The VASS Settlement Services were designed to build the capacity of the new and emerging Iranian community. This was done through a variety of activities such as linking Iranian clients to mainstream services, empowering clients to access education and employment by assisting with resume writing and linking clients to relevant training, short-term case work and advocacy, particularly around settlement issues, and group information sessions on a range of topics such as the Australian legal system, the Australian social service system, and health and wellbeing. VASS’ Settlement Services program also provided information sessions on the needs of the Iranian community in Victoria to other service providers, to maximise the capacity of these services to respond appropriately to the Iranian community’s needs.
The Settlement Services was funded by the Department of Social Services.

This program serviced people of Iranian background who are humanitarian entrants; refugees with offshore visas; family stream migrants with low level of English proficiency; and dependants of skilled migrants in rural and regional areas with low English proficiency.