I am a client in CatholicCare’s TRAMS program. My family and I have been in Toowoomba for two and a half years. We have been getting help from TRAMS for over twelve months. My wife and I have 4 school age children.
During our time with TRAMS the Case Workers and Interpreters have been very helpful in several difficult situations. It is great to know that there is someone we can talk to about the things we are finding difficult in our settlement journey here in Toowoomba.
“It is great to know that there is someone we can talk to.”
One of the biggest things they have helped us with is looking for a new rental home when our lease was not renewed in our first house here. It was a stressful time because it is so hard to find houses in Toowoomba as there are not enough houses for the people who are moving here.
They helped us to install an App on our phone that makes it possible to search on-line for the new houses that are available each day. They also helped us to gather the documents we need to attach to our applications and to make those applications online. After a lot of attempts we were finally able to get a new house in an area not too far from our first home. They also helped me to transfer my electricity and gas accounts.
“(Australia) is very different to the country I have come from, and it has been a hard thing to understand, but I think I have better knowledge about it now.”
Case workers have also helped us to make medical and dental appointments and now we feel confident enough to make them for ourselves. They have also helped us to understand letters that have come in the mail and to respond to emails that we found confusing.
It was great for my wife to be part of the English classes, because she could not attend TAFE because of her home duties. She must look after the younger children while I am attending TAFE and doing a lot of the other activities that are necessary.
Recently I was involved in a traffic accident that was not my fault. I was very unsure what to do. The Case Worker helped me to contact my Insurance Company and explained how insurance works here in Australia. It is very different to the country I have come from, and it has been a hard thing to understand but I think I have better knowledge about it now.
We are very grateful for the help we have received at TRAMS.
This story was shared with us by a participant of TRAMS, a program of CatholicCare, Diocese of Toowoomba.
