Rural and Regional (VES)
The Victorian Eyecare Service (VES) allows eligible Victorians to receive subsidised glasses, contact lenses and visual aids. VES is also available at participating optometry practices in regional Victoria.
GenU Disability Support Services
GenU services are vast and super wide-ranging including disability employment services and disability individual support.
Disability Employment Services
As permanent residents of Australia, people who arrived in Australia as refugees are eligible to receive a range of Disability Employment Services.
Eligible Temporary Protection Visa holders in receipt of Special Benefit can access the Disability Employment Services-Employment Support Service (DES-ESS) programme, which is for people with a permanent disability and with an assessed need for longer term, regular, ongoing support in the workplace.
Disability Support Pension
As permanent residents of Australia, people who arrived in Australia as refugees are eligible to receive the Disability Support Pension, and are also exempt from the 10-year waiting period that applies to other newly arrived residents. Centrelink has Multicultural Liaison Officers who can assist with completing forms (multilingual service phone 13 12 02). People who are seeking asylum in Australia are ineligible to receive this payment.
Carer Allowance
Permanent residents, including refugee and humanitarian entrants, are eligible for the Carer Allowance if they meet the usual criteria. Centrelink has Multicultural Liaison Officers who can assist with completing forms (multilingual service phone 13 12 02). People who are asylum seekers are not eligible for the Carer Allowance.