The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN) provides a national response to the ANAO audit examining the management of funding under the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Services (SETS) program. Drawing on extensive consultation with state and territory partners and youth settlement service providers, MYAN outlines how SETS and Youth Transition Support (YTS) services play a critical role in supporting young humanitarian entrants and vulnerable migrants to achieve independence, social participation and positive settlement outcomes.
The response highlights the strengths of current service delivery, including youth‑led, culturally responsive approaches and comprehensive support across education, employment, wellbeing and community connection. However, it identifies significant challenges, including restrictive eligibility criteria, regional service inequities, fragmented governance, outdated reporting systems, heavy administrative burdens and short‑term funding cycles that undermine sustainability and workforce stability.
MYAN proposes a series of practical, system‑level recommendations, including transitioning YTS to a permanent program, adopting a new National Youth Settlement Support model, improving governance and evaluation, and aligning funding with demographic need. Collectively, these reforms aim to strengthen equity, efficiency and long‑term outcomes for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
