Companion House is a non government community based organisation.

It was founded in 1989 to care for survivors of torture and trauma who have sought refuge in Australia.

For its first eleven years Companion House was called Transact (Treatment and Rehabilitation and Network Service of the ACT).

Companion House is part of the FASSTT (Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma) network. There is a FASSTT agency in each state and territory. The FASSTT network was established in 1992.

Some milestones for Companion House:

In 1989 Transact was founded.

In 1995 the agency established an onsite medical service and health reviews and integrated this with counselling services.

In 1996 Transact started a dedicated children’s early intervention counselling program.

In 2000 the organisation changed its name to Companion House, Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma.

In 2003 – 05 Companion House expanded to provide community development and capacity building programs including health and nutrition, physical health and parenting programs.

In 2007 Companion House established the Refugee Transitional Housing Program as a tripartite agreement with ACT Housing and CatholicCare to provide transitional housing for six months for refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2009 Companion House established the ACT Asylum Seekers Network to work collaboratively on areas of need for asylum seekers locally.

In 2009 Companion House became the first non-government organisation to opt into the ACT Human Rights ACT, agreeing voluntarily to be bound by the Act.

In 2010 Companion House moved to the Community Hub in Cook (41 Templeton Street Cook, next to the Cook shops).

In 2010 Companion House started offering the first Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) in the ACT region.