| Refugee & Migrant Service (ARMS) Social Services |
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The ARMS Literacy Centre, previously the Annerley Literacy Centre, has been providing services to migrants and refugees since 2000, in response to a growing need for literacy support for refugees.
The Centre provides support and referrals for the ongoing settlement needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, with a particular focus on education, language, literacy and employment opportunities.
Spiritus ARMS is committed to:
- Promoting social justice and equality as basic human rights
- Improving quality of life through education, literacy, and employment training and support
- Promoting a culture of inclusion and celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity
Programs
These are two core programs operates at the ARMS Literacy Centre.
The
Adult Literacy Program is funded by the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
The
Homework Assistance Program (HAP) receives funding from the Department of Education and Training (DET) and has also received support from private donors.
In addition to its funded programs, the Centre provides a wide range of assistance and support in response to requests from people of refugee backgrounds and other migrants, as the Centre has become known within these communities as more general source of advice, support and liaison with other services.
Our services include:
- English language, literacy and numeracy classes for adults, delivered by volunteer tutors, to assist students in developing speaking, listening, reading and writing skills needed for daily life and to access employment and further training.
- Homework assistance for students from Grade 6 to 12 in all subject areas. This support is delivered by volunteer tutors and is also accessed by tertiary students seeking specific subject assistance.
- Volunteer tutor training with a particular focus on working with the centre’s client group.
- Basic computer classes for people wanting an introduction to computers, basic keyboard skills and an introduction to email and the internet.
- Computer and internet access.
- This service allows people on low incomes and without access to a home computer and internet to access email and use the internet for study, search for jobs and housing, access international news, etc.
- Resume writing and job application assistance.
- Study assistance for people doing tertiary studies and further training.
- Assistance with general needs, such as interpreting and responding to letters from school, Centrelink, real estate agents, interpreting bills and other documents. Liaison with other agencies when required is frequently requested.
- Responding to requests from other agencies seeking assistance and advice regarding clients of non-English speaking backgrounds.
Client backgrounds and needs
Clients of the centre include people from Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Burma, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and others.
While people of refugee backgrounds are highly represented, other migrants, including skilled migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds, also seek the centre’s services and their needs
vary widely.
Some people have had no, or very interrupted, access to education before arriving in Australia while others are highly literate and have tertiary qualifications in their first language.
The adult students vary widely in age with people in the 20-50 age bracket most represented but with people under 20 and over 60 also participating in the language and computer classes.
Supporting our services
Volunteers are needed for both the Adult Literacy and the Homework Assistance Programs.
The work of volunteers has direct, immediate and long term benefits for the people that use our service.
We are dependent on grants and generous donations to continue providing our much needed services.
Spiritus ARMS would like to thank our donors and supporters, particularly the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, as well as some generous individual donors.
If you want to make a real contribution to your community and you think you have the skills to be a tutor, please contact us and find out how.
If you cannot give your time but still wish to support our programs we gratefully accept donations. All donations are used to purchase resources to support the programs.
For more information, please contact us:
Address
197 – 201 Beaudesert Road
Moorooka Queensland 4105
Telephone
07 3892 6932
Email
alc@spiritus.org.au
Contact hours
Monday and Friday: 9am to 3pm
Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Website: www.spiritus.org.au