Our Clients

STARTTS provide services for refugees, asylum seekers and people from refugee-like situations who have survived torture or other traumatic experiences associated with organised violence.

We provide services for individuals, families and refugee communities. It does not matter how old someone is or how many years he or she has been living in Australia.

Torture and trauma can have negative impacts on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as influencing the way they relate to family and friends. It can also damage the bonds between members of refugee communities and their trust in mainstream institutions and society.

Despite this, refugees are amazingly resilient, and with some support are generally able to live full and productive lives. Again and again our clients have demonstrated their enormous strength and their ability to overcome adversity.

You can read about what our clients may have survived on our clients’ experiences page. You can also read case studies from our clients.

Follow the link to find information in other languages for our clients.

How Many Clients Do We See Each Year?

In 2007 STARTTS’ provided services for 6,182 refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2006 that figure was 5,344 and in 2005 it was 4,837.

Where are Our Clients Born?

STARTTS’ clients come from more than 50 language groups.

In 2007 our individual counselling clients came from the following areas:

Africa                            1,595

Middle East                    1,536

South East Asia                 242

South Asia                         92

East Asia                           80

Former Yugoslavia               45

European other                   20

Oceania                             13

Latin America                       8

Central Asia                         2

These figures do not include clients of our Personal Support Programme, group clients, physiotherapy and other bodywork clients or children and young people attending our camps.

Follow the link to view a chart of the number of STARTTS’ clients from 2000 to 2007 by world region.

What Services are Our Clients Using?

In 2007 STARTTS’ clients were seen by staff working in:

The Early Intervention Program              2,875

General Services Counselling                 1,716

Group Programs                                      328

Youth Program                                       696

The Personal Support Program                  293

Physiotherapy and Bodywork                      66

Other Programs                                      208

Follow the link to view a chart of the number of STARTTS’ clients by program area from 2000 to 2007.