Reasons (Save the Children) – Settlement Services: Works with children and families throughout the settlement journey .
Healthcare: Accessing Medical Support
The Northern Territory receives up to 200 refugees each year, and the Refugee Health Program is designed to support them .
The Refugee Health Program provides comprehensive, coordinated primary health care services to refugees in the Darwin region during their first 12 months of settlement . Services are provided through a GP clinic network that offers culturally appropriate, bulk-billed services .
Refugee Health Services through Melaleuca Australia also provide the on-arrival Refugee Health Assessment .
Health Services Directory
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Melaleuca Australia – Health Support Services | (08) 8985 3311 |
| Top End Medical – Casuarina | (08) 8995 7900 |
| Top End Medical – Stuart Park | (08) 8930 4900 |
| Top End Medical – Rosebery | (08) 8997 6500 |
| Arafura Medical Centre – Casuarina | (08) 8988 6622 |
| Arafura Medical Centre – Palmerston | (08) 8932 4333 |
| Royal Darwin Hospital – TB Clinic | (08) 8922 8804 |
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Melaleuca Australia – Counselling and Wellbeing Services provides specialised mental health support for torture and trauma counselling . Phone: (08) 8985 3311.
Counselling and Support Services:
- Dawn House: (08) 8945 1388
- TEAMhealth – Child and Family Wellbeing Service: (08) 8943 9600
- Relationships Australia – Family Relationships Centre (Darwin): (08) 8923 1400
- Relationships Australia – Family Relationships Centre (Alice Springs): (08) 8950 1000
Emergency Relief and Financial Support
If you are experiencing financial hardship, several organisations provide emergency assistance:
Australian Red Cross – Migration Support Program: Support for temporary visa holders experiencing financial hardship . Website: http://www.redcross.org.au/migration .
St Vincent de Paul Society NT (Vinnies): Emergency financial aid and accommodation services. 3 Westralia Street, Stuart Park NT 0820 | Phone: (08) 8948 8100 .
Both Red Cross and Vinnies can provide immediate assistance including food packages, household goods, groceries, transport vouchers, and healthcare support .
What to Do: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Seek legal advice immediately. Contact Melaleuca Australia on (08) 8985 3311 to connect with Refugee Legal NT for free advice on your visa status and protection visa application. Alternatively, contact Legal Aid NT on 1800 019 343 .
- Connect with settlement services. Contact Melaleuca Australia or Anglicare NT to access settlement support, case management, and community connections .
- Access healthcare. The Refugee Health Program provides free, culturally appropriate health assessments. Contact Melaleuca Australia for referral .
- Seek mental health support. If you have experienced torture or trauma, Melaleuca Australia’s Counselling and Wellbeing Services provide specialist support .
- Access emergency relief. If you are in financial hardship, contact Vinnies NT on (08) 8948 8100 or the Australian Red Cross’s Migration Support Program .
- Connect with your community. Reach out to the Multicultural Council of the NT or DASSAN to connect with Oromo community networks .
A Message of Hope
Seeking asylum is a journey of courage. In the Northern Territory, 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.
As Kwame Selormey, CEO of Melaleuca Australia, said at the launch of Refugee Legal NT: “To the person walking these streets—longing to be seen, yet fearful of being exposed—know this: You are not invisible. You are not alone. You belong.”
Key Contacts:
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Melaleuca Australia | (08) 8985 3311 |
| Refugee Legal NT | Through Melaleuca Australia |
| Legal Aid NT | 1800 019 343 |
| Anglicare NT | (08) 8985 0000 |
| Vinnies NT | (08) 8948 8100 |
| Multicultural Council NT | (08) 8945 9122 |
| DASSAN | http://www.dassan.org |
| Interpreting Service (TIS) | 13 14 50 |
Advocacy for Oromia 