Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO)

The Australian Cultural Orientation Programme (AUSCO) prepares refugees and other humanitarian entrants (people who suffer substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home country and therefore are living outside of it) for initial settlement in Australia. It is a five-day programme of orientation focusing on travel, on-arrival assistance, practical information on post-arrival settlement services and managing cultural, social and economic expectations.

The cultural orientation programme includes:

• Sessions on travel requirements, including Customs and Immigration processes
• What to expect on-arrival to Australia by way of initial assistance
• Introduction to the Australian lifestyle, social and cultural norms
• Life skills training (dealing with accommodation, transport, banks, health and other day-to-day matters)
• Understanding Australian values around law and order, gender equality, rights and responsibilities
• Freedoms protected by law (religion, expression, assembly, non-discrimination).

Activities:

• Five-day training focusing on travel, on-arrival assistance, and managing expectations