REBECCA Nyaret knows first-hand how hard it can be for asylum-seekers to integrate into the community.
As a refugee from Sudan, she struggled to understand our language and culture, to interpret documents and regulations, and to find housing and work.
Others like her report depression, feelings of worthlessness and problems with family or ethnic violence.
Ms Nyaret, 27, who was granted asylum before travelling to Australia in 2007, fears the increasing number of irregular boat arrivals since the collapse of offshore processing will put more pressure on jobs, housing and services for those already here.
She worries it will mean fewer visas for those, like her mother, who have been granted refugee status but are still waiting for permission to travel here.
"In Africa we would all like to come, but we don't have a boat -- we have to line up," Ms Nyaret said. "Even now it's hard to find housing -- when you turn up to the inspection there's always a huge line."
Her concerns mirror those expressed by the Coalition governments of NSW and Victoria, which have attacked Julia Gillard's plan to move thousands of asylum-seekers out of detention centres and into the community.
The nation's two largest states have condemned the policy as an exercise in burden shifting that would stretch police resources and threaten social cohesion.
As reported by The Weekend Australian, NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher slammed the proposal, saying it had been undertaken without any consultation with the states, which would be expected to provide many of the services asylum-seekers need.
Mr Gallacher said the policy compromised the welfare of asylum-seekers, who risked being dumped in the community without adequate support.
In a briefing document obtained by The Australian, as reported yesterday, the NSW government warned that the increasing number of asylum-seekers being released into the community on bridging visas risked some falling through the cracks.
NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward said refugees were "very intensive" users of social services and warned of rising levels of domestic violence.
But federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen accused Ms Goward of grandstanding.
Susan Vogels, chief executive of SydWest Multicultural Services, said incidents of domestic violence among asylum-seekers were not known to be higher than in other sections of the community, but agreed the figures did not necessarily tell the whole story.
A refugee counsellor, who asked not to be named, said more common problems were "economic violence" and even extortion within families.
"Sometimes one family member says 'I brought you to Australia and you can't do anything without my permission'," the counsellor said.
The counsellor said men in particular often struggled with losing their role as breadwinners and their traditional powers to discipline their families.
"Men feel helpless when they lose control. The government needs to do more to educate men that violence is wrong, and to educated asylum-seekers generally about human rights."
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