This week I set off on my first interstate trip in my new role as the Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship. My aim was to visit as many services across the range multicultural and settlement services as I could, to see first-hand the programs and people working in local communities to support migrants.
Monday – Perth
My trip started on Monday in Perth where I had a meeting with the Western Australian Ethnic Communities’ Council, which takes an interest in and acts on behalf of ethnic communities in Western Australia. I also visited the Multicultural Services Centre (where staff can speak a total of 50 languages other than English) and the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS).
While in Perth, I travelled out to Mirrabooka migrant resource centre where I toured their new youth centre. It was great to see a bus full of enthusiastic youth heading to the beach for water safely lessons.
Tuesday – Melbourne
In Melbourne, I was able to look at the range of services being provided at Foundation House in Brunswick. Foundation House is the sister organisation of ASETTS and provides a range of counselling services for victims of torture and trauma and works with schools to help teachers bridge the gap.
I also had the pleasure of meeting some of the clients at the South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre in Dandenong and learning more about the different programs and support they offer people in their local community.
I was pleased and privileged to meet the members of Australian Multicultural Advisory Council (AMAC) for the first time since being sworn in as the Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship.
They were able to convey to me their passion and concerns about multicultural policy in Australia, and I reaffirmed the government’s commitment in this area. The council members also conveyed to me their wish for the formation of a policy on multiculturalism in this country and I assured them the government is considering the recommendations from their statement The People of Australia in preparation for a response.
My trip to Melbourne wrapped up with a meeting with the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and a visit to New Hope Foundation, one of the largest providers of services to the multicultural community across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Wednesday – Canberra
Although I was back in my home town for a day to catch up on things, I still want to mention that it was my pleasure to head out to the department offices in Belconnen. I toured the department to meet the dedicated public servants that support the programs and prepare policy advice for government.
Thursday – Brisbane
Next I headed north to see some of the great work being done in the multicultural sector in Brisbane.
My first stop was the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland. As well as supporting those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the council is also provides aged care services.
I visited the Multicultural Development Association in South Brisbane which promotes multiculturalism and provides settlement and refugee settlement services, the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT), and ACCES Services Inc which has now been providing assistance to the Logan community for 25 years.
My visit to Brisbane also gave me the opportunity to meet the students at Milpera State High School for the first time. The school is a unique and progressive place of learning, providing English language and settlement services to newly arrived immigrant and refugee students, to prepare them to move into secondary schools in the Brisbane area.
The students were enthusiastic about learning and have brought a rich diversity of languages and culture to our country.
Friday – Sydney
The final stop on my trip was Sydney where I had the opportunity to tour the studios of SBS (Special Broadcasting Service). Since its creation, SBS has provided multilingual and multicultural radio and television, not just to migrant communities, but to all Australians.
SBS now broadcasts in more than 68 languages on radio, more than 60 on television and more than 50 online.
It was a pleasure to meet the people behind this terrific example of how multiculturalism is embraced by all of Australia.
