ARMS wide open for Newcomers

Greetings from Auckland Regional Migrant Services. Please find below & attached a press release with reference to ARMS Annual Public Meeting.

Media Release:

ARMS wide open for Newcomers

Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS) is taking a broader focus to respond to the needs of migrants, refugees and returning Kiwis.

“Changing economic conditions and new migration trends point to the need for greater support to help newcomers and returning Kiwis to settle well in Auckland”, says ARMS Executive Director, Dr Mary Dawson.

“The past year has seen a variety of issues arise, including more new migrants struggling to find employment during the economic downturn”, she says. “We also need to consider the different settlement issues of returning New Zealanders, and new migrants who are coming in on schemes like the Entrepreneur Plus cagegory”.

“Most newcomers are unfamiliar with their new environment and need accurate information and relevant advice, especially during these challenging times” says Bevan Chuang, Settlement Support Coordinator for Auckland City.

“Our focus is to ensure their settlement needs and social wellbeing are responded to promptly, so they can successfully integrate into the local community.”

In the past financial year, around 5700 migrants have sought assistance from ARMS’ SSNZ coordinators, and the ARMS Manukau centre has seen an increase of 31% in the number of clients compared to last year.

In addition, throughout the year, the ARMS Migrant Employment Assistance programme has run a number of targeted workshops for over 1700 participants, 353 of whom were successful in gaining employment within three months of attending a workshop.

ARMS also ensures improved settlement support for new Aucklanders by facilitating regional collaboration between service providers, government agencies and community groups. This includes operating Local Settlement Networks existing in Auckland and Manukau cities.  Next year will see ARMS establishing a Regional Newcomers Advisory Group, a Regional Settlement Steering Group and a Regional Settlement Network.

Since opening in 2003, ARMS has provided well over 20,000 migrants and refugees with settlement support and advice. Their services across the Region include English language advice, employment assistance programmes, and a range of orientation activities.

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