Eastern Multicultural News
A.B.N. 27 084 251 669 EDITION 130 – August 2012
1
Eastern Multicultural News is prepared and distributed by the Migrant Information Centre
(Eastern Melbourne), Suite 2, Town Hall Hub, 27 Bank Street, Box Hill 3128, E-mail:
Home and Community Care Diversity Adviser
The MIC is seeking an experienced project manager who is creative and enthusiastic to take a lead role in supporting Home and Community Care (HACC) organisations to implement Diversity planning and practice to improve access to HACC services for people with diverse needs who are marginalised or disadvantaged.
The skills and experience for this position include strong strategic, conceptual, influencing, and analytical skills. In addition, demonstrated experience in strategic planning, capacity building and developing and maintaining effective partnerships across both the government and community sectors is essential.
Applications must address the key selection criteria detailed in the position description.
For further information please call Judy McDougall on 9285 4888 or for a position description, please telephone 9285 4888 or Email . Salary packaging is available.
Applications close on 27th August 2012.
“MOVING TO MARS” - MIC FILM NIGHT FUNDRAISER
The Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) is holding a Film Night as our annual fundraising event for 2012.
Support newly arrived refugees by attending the special screening of “Moving to Mars” - a feature film about the journey of two refugee families from Karen backgrounds who leave the refugee camp in Thailand and resettle in the UK.
As part of our fundraising event, the MIC will draw our raffle. Raffle tickets are $2 each with 1st prize being a 7 night trip to Noosa including accommodation and airfares. Help us by selling a book of tickets at your workplace or school!
The night will also include a cake sale and a Lucky Seat prize.
The film night will be held at 4pm to 6.30pm on Sunday 9th September 2012 at the Whitehorse Centre, 397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading (Melway Reference: 48 G9).
To purchase tickets for the film night or to buy raffle tickets or for more information, please phone Virginie on 9285 4888.
All proceeds will go into the MIC’s Settlement Support Fund – the money is used to assist newly arrived migrants and refugees in crisis.
“Come and Play” Playgroups in Croydon and Mooroolbark
The Migrant Information Centre is facilitating the “Come and Play” playgroups for newly arrived mothers and children from refugee and family migration backgrounds. The aim of the playgroups is to bring isolated mothers with young children together, enable mothers to understand how children learn through play and provide a forum for increasing mother’s understanding and access to early childhood services that are available to them.
The Mooroolbark playgroup meets weekly during school terms from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesdays at the St Francis in the Fields Anglican Church, 218 Hull Road, Mooroolbark.
The Croydon playgroup meets fortnightly from 12.30pm to 3.30pm on Fridays during school terms at Croydon Uniting Church, 6 Tallent Street, Croydon. The next session will be held on 17th August 2012.
For more information, please contact Niquita Meyers on 9285 4888 or Email .
The Mooroolbark playgroup is jointly funded by Yarra Ranges Shire and the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship under the Settlement Grants Program funding program.
The Croydon playgroup is funded by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship under the Settlement Grants Program funding program.
Driving Mentors – Volunteers Wanted
The Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) is seeking driving mentors to volunteer for the “Community Safety Driving Program for Refugees”. The program enables newly arrived people from refugee backgrounds to practice on-road driving with a fully licensed mentor to increase their driving skills before they sit their driving test.
This program provides invaluable support for refugees who have limited or no family members and friends who can help them gain driving experience. Many refugees have settled in the outer eastern suburbs and with the exception of those living near railway stations, they have limited access to public transport after hours and on weekends. Gaining a driver’s license is important to enhance their settlement as it helps them to obtain employment and reduce their social isolation.
The Migrant Information Centre has been gifted a car that is located at the Ringwood Police Station. Learner drivers complete a six week education program on road rules and road safety, a practice driving session at METEC and 10 subsidised lessons with a qualified driving instructor before they are linked to a driving mentor for additional on-road practice. Checks are done with their driving instructor to ensure they are safe to drive with a driving mentor before they are placed on the program.
All volunteers must undertake a Police check and training as driving mentors is provided. Volunteers who have had a drink driving charge in the past cannot be appointed as mentor drivers.
If you would like to be a driving mentor, please contact Mervat Dahdoule on 9285 4888 or Email .
Information Sessions for the Karen Community
The Migrant Information Centre is facilitating information sessions for the Karen community to learn about Australian culture, government and democracy. The sessions will be held on the 22nd August and the 5th September at 5pm to 7pm at the Ringwood Uniting Church, Corner Station Street and Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.
For more information, please contact Esera Maung (Wednesday to Friday) on 9285 4888 or Email .
These information sessions are supported by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship Settlement Grants Program 2011-2012.
Information Sessions on Housing for the Falam Chin Community
The Migrant Information Centre is facilitating information sessions on housing for the Falam Chin community to learn about applying for private rental, rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords and household management including garden maintenance. The sessions will be held from the 30th August to the 5th September at 5pm to 7pm at the Ringwood Uniting Church, Corner Station Street and Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.
For more information, please contact Esera Maung (Wednesday to Friday) on 9285 4888 or Email .
These information sessions are supported by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship Settlement Grants Program 2011-2012.
MIC AGED & DISABILITY SERVICES
Access & Support Program (HACC)
From the 1st July 2012, the Migrant Information Centre is offering an Access and Support service for individuals who have difficulties accessing Home and Community Care (HACC) services.
We are very pleased to announce that this program will provide one to one support for people who are HACC eligible and need help to access HACC services. In particular the program will focus on people who find it difficult to access HACC services due to their diversity. Diversity is defined in the broadest sense and will include not only people from CALD backgrounds but individuals who may be at risk of homelessness, who have dementia, or who are from an Aboriginal background as well as others. The program will assist the client to navigate the service system at key stages in the care pathway.
Over the next few months we will be finalising the details of this new service and will be promoting it in the region. For further information please contact Sharon, Wanling, Robyn Tan or Judy at the Migrant Information Centre on 9285 4888.
EMR CALD Aged Care Network
The next meeting of the EMR CALD Aged Care Network will be held at 10am to 12pm on Wednesday 29th August in the Matsudo Room, Box Hill Town Hall. For more information or to be added to the mailing list for the Network please contact Sharon Porteous on phone 9275 6905 or Email .
EDUCATION
Australian Society and Culture
Louise Multicultural Community Centre (LMCC) is committed to helping migrants and refugees settle successfully in Australia. To help with this integration process LMCC is offering classes that focus on the core ideas behind Australian society and culture.
In a relaxed and friendly environment, students will undertake weekly written and spoken tasks. These tasks will allow students to discuss and explore concepts such as democracy, mateship, and Australia’s unique sporting and artistic culture. Students will gain a general understanding of Australian society and culture.
Classes will be held on Mondays at 10am to 12pm from 6th August to the 10th September at Suite 8, Town Hall Hub 27 Bank Street, Box Hill Vic 3128.
For further information or to enroll please call Cindy Kung on 9285 4851.
Afghan Cooking and Culture
The Craig Family Centre is holding workshops on Afghan Cooking and Culture. Participants will learn to make and prepare home style, authentic Afghan food and learn about Afghan culture. The workshops will be held on Thursday 6th September and Tuesday 18th September between 11.00am and 2.00pm at the Craig Family Centre. The cost is $60.00 and bookings are essential. For further information please contact Yvonne on 9885 7789 or email .
HEALTH
Chinese Stroke Support Group
A new group for Chinese stroke survivors has been established. The group meets on the first and third Friday of each month. Meetings will provide the opportunity for participants to meet and socialise as well as providing information on strokes and activities including gardening, singing, mahjong and computer literacy.
For further information please contact Mrs Amy Tang on 0418 823 998 or email or Mrs Jenny Cheng on 0413 181 790 or email .
Know about your Mental Health
Chinese Community Social Services Centre is offering a four week program titled Moods and Mental States in August and a three week program in September titled Emotion Management. The first program looks at stress, anxiety, depression and psychosis and the second program the causes of negative emotions, understanding your thinking habits and its impacts, getting away from though traps and cognitive behavioural intervention and applications.
The programs will be offered in Cantonese on Tuesdays between 10.00am and 1.00pm commencing on the 7th August 2012. The program will be held in the Box Hill office of Chinese Community Services, Suite 9A, Level 1 Professional Suites, Centre Box Hill North Shopping Centre, 17 Market Street Box Hill.
For further information please contact Chinese Community Social Services on 9898 1965.
Introduction to Cultural Responsiveness for Mental Health Services
The Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit is facilitating a one day workshop for mental health professionals.
The workshop which will be held on the 25th October 2012, aims to introduce mental health professionals working in clinical and psychiatric disability and rehabilitation services to cultural responsiveness.
On completion of this workshop participants will be able to:
· Recognise various expressions of culture in everyday life including understanding health, mental health and recovery from mental illness
· Accept the relationship between health outcomes and inequality in the Australian community
· Accept cultural diversity as a basis for effective workplace and professional relationships
· Identify the features of a culturally responsive mental health service
· Identify the main features of cultural assessment/ formulation
· Relay some of the core features of culturally sensitive practice
· Identify how to access more information about the VTPU, relevant education and other services
The workshop will be held at the Conference Room, Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit, Level 2, Bolte Wing, St. Vincent's Hospital, 14 Nicholson St Fitzroy Vic 3065. Registrations open at 9.15am and the workshop commences at 9.30am until 4.30pm. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea are provided.
On request, a Certificate of Attendance following the training (via email) will be provided. For further information please contact the VTPU on (03) 9288 3300.
To register, click http://www.vtpu.org.au/reg.html.
Housing
New Translated Information on Renting a Property
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, in partnership with the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has translated REIA's “Consumer Fact Sheet- Renting a Property- Tenant” into 10 languages: Arabic, Hazaragi, Farsi, Mandarin, Karen, Hakha-Chin, Tamil, Kurdish, Nepali and Dinka. The English version of the fact sheet can be accessed at www.reia.com.au/userfiles/REIAConsumerFactSheet_Renting_Tenant.pdf).
Copies of the translated versions of the Fact Sheet will shortly be available on the REIA website at www.reiaustralia.com.au.
VOLUNTEERS
Monash Volunteer Resource Centre
Monash Volunteer Resource Centre is holding the following training sessions in 2012.
Understanding Anxiety and Depression
Wednesday 29th August 2012, Facilitator: Renee Tsatsis, ARCVic
OH&S and the Volunteer
Wednesday 26th September 2012, Facilitator: Rebecca Reid, OT, Box Hill Hospital
Volunteering Opportunities and Christmas
Wednesday 24th October 2012, Facilitator: Shirlene Standish, MVRC
Privacy and Confidentiality
Wednesday 28th November 2012, Facilitator: Rebecca Reid, OT, Box Hill Hospital
Workshops for Agencies: 9.30am to 11.30am
Stress and It’s Impact
Demanding Clients, Demanding Staff
Wednesday 18th July 2012, Facilitator: Brad and Anastasia Desmond, Life Psychology
Publicity and Promotions – Working with the Media
Wednesday 19th September 2012, Facilitator: Alex Munro, Leader Newspaper
Volunteering and Cultural Diversity
Wednesday 19th November 2012, Facilitator: Sharon Porteous, Migrant Information Centre
· All sessions are free of charge.
· Bookings are essential for all sessions
· Dates and venues are subject to confirmation.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior as late arrivals will not be admitted. For bookings & further information please contact: Monash Volunteer Resource Centre on phone 9562 0414 or Fax 9562 0411.
WOMEN
Women in Transition
Chinese Community Social Services Centre is offering an eight week program for women who have experienced relationship breakdown or relationship problems. The program will cover skills to manage negative emotions, emotional healing and how to move on and plan for the future.
The program will be offered in Cantonese and Mandarin on Wednesdays between 10.00am and 12.30pm commencing on the 1st August 2012. The program will be held in the Box Hill office of Chinese Community Services, Suite 9A, Level 1 Professional Suites, Centre Box Hill North Shopping Centre, 17 Market Street Box Hill.
For further information please contact Chinese Community Social Services Centre on 09091965.
This newsletter produced by the Migrant Information Centre received funding from the Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship under the Settlement Grants Program funding program.
To submit an item for the next edition of Eastern Multicultural News please contact Judy McDougall at the MIC by email .
2