Services

Family Services

Family Services consists of intake, assessment and referrals which aim to improve the living standards of families from Arabic Speaking Background communities

Aged Care Services

VASS provides social support program to ASB elderly in the northern and western regions of Melbourne. The program seeks to reduce social isolation, improve quality of life and foster independent living.

Youth Services

Consists of the following programs/projects:

  • Youth-To- Work program which targets unemployed ASB youth requiring support and guidance in accessing further education or employment services
  • Juvenile Justice support and counseling
  • Annual ASB youth leadership and public speaking courses
  • ASB youth Camps
  • Women’s Fitness program
  • School-based support programs
  • Drug education and prevention programs
  • Trained ASB youth mediators
  • Anti-Racism Action Band (ARAB) which consists of a group of ASB and other CALD youth trained in drama, workshop facilitation and performing arts to engage with other youth on combating racism and raising community awareness
  • Young Arab-Australian Network (YAA) which consists of a group of ASB youth committed to work together towards improving ASB youth lives and opportunities
  • Al-Hawa Youth Radio program
  • Kalam Television Program
  • Work experience and field placements

Social Support Groups

Arabic Speaking Background Women and Men’s Support Groups provide counseling, referrals, leadership training, trips and excursions and regular education and information sessions.

Special Project

Settlement Services are based on:

  • Promoting social connectedness through mentoring, peer support and organized activities and programs targeting newly arrived migrants and refugees from ASB communities.
  • Addressing barriers to accessing services as experienced by ASB communities, through training service providers, advocating for change and equity.
  • Monitoring emerging settlement needs and lobbying government for appropriate resources.
  • Providing support to ASB asylum seekers and refugees on temporary or bridging visas through information provision, referral to services, advocacy and support groups.

Cross Cultural Training

VASS provides information sessions, briefings, and training to service providers, students, researchers, and policymakers on matters related to ASB communities. VASS provides regular information sessions and programs to ASB communities on health topics, taxation, consumer affairs matters, equal opportunity, drug education and prevention, housing, legal and immigration matters.

Cultural Resources for Hire:

VASS has two touring exhibitions available for hire:

  • Lebanese Heritage Exhibition
  • Rituals of a Diverse Community Exhibition, and a Silk Quilt depicting the story of refugees on Temporary protection Visas.

Drug and Alcohol Education and Prevention (DAEP)

VASS has a well established DAEP program which targets ASB youth and their families and operates through schools and community settings, and uses a number of preventative and interventionist strategies aimed at educating the ASB communities on issues related to drug and alcohol use and abuse. The program operates on the principle of building the ASB community’s resilience to overcome risk factors which lead to drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Mediation

22 ASB mediators are available to assist members of the ASB communities with resolving disputes through mediation. The ASB Mediation program is a partnership project between VASS and the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.