If you or your youth service has recently assisted independent young people from New Zealand (arrived after February 26, 2001) to access social security payments then YANQ and the Welfare Rights Centre QLD would like to hear from you.

It has come to our attention that young people who have arrived in Australia from New Zealand (after 26.2.2001) with their parents/carers and subsequently become separated can have difficulties accessing social security. Young people in this situation are then being denied opportunities to secure a place to live, find work, study, participate in community activies and so on.

If your service is seeking assistance (or has recently sought assistance) for young people in this situation (i.e. originally from New Zealand, independent and seeking social security) then please call David at YANQ.  David can assist you to prepare information that will help the Welfare Rights Centre to advocate for the young person (should the young person agree to seek their assistance).

Phone YANQ on 07 3844 7713 or 1800 177 899 (free call outside Brisbane metro area). 

You can find more information at the following links:

• Department of Immigration: http://tinyurl.com/5rosdh
• Welfare Rights Centre (MSWord Document): http://tinyurl.com/5agt8e
  

NB: If you are supporting young people recently arrived from countries other than New Zealand to access social security and are having difficulties please don't hesitate to call David to discuss this also. Our understanding at present is that independent young people from New Zealand may face particular barriers to accessing social security. These specific barriers arise from the interplay between laws governing entry to Australia for New Zealand Citizens and the social security agreements between the two countries.

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