Australia’s refugee and migrant programs have returned to near capacity since the end of the COVID-19 border closures, a new report reveals.

The latest Social Impact Report from migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia shows almost 8,000 refugees, including 6,300 Afghans and Ukrainians, fleeing terrible conflicts in their countries were supported to find safety in Victoria and South Australia over the period covered by the report.

The report covers the 2021-22 financial year and comes after just 4000 clients, most of whom were legacy cases from pre-COVID intakes, were supported in the 2020-21 financial year.

They refugees were supported by 180 AMES Australia volunteers and $1 million worth of clothing, food and other necessities donated by business and the community.

Almost a thousand Afghan and Ukrainian families have been supported to find their own permanent homes, up from just 210 in the previous year; and more than 850 children have been enrolled in school, up from 173 in the previous year.

More than 4,800 migrant and refugee jobseekers were helped to find work by AMES’ employment team, up from around 3000 the previous year, the Social Impact Report reveals.

Eighty per cent of new jobseekers were satisfied with their jobs and 53 per cent were earning more than $60k.

The numbers include 520 of the most disadvantaged long-term unemployed along with 66 homeless people, 12 indigenous Australians and 309 women.

AMES Australia’s significant work in promoting positive health and wellbeing outcomes among newly arrived migrants and refugees is also revealed in report.

Wellbeing outcomes over the period of the report include 409 families being supported to connect with the healthcare system; 368 families being mentored to access the family and social support system, 404 supported to be able to access the transport system and 366 gaining knowledge of local laws, rights and responsibilities.

Seventy-five refugee clients attended breast screening for the first time and 66 refugees and migrants took part in swimming and water safety programs.

Another 420 refugees and migrants took part in our cancer screening and awareness projects.

And eighteen newsletters with settlement and health information were sent to 900 Afghan client families; and 120 unique COVID-19 information messages were developed and delivered in-language to refugees and migrants.

Ukrainian refugee Yevheniia Cherkasova, who fled her homeland with her younger sister when the Russians invaded in February says she and her sister are grateful for the support they have received in Australia.

“Thank you to Australia and the Australian people and to AMES for supporting us with everything we needed at a very difficult time,” Yevheniia said.

“Melbourne is a beautiful city and very peaceful. We were very scared and so we are happy and grateful to be here,

“I don’t know what the future holds but I hope the war ends soon and we can go home and rebuild our country,” she said.