Project Start Wien
MA 17 - Integration and Diversity
Goran Novakovic
June 8th, 2011
Concept
• Research on integration support programs in other European
cities and Canada, interviews with new migrants
• No other city has a program that is comparable to the "Start
Wien" project for new migrants in Vienna.
• The project is tailored to the individual needs of migrants
• All services - start coaching, information modules, second level
start coaching - are provided in the mother tongues of the new
migrants.
Target groups
• People who come to Austria for reasons of family reunion
with an Austrian citizen or a third-country national
• Since January 2011 also for all EEA nationals and thirdcountry nationals who are family members of EEA
nationals and who have since received a confirmation of
registration (for EU citizens) or a residence card from
Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship,
Registry Offices (MA 35).
Start Wien - Getting a head start in Vienna
• Since 1 October 2008 Municipal Department 17 has been
providing new migrants in Vienna with comprehensive support
under the "Start Wien" project
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The "Start Wien" project has been implemented in cooperation
with
Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, Registry
Offices (MA 35)
the Information Centre for Migrants
the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund
the Vienna Public Employment Services (AMS)
the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and
the Vienna Chamber of Labour
Start Wien - services
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Start coaching
Vienna education booklet
Vienna language vouchers
Information modules
Second level start coaching
Start coaching appointment at "Start Wien"
• a service tailored to the individual needs of new migrants
• one-hour consultation
• can be held in 24 languages
• usually held right after migrants receive their residence title
from Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship,
Registry Offices
Start Coaching: Contents
New migrants
• receive the Vienna education booklet that includes the
Vienna language vouchers
• are provided with important information about the most
relevant topics to get a good start in Vienna
• receive advice about suitable German language courses
and valuable tips and
• advice for their first few weeks and months in Vienna.
Vienna education booklet
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for new migrants in Vienna
includes the Vienna language
vouchers in the amounts of
EUR 300 or EUR 150
has been jointly developed by
relevant organisations,
institutions and authorities
all education and further training
measures such as German
language courses and
information modules are
recorded in the booklet
Vienna language vouchers
• According to the Integration Agreement, new migrants have to
prove their German language skills (level A2) within five years
after their arrival in Austria
• Municipal Department 17 supports them with the Vienna
language vouchers
• New migrants who arrived in Austria after 1 October 2008
receive the Vienna language voucher in the amount of EUR 300
Euro (three vouchers in the amount of EUR 100 each).
Vienna language vouchers
They have to meet the following requirements:
• They are in Vienna following family reunification with an Austrian
citizen or with a third-country national
• They received an initial residence permit from Municipal
Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, and Registry Offices
• They have collected their Vienna education booklet at their start
coaching appointment
• The Vienna language voucher can be combined with the
language voucher of the Austrian Integration Fund
(Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, ÖIF).
Vienna language vouchers
Language voucher in the amount of EUR 150 (three vouchers in the
amount of EUR 50 each)
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for EEA nationals and third-country nationals who are family members
of EEA nationals
They have to meet the following requirements:
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They are family members, self-employed or employed
They have received a confirmation of registration or a residence card
after 1 January 2011 from Municipal Department 35
They have collected their Vienna education booklet at the start
coaching appointment
Information modules at "Start Wien"
• Information days are held at the Public Learning Centre VHS
Favoriten on the second Saturday of each month
• Information modules are held in 24 languages free of charge
• New migrants and anyone who is interested are welcome to
attend the information modules.
• The modules are held as two-hour information events where
migrants can ask questions and receive handouts with the most
important information and addresses on the topic at hand in
their mother tongues.
Information modules at "Start Wien"
• Information module subjects are: Living together,
residence matters, education, housing, healthcare,
working environment, profession and recognition of
qualifications
• The modules "profession" and "recognition of
qualifications" are held at the Vienna Employment
Promotion Fund (waff) and the "Perspektive" advice
centre respectively.
Second level start coaching
• Second level start coaching can be held in several languages
It is a service for all holders of a Vienna education booklet
who:
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have lived in Vienna for a while
maybe already attend a German language course or
who have already found a job but
who still need more information and advice about relevant
topics of everyday life
Austrian Integration Award
for the "Start Wien" project
• The best integration projects in Austria were awarded
with a prize on 7 June 2010
• Municipal Department 17 received the Austrian
Integration Award for the "Start Wien" project in the
category "Promotion & Support".
European Language Label
for "Start Wien"
• Project manager Ursula Eltayeb and her team accepted
the award at the Austrian Ministry for Education on 5
October 2010
• The European Language Label is the second award for
the "Start Wien" project
• The European Label is an award that encourages new
and sustainable initiatives in the field of teaching and
learning languages
Results: October 2008 – May 2011
• 7300 new migrants have been reached since
2008 MA 17 in Vienna with this project and
received an education booklet
• 15.400 people attended lectures (information
modules) at „Start Wien“ that were held in
their mother tongues.
MA 17
Integration und Diversität
Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 3
A - 1080 Wien
Tel.: +43 1 4000 81510
E-Mail: post@m17.wien.gv.at
www.wien.gv.at/english/social/integration
www.startwien.at