Community Living Supports for Refugees (CLSR)

At New Horizons, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling and independent life. Our Community Living Supports Refugee (CLSR) program provides tailored support to help individuals build essential life skills and connect with their community. New Horizons is in partnership with the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) to deliver the CLSR program in the following Local Health Districts: South West Sydney, Sydney, Hunter New England, and Mid-North Coast.

CLSR with New Horizons

Our CLSR program goes beyond clinical support. It’s a unique program that aims to provide trauma-informed, recovery focused and culturally appropriate psychosocial supports to people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum who are experiencing psychological distress, mental ill health and impaired functioning. We’ll work with you to nurture meaningful connections, explore enriching activities within your community, and confidently navigate life’s everyday moments.

Is CLSR right for you?
You may be eligible for CLSR support if you:

Are a refugee or asylum seeker of any age.

Have been building your life in Australia for 10 years or less

Experience mental health challenges that affect your daily life (no formal diagnosis needed)

Live or are staying in a local area where our friendly CLSR team can meet with you regularly

Assess your eligibility for the CLSR program
How we can help:
  • You know your needs better than anyone else. We work alongside you to create a personal plan - what we call an Individual Support Plan- where you decide exactly what goals we work on together. You stay in control of your journey every step of the way.
  • We know that for many refugees and asylum seekers, family is everything. CLS-R is unique because it offers support for your whole family, acknowledging the challenges of rebuilding lives and healing ties after fleeing conflict.
  • We help you develop the practical life skills that matter to you, from managing a household budget to navigating your local community.
  • We focus on honing your social skills and boosting your self-esteem, so you feel empowered to engage with the world around you.
  • We work with you to develop your own personal toolkit of skills to manage difficult emotions and build resilience.
Our comprehensive support services

We offer a range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of our participants, including:

  • Building everyday skills, like shopping, managing finances, cooking delicious meals, or confidently using public transport.
  • Offering a friendly ear and supportive guidance for your mental well-being.
  • Helping you stay organised with appointments, medications, and treatments.
  • Connecting you with your community through social, leisure, and sporting activities.
  • Empowering you to learn new skills and explore your passions.
  • Supporting your educational journey, housing, and employment.
  • Providing guidance and resources for parenting and children's education.
  • Helping you understand the practical side of life in Australia. While we aren't an immigration agency, we can help you stay on top of your paperwork and connect you with the right legal and migration experts.
  • Acting as a bridge to other essential services you might need, such as healthcare, specialised counseling, or legal aid.
Watch to learn more
Our Locations

Our CLSR services are available at the following locations:

Ashfield

Liverpool

Newcastle

Armidale

Coffs Harbour

If your location is not listed, give us a call and we can work with you to find other suitable programs to meet your needs.

Click a link below to download a brochure in the language listed:

Arabic | Armenian | Assyrian | Burmese | Dari | English | Farsi | Karen | Krio | Kurmanji – Arabic | Kurmanji – Latin | Swahili | Pashto | Tamil

What our customers say
When I arrived in Australia as a refugee I was overwhelmed and unsure of how I would survive. But the support I received changes everything. I was helped with transportation to medical appointment, which was a huge relief because I have ongoing issues. Support worker also make sure I never went hungry – they provide warm, free meals and food parcels when I needed them the most. I was also given clothes, hygiene supplies, and other essential donations. These things may seem small to some, but to me, meant everything. They made me feel seen, valued, and safe. I’m so grateful for the kindness and generosity of the people and organisations who help me during this difficult time. Their support gave me hope and remind me that I’m not alone.
Mizahanour
Refugee from Bangladesh
LP has come a long way and I’m keen to see where he goes in the future
Since coming on as LP’s support worker, he has gone from being a somewhat heavy smoker, coffee drinker and having no goals. Over the few years, LP has achieved his driver’s license, got his own car, given up smoking, doesn’t drink coffee or alcohol, takes himself up to get his own blood work done as well as other medical appointments. LP had also enrolled in TAFE in community services, completed the course and is now looking for work in the Mental Health industry. LP has come a long way and I’m keen to see where he goes in the future. LP has also had his medication reduced and quite possibly reduced even further in time.
Trevor
New Horizons Support Worker
I feel so lucky and grateful for your assistance
Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful support which has been amazing and how you have always been there to support Peter and myself during very stressful times for which I am very grateful and realise how much you have helped us. Also thank you to your team which also have been very professional and supportive. I feel so lucky and grateful for your assistance.
Jenni
Program Participant
Your questions, answered

Who is the CSLR program for?

CLSR is for people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum of any age who have arrived in Australia in the last 10 years, who have ongoing mental health challenges. People must be in stable accommodation and must be willing to engage with the program.

Assess your eligibility for the CLSR program

Why might a person need help from CLSR?

The common challenges a person might be experiencing could include:
• Staying in hospital multiple times
• Being recently discharged from hospital
• Feeling distressed for a long time
• Feeling lonely, helpless, and hopeless
• Having difficulty dealing with everyday tasks and routines
• Not feeling in control of one’s life, and having difficulty taking care of oneself
• Headaches and pain
• Sleeping problems and bad dreams
• Problems with negative thinking, concentration and memory

How can the CLSR program help?

The CLSR program provides individual support to help people set goals, build confidence, and improve their health, wellbeing, and connection with others. The program aims to help people live stable and meaningful lives with support being guided by the person and involving the whole family if needed. We will also provide support connecting and collaborating with other people or services in a person’s life. Staff work in collaboration with clinicians and health staff.

Some examples of support might be:
• Help with everyday tasks such as shopping, transport, cleaning, medication management, and attending medical appointments
• Support finding and keeping a place to live
• Linking people to cultural events, community activities, sports, and physical health activities

How will CLSR understand a person’s challenges?

CLSR staff are interested in listening to and understanding a person’s unique situation and challenges. Our staff are from different cultural backgrounds and have a good understanding of the experiences and cultures of people from refugee backgrounds.

Referring to CLSR

We accept referrals from any source, including self-referrals.

Call New Horizons: 1300 726 372

Call STARTTS: 02 9646 6666 (ask for MH-CLSR)

Email: [email protected]

Download referral form

What will happen after a referral is made?

After the referral is made, the intake team will send a letter of acknowledgement and contact the referred person to arrange a meeting. The local health district committee will assess the application, and if successful, a letter of acceptance will be sent and supports will commence. The referred person may also be placed on a waiting list.

How much does CLSR cost?

All CLSR services are free.

Where does a person need to go?

Staff will meet people wherever they are comfortable. This may be in their homes, in the community, or at a New Horizons or STARTTS office.

What if a person speaks a language other than English?

CLSR staff speak many languages, and all use professional interpreters when needed.

Will the person’s information be kept private?

All support through CLSR is confidential and is only known by New Horizons, STARTTS, and the Local Health District. Information will only be shared with another relevant service if the person gives us permission and it is to help them. However, if the person tells us they might hurt themselves or hurt someone else, CLSR staff will need to involve other services to protect the person and others. People currently accessing CLSR may be contacted to volunteer to help evaluate the program.

Get in touch with us today and learn how we can support your wellbeing journey.
Customer Enquiries

For customer enquiries, please contact 1300 726 372.​

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