Refugee Hub
The Refugee Hub plays an integral role in the settlement of refugees in the Newcastle and Hunter region. By working collaboratively with other service providers, the Refugee Hub walks with refugees to support and empower them on their journey to independence.
At CatholicCare’s Refugee Hub, we support people from refugee, asylum-seeker, and vulnerable migrant backgrounds to settle into life in Australia. We welcome people from all social, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
We aim to assist people in gaining the confidence to engage with their local community and empower them on their journey to independence. Our team takes a strength-based approach and ground our practices in culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care.
We operate a comprehensive and individualised intake and referral system, and provide casework and advocacy support for refugees and new migrants to access community services.
In 2022, your help is needed more than ever, with an average of 17 new families referred to our Refugee Hub every month. Thousands of people seeking asylum have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and rely on local charities and communities due to a lack of government support. Find out more about how you can donate.
Volunteers are the backbone of the Refugee Hub, and each brings their own unique talents to help refugees benefit from health, education, social, and welfare opportunities. You can read more about becoming a volunteer here.
Thanks to your support, we can continue providing a range of practical programs that promote inclusion, wellbeing, confidence, and skills development.
English Language Support
The Refugee Hub runs a weekly English class where students who are undertaking the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), or simply need to improve their English, can get additional support to improve language skills.
Volunteer qualified teachers lead the classes. As students progress, our case workers can assist with further education choices or language support for employment.
Pathways to employment
A common need of people presenting to Refugee Hub is employment. This can be complex as it means navigating English language competency, Centrelink, Job Active providers and previous skill/qualification certification. Each person has unique circumstances and needs an individual approach. We take the time to understand individual skills and challenges and prepare a “work ready” pathway with the aim of a work placement opportunity.
Tutoring
Refugee Hub offers weekly tutoring sessions for primary and secondary school students from refugee, asylum-seeker, and vulnerable migrant backgrounds. The session are run by volunteers who are either teachers or otherwise suitably qualified.
Men's program and women's group
CatholicCare Social Services run a weekly Men’s Program and Women’s Group for people who are from refugee, asylum seeker or vulnerable migrant backgrounds.
CatholicCare’s multicultural family support workers facilitate the Women’s Group. The aim of the group is to provide a safe space for men and women to make connections, develop their confidence and English skills and to gain knowledge and skills that will assist them to integrate into Australian society.
Contact and Referrals
To find out more about CatholicCare Refugee Hub, please email us at refugeehub@catholiccare.org.au.
To make a referral, please complete our referral form and forward it to refugeehub@catholiccare.org.au.
Donations
Our Refugee Hub receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors to continue providing these vital services. 
Discover more about how you can help:
