The project would see St Vincent’s Health Australia offer refurbished one-bedroom units at its Eltham home to the refugees in partnership with CatholicCare.

The plan is to make 60 units available for short- and medium-term rentals for up to three years, with women and children given priority. The units would then be turned into affordable housing.

St Vincent’s has made an application to the Victorian State Minister for Planning to allow people under the age of 65 to live in the home, which has 120 beds and 30 independent living units.

The move follows the Federal Government’s promise to resettle 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq.