Program eligibility | New England Family Support Service

SETS is a flexible and needs-based program, delivered to eligible clients or groups in Australia.

To ensure that SETS reaches those most in need, providers should target and prioritise support for the following priority groups:

people who first arrived in Australia less than 5 years ago
people requiring urgent help. This includes those with emergency health and wellbeing issues and/or issues with family or domestic violence
individuals who need one-off or short-term support with a significant life change or event
dependents, often women, who have otherwise prioritised the needs of their family and delayed their own use of settlement services
individuals with prolonged issues of low literacy and English language proficiency
individuals with critical settlement needs where there are no other available settlement or mainstream services that they can get to support their needs
older migrants or individuals who arrived at a young age and have been in Australia for over 5 years and develop issues as they grow older
new and emerging ethno-specific communities, community leaders and emerging community representatives
new and emerging ethno-specific organisations with limited corporate capacity.

Providers can support clients outside of these priority groups. Providers should consider the type and level of support needed when considering how to support clients outside of these priority groups. This is based on client need, budget limitations and relevant program outcomes. Australian citizens are not eligible to use the SETS program.

Eligible visa subclasses

Permanent visas

Refugee and humanitarian visas

Refugee visa (subclass 200)
In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201)
Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
Emergency Rescue visa (subclass 203)
Woman at Risk visa (subclass 204)
Territorial Asylum visa (subclass 800)
Protection visa (subclass 866)

Working and skilled visas (dependants only in rural and regional areas with low English proficiency)

Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124)
Business Talent visa (Permanent) (subclass 132)
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)
Skilled – Independent visa (subclass 189)
Skilled – Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Permanent Residence visa (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191)
Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 858)
Skilled – Regional visa (subclass 887)
Business Innovation and Investment visa (Permanent) (subclass 888)
Business Owner visa (subclass 890)
Investor visa (subclass 891)
State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)
State/Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893)

Other stream

Former Resident visa (subclass 151). Note: Some, not all of the Former Resident (Subclass 151) visa holders will be eligible for settlement services as they were granted Ministerial Intervention, depending on whether their previous visa is eligible for settlement services.
Witness Protection (Traffic) visa (subclass 852)
Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192)

Temporary visa subclasses

Refugee and humanitarian visas

Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa (subclass 449) – limited to circumstances where the visa was granted on or after 19 August 2021 for reasons relating to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. This does not include any unauthorised maritime arrivals.
Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa (subclass 449) – limited to circumstances where the visa was granted to Ukraine nationals due to the crisis in Ukraine.
Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa (subclass 786) – limited to circumstances where the visa was granted to Ukraine nationals due to the crisis in Ukraine.
Visitor Visa (subclass 600) – limited to circumstances where the visa was granted to Ukraine nationals due to the crisis in Ukraine, and where a valid application for a Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (subclass 449) visa has been made.

Family and partner visas (low English proficiency)

Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)
Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309)
Dependent Child visa (subclass 445)
Partner visa (Temporary) (subclass 820)

Working and skilled visas (dependants only in rural and regional areas with low English proficiency)

The Business Owner (Provisional) visa (subclass 160)*
The Senior Executive (Provisional) visa (subclass 161)*
The Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 162)*
The State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa (subclass 163)*
The State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa (subclass 164)*
The State/Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 165)*
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)
Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)*
Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)*
Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
Skilled – Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Skilled – Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

* These visas are closed to new applications but eligible SETS clients could still hold the visa.