TESTimonialS
Matthew
The Irish Support Agency provided me with support and accommodation when my brother passed away in Sydney. They made a very difficult experience more bearable and allowed us to focus on being there for each other. I will always be grateful for their support during that time.
Jennifer
I reached out to the Irish Support Agency after suffering with Post Natal Depression and struggling with being a single mum of a new born. The support that I received at the time was amazing and the Irish Support Agency set me up with a Mental Health Nurse who helped me through a difficult time. A year later I again needed support and the team at The Irish Support Agency couldn't have done more. Katerina came to my home and again provided me with support and a shoulder to lean on. I cannot speak highly enough on how the team helped me and hopefully one day I can return the favour for someone else.
Kevin McCoy
Katerina was an absolute pleasure to deal with and only for her help I would have been in a lot of bother she really made it her business to help me out as much as possible and made sure my problem was resolved. Thanks again.
Gerard
The team at the Irish Support Agency is brilliant. They have done so much and always go above and beyond for me!
I really appreciate all that they have done for me over the past 10 months. I am so glad I have come out the other side a better person and will be forever grateful to them all, especially Katerina who always checked in on me to make sure I was okay.
Damien Mason
After the sad & sudden passing of a very close friend in Sydney at the beginning of 2022, I will be forever thankful to Marian & Katerina for the numerous calls of advice & support offered to me and anyone in need who was close to our friend during this very difficult time, while also contacting our friends family back in Ireland to offer support.
I, like many I’m sure in Sydney had not heard of the ISA before, but in our time of need they were there with calls of support and offering to help in any way they could.
I cannot speak highly enough about this organisation, the people who help out here and all the great work they do for so many in need.
Thank you so much.
Gareth
Paula and the team have been incredible in helping our family in a time of need after an accident left us with no income coming in. We will be forever grateful.
Martin
The Irish Support Agency has been pivotal in my recovery from depression by setting me up with a counsellor which they subsidised.
When I was at my lowest point they reached out and helped to get me into rehabilitation and also helped with rental assistance and a food voucher, and overall kept checking in on me during my recovery.
Kathy McAtamney
I spoke with Katerina who was absolutely amazing. Katerina understood my query and had responded and helped me within 10 minutes. Before speaking with Katerina I was overwhelmed and confused but she was able to help, direct me and took the weight of the world of my shoulders. Such an amazing service and would highlight recommend. 10/10! Thank use so much!
Sarah
This charity was an unbelievable support to both myself here in Australia and my family back home in Ireland when we tragically lost my cousin Brendan.
Katerina was an amazing lifeline to my family and I, she was incredibly helpful and kept us up to date on everything that was happening when we tragically lost my cousin Brendan here in Australia. She has reached out to me every week since Brendan’s passing to make sure I was okay and helped in any way she could to put us all at ease in what has been a very unsettling time.
Anon
Could not speak more highly of the service!
Absolutely fantastic to have access to such an approachable, informed team. Extremely greatful for all the assistance they provided to me.
Jennifer
Excellent service. I am extremely grateful for the kindness, support and professionalism shown at an extremely challenging time for me. I would recommend this service to anyone struggling overseas. A special thank you to Katerina for her kindness, caring devotion to her role. Your qualities made a real difference. I wish you all the best in the future.
Conor
Katerina helped me and referred me to a visa specialist and advisor who was excellent. Katerina checked in with me numerous times and went out of her way to attend to me which was quite extraordinary and very caring of her. I had a listening ear and great advise and just someone to discuss the different things I could or should do and Katerina helped me identify who I needed to talk to, medically too. Being in Australia in a situation that I found myself in, with a severe knee injury was quite overwhelming and this service made me straighten a few of my issues and worries.
Tony Black
After arriving at immigration detention from prison, I had no external support. The Irish support agency stepped in and provided information, support, and the recourse that was crucial in expediting my return home.
If it wasn’t for Katerina and Paula at the Irish Support Agency, my experience of immigration detention would have been unbearable, and my return delayed.
I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone associated with the Irish Support Agency, a big thank you from myself and my family.
Thank you.
Gavan Tracey
Unfortunately, a family member passed away shortly after arriving in Sydney, during this very difficult time, Katerina from the Irish Support Agency was on hand to offer guidance and support.
She worked tirelessly to help with the repatriation process and our family will be forever grateful to her and the Agency in Sydney.
Anon
The ISA are one of those agencies you hope you never need to call on for help when you are so far from home. When my partner experienced a tragic crisis at home, Paula from the ISA picked up our request for help immediately on a Sunday. The guidance was invaluable and has helped us navigate and secure a travel exemption for my partner to return home urgently. Extremely grateful and I will make sure all of my Irish friends in Australia know about the ISA.
Laura Buckley
Katerina was very supportive throughout everything. She was very kind and caring and always went above and beyond to help me. She is very professional and is outstanding in everything she does.
Jennifer Comiskey
This agency came to our aid at a time of crisis and unforeseen circumstances following my brother’s accident at work in which he sustained serious injuries. The Irish Support Agency was invaluable help and did great work with government agencies in order to facilitate family to fly from Ireland and be with my brother in intensive care. This wasn’t straightforward due to Covid 19 restrictions but the reassurance, help, and assistance from Irish Support Agency were invaluable. Also the after-care and visits to the hospital. I see this agency as a great safety net for families and people in need. I would recommend their services to anyone in need. The service is professional, friendly, efficient and ultimately the team is caring, compassionate, and dedicated. I wish them every success they truly deserve.
Emma Goodwin
I dealt with Katerina and I couldn’t recommend her enough! She was such a nice and caring person to deal with. She made sure I knew there is help where needed and I wasn’t alone.
Catherine
I had to go to Australia at very short notice when my sons needed me. I had never been there before and I didn’t know what to do when arriving in the country. I was put in touch with the Irish support agency and right from the very start they were amazing. They helped me with everything I needed to do while in Australia. I couldn’t recommend them enough. The girls that work for the agency are so kind & caring and they go out of their way to help in any way that they can. Thank you for all your help over the last couple of months it was very much appreciated.
Liza
We were put in touch with this wonderful agency when my son developed severe psychosis over the festive season. As a parent, being on the other side of the world during a pandemic, you can only imagine the stress and worry we experienced.
I can not express our gratitude enough to Brigid, Katerina & Paula for helping my son get the medical care he needed, ensuring he had some food and always being on the other side of the phone no matter what time of the day. The work this agency does is incredible! Nothing was above and beyond for any one of them.
We are still in the process of trying to convince him to return home but through their generosity, he is in a much better state of mind than he was in December and they are ready to step in at any point should we need any further assistance.
Anon
The Irish Support Agency assisted with me a personal matter. They brought a very high standard of professionalism but at the same time were very personable. In some ways, one of their biggest contributions was their moral support and sensitivity in the absence of friends and family from Ireland being present with me.
Joe
I had been arrested and held over night, then released on bail with 4 charges against me, one of which was assault of a Police Officer. I was released the following afternoon and remembered seeing an advertisement in a St Patrick's Day brochure, so I googled and phoned the ISA.
The first lady I spoke to was able to send me some documentation and reassured me that they would be there to support me. I rang different Australian organisations for legal advice but it felt like I was getting nowhere, I was in a really bad way and felt so isolated, so I rang the ISA again that same day in tears. The second lady I spoke to really helped to calm me down, she outlined a plan of action and explained to me that they had dealt with a similar situation before, and that they would be able to offer support on my matter.
I spoke with a case worked called Katerina a few days later, who had sought some legal advice for me and gave me advice on what I should do next. There was excellent communication between each of the people I had spoken to at the ISA and all were aware of my situation, so I did not have to repeat things over and over again. Katerina outlined my options and advised me on how I should proceed with regards to finding legal representation, and even offered to meet with me that evening to explain everything in person. I was so thankful for that face to face meeting, as it was a really personable thing to do and allowed me an opportunity to speak openly about everything. She took pictures of the legal documents I had been given and sent me PDF copies so that I could use these for sending to solicitors. From the advice I had been given I got myself legal representation and Katerina stayed in touch with me throughout the next 2 weeks. She checked in on me to make sure I was doing okay, and even agreed to meet and attend court with me on the day of my hearing. It was an immense support to have a friendly face with me on the day of my sentencing, who was able to calm me down and speak to my solicitor and ask questions that I otherwise wouldn't have thought of, given that I was so nervous.
Again I cannot speak highly enough of Katerina, for her continued support throughout the ordeal and accompanying me on the day. I really don't know where I would have been without the support of the ISA.
Grace
Katerina has been absolutely amazing and has helped in more ways than I will ever be able to explain. I am so grateful that this agency exists as I have not been entitled to any other Government supports as a working holiday visa holder.
Clare Sweeney
From day one, the ISA has been an invaluable help to us. Facing a traumatic event, in a country on the other side of the world, we desperately needed guidance and assistance.
We were incredibly fortunate to have Katerina Gillen assigned to our family; without her help and support, we would have been lost. Katerina's assistance through the ISA has been a great help not just initially, but throughout the past 18 months. This organization is crucial for Irish people and their families living in Australia. Katerina has been with us from the beginning and has become a lifelong friend. It’s only in challenging situations like ours that the significance of the ISA becomes clear. We will always be grateful and continue to support them.