About SCARF

Our Mission Statement
SCARF is an independent, not-for-profit, community based incorporated association, established to enhance the resettlement process of permanent resident status refugee entrants in the Illawarra Region of NSW.

We believe that the helplessness and distress of refugee entrants will be relieved by empowering them through personal mentoring, provision of training grants, targeted education programs, and workplace experience programs.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all Humanitarian Visa entrants to receive a level of mentor support and training opportunities which will strengthen individuals, families and communities – and complement the work of the established service providers.

Our Vision
To see refugee entrants happily settled and participating fully in the life of the wider community.

Our Aims
The aims of SCARF are to:

promote awareness of issues affecting refugee entrants
build a strong and credible Association together with and on behalf of refugee entrant

Our Objectives
SCARF's objectives are to establish and manage programs in keeping with our Vision and Mission Statements, including but not restricted to:

a Home Tutor program for Primary School students
a Homework Help program for High School students
an Improve Your English program for adults
workshops to equip parents to have greater involvement in their children’s out-of-school education processes
CONNECT, building a stronger community through workplace connections
A 'secretarial service' to assist in explaining and actioning correspondence received, including referral to established service providers
The Refugee Advancement Through Education scheme, the R.A.T.E Fund, providing education grants to cover costs associated with Compliance Certificates, TAFE courses and similar courses related to workplace training and continuing education.

Our Values
The underlying philosophy of the Association is based on the National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia (1989), and includes the following principles:

All people who are refugee entrants, have the inherent right to respect for their human worth and dignity, and should enjoy freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, linguistic skill, religion, class, culture and gender.
All people who are refugee entrants, should enjoy equal opportunities, should have equitable access to, and an equitable share of resources.
All people who are refugee entrants should be enabled to achieve their maximum potential as members of the community and achieve positive outcomes.
All institutions should acknowledge, reflect and respond to the multi-cultural and multilingual diversity of Australia.
The principles of Social Justice which are based on a commitment to a socially just, sustainable and culturally rich society for all Australians should apply to all dealings with refugee entrants.

Management
All Management Committee members and advisors are honorary.