Make a Referral

Anyone can make a referral to STTARS. This includes service providers, medical professionals, a family member or friend of the person, or the person themselves.

We accept referrals for people who:

• Have a refugee or refugee-like background; AND
• Have a history of torture, violence and/or significant trauma in the context of war, political upheaval or refugee flight or are an immediate family member of such a person; AND
• Are experiencing physical or psychological difficulties believed to be associated with their experience of torture and trauma; AND
• Voluntarily consent to the referral.

The person can be of any age and can have been living in Australia for any length of time, from a few days to many decades.

STTARS is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know needs help right now please telephone:

• Your local mental health service 13 14 65
• Your nearest hospital

OR if it is an emergency call 000

STTARS does not provide services for people whose main problem is drug and alcohol or domestic violence-related. We will direct clients with these issues to other appropriate services. We will work with other agencies to provide joint services where appropriate.

Voluntary consent is an absolute requirement for referral to STTARS. We are not able to accept referrals compelled by a court or other service.

The more of the following information you provide, the easier it is to request a service and to make a referral:

• Name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Number of children, their age and gender
• Address
• Phone number
• When you/he/she arrived in Australia
• Visa category
• Nationality
• Preferred languages
• Country of birth

If you are requesting a counselling service then it will also be helpful for us to know:

• Reason for referral, including a brief background of the current problem
• Any other organisations you/the person is involved or linked in with

Before referring someone to STTARS, it is important that you talk to them about our service and confirm that they agree to being contacted by STTARS. This helps us to build trust with the person and gives them respectful choice in the process of being referred.

It is ESSENTIAL that anyone referred to STTARS first consents to the referral.

If you are referring another person to STTARS please inform them that:

• STTARS' services are free
• STTARS' services are confidential
• STTARS will arrange an interpreter if needed (the client can specify their preference for on-site or telephone interpreter and the interpreter’s gender)
• They don’t have to accept the referral and they can change their mind at any time if they decide they don’t want the service
• They don’t have to talk about anything they don’t want to talk about
• If they don’t want the service now, a referral can be made later at any time

STTARS' services are free of charge.

If the person you are referring needs an interpreter, you can contact the Telephone Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 or call STTARS and we can arrange an interpreter for you.

STTARS has counsellors who speak a range of different languages. Counselling may be able to be provided in the person’s first language or STTARS will arrange a professional interpreter if needed. The person receiving counselling can specify their preference for an on-site or telephone interpreter and the interpreter’s gender.