Refugee Resettlement's Work

What type of work does Refugee Services do with refugees?

Refugee Services provides practical support for refugees once they arrive in New Zealand. Our professional staff includes social workers, cross-cultural workers and trainers of community volunteers. They provide a wide range of services to assist refugees with the many challenges of adjusting to a new culture and society.

Does Refugee Services work with asylum seekers?

No, we used to but financial constrains in recent years meant we had to close down the service we offered.

Does Refugee Services work with migrants?

No.

How many people does Refugee Services help each year?

NZ accepts a guaranteed quota of 750 refugees annually and Refugee Resettlement is the agency contracted to help these new arrivals resettle. We estimate that since the agency began work in 1976 we have helped around 40,000 refugees make a new life in NZ.

Where is Refugee Services located?

The Refugee Services National Office is in Wellington and there are nine other offices around the country in Auckland, the Mangere Refugee Reception Centre, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Porirua, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch.

How many paid staff and volunteers does Refugee Services have?

We employ around 40 administration staff, social workers and cross-cultural workers. In the past year we trained over 380 volunteer support workers to help newly arrived refugees settle in their new communities.

Who is on the board of Refugee Services?

The  board is made up of eight appointed members along with the Refugee Resettlement Director, Accountant and National Coordinator.

I want to help Refugee Services in its work. What can I do?

The two major ways to help are by training as a volunteer support worker with us or by donating money to help us in our work. More information about what to do and how to do it can be found in our How you can help section.