Forthcoming Events

The MIC in partnership with other agencies organises forums and activities for communities on areas of interest.   Forthcoming events are listed below:

Launch of the Inner East Primary Care Partnership (IEPCP) - Social Inclusion for Older People Initiative - Mobilising Communities Project

The Social Inclusion Initiative will be launched by the Hon. Peter Batchelor, Minister for Community Development, on Wednesday 26th November at Ashburton Support Services, 296 High Street, Ashburton from 11.45 am until 2.00 pm. A light lunch will be served. Representatives from organisations and interested individuals are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Janis Price on 9239 2543 by Monday 17 November. To download an invitation to the event please click here.

The overall aim of the Social Inclusion Initiative is to build stronger community connections and create a greater sense of community that is inclusive of age, abilities and cultural diversity. There are two projects as part of the initiative that will contribute to this aim. The Leadership project modeled on the successful Williamson Program will be conducted to build community leadership skills. The Mobilising Communities Project aims to reduce social isolation of the older Cambodian community. The Initiative has funding from the Victorian Government, City of Whitehorse and Helen McPherson Smith Trust.

The Mobilising Communities project proposes to work with older members of the Cambodian community in the inner east of Melbourne to reduce their experience of social isolation and improve their opportunities for participation in broader community life. The project also provides an opportunity for IEPCP agencies to work together building effective partnerships and the capacity of agencies to work more effectively with isolated cultural groups in their community.

The initial phase of the project aims to strengthen the Cambodian community through increased opportunities for social gatherings and celebrations. The final stage will evaluate their effectiveness in reducing barriers to social isolation for Cambodian seniors.

The Project Worker is very keen to make contact with organisations or individuals interested in the project. For further information contact Rebecca Veal at the MIC on 9275 6903 or email rveal@miceastmelb.com.au.

Housing Community Education Program for the Chin community

The Migrant Information Centre is facilitating a community education program that will provide information on how to apply for housing in Victoria, services that are available to help you, rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords, and tips on how to maintain your home for example, changing tap washers, lighting pilot lights, etc.

The sessions are:
20/10/08 Overview of housing in Victoria
27/10/08 How to apply for private rental
10/11/08 Responsibilities of tenants and landlords
17/11/08 How to pay rent and utilities and household budgeting
24/11/08 How to maintain properties

All sessions are held on Mondays from 7.30pm to 9pm at Croydon Uniting Church, 6 Tallent Street, Croydon
For more information please contact Tial Hnem at the MIC on 9285 4888 or email thnem@miceastmelb.com.au

GROWING TOGETHER: A Support and Discussion Group for Chinese Women

Growing Together is a group for Chinese women who are interested in sharing with, and learning from, other women as they discuss life issues. The group focuses on women's self-esteem, and builds on their sense of self. The group also provides social support and information for women on Family Law, Family Violence Law and Child Protection Law.

The group will meet for eight weeks on Wednesdays from 8th October 2008 to 3rd December 2008 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Meeting room B, Box Hill Town Hall Hub, 27 Bank Street, Box Hill. An interpreter and childcare will be provided.

To express your interest in attending, or for further information, please contact the Migrant Information Centre on 9285 4888.

Karen Community Group

The Karen Community Group meets every second Wednesday, until December 3rd from 5pm to 7pm, at the Ringwood Uniting Church, Corner Station Street and Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

Topics covered by guest speakers at the meetings include volunteer opportunities, Finance and money management, employment, education, health, services available in Australia and various other topics at the community's request.

The final session of the year will concentrate on healthy lifestyles, exercise and fun activities for kids over the Christmas break.

The Karen community group meetings will commence in February for 2009. For further information please contact Esera Maung on 9285 4888 or email emaung@miceastmelb.com.au

Chin Women's Group

The Chin women's group provides opportunities for English conversation and information sessions to increase community understanding of services and Australian culture. The group also provides an opportunity for a playgroup as well as other social and recreational activities for women and children.
The group will resume in term two and will meet at 1.30pm to 3.30pm each Tuesday at the Croydon Uniting Church, 6 Tallent Street (corner of Croydon Road and Tallent Street), Croydon.

Meeting Activities
11 November 2008 Dental Health services
18 November 2008 Hepatitis
25 November 2008 Melbourne City Tour - the group will meet at 11am at the Migrant Information Centre, 2/27 Bank Street, Box Hill and travel by train to the city

For further information, please contact Tial Hnem on Mondays and Tuesdays or Judy McDougall on 9285 4888 or Email thnem@miceastmelb.com.au or jmcdougall@miceastmelb.com.au

Citizenship Program: Support to Prepare for the Citizenship Test

The Migrant Information Centre has a new program to help individuals to prepare for the citizenship test. The program will support clients to prepare for sitting the citizenship test. Individual support and group training programs are available.

Support services available include, identifying citizenship eligibility, assistance with understanding the book "Becoming an Australian Citizen", assistance with basic computer skills required to sit the test, assistance on making the test appointment and advice on the process and documentation required for the test and application for citizenship. For a brchure explaining the program please click here

For further information please contact Krystal John at the MIC on 9285 4888 or by emailing kjohn@miceastmelb.com.au.

Employment Working Group

An employment working group has been established through the Migrant Settlement Committee to identify the needs and barriers newly arrived migrants and refugees face in obtaining employment in Australia.

The objectives of the group in 2008 are to identify client needs and barriers in obtaining employment and develop and implement activities to meet identified needs, increase awareness of employers of refugee skills and willingness to work and identify existing services that can support migrants and refugees to find work.

The next meeting will be held at the Migrant Information Centre, Box Hill at 3.00pm to 4.30pm on the 8th December 2008.

For further information, please contact Sally Chan by emailing sally.st.chan@centrelink.gov.au or Sue Herbst from the MIC by emailing sherbst@miceastmelb.com.au

Community Partners Program

The Community Partners Program (CPP) is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and aims to promote and facilitate increased and sustained access by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to aged care support services.

The project targets five CALD communities and will have a strong focus on providing information to CALD communities around respite care services through information sessions and visits to respite facilities. A 'palliative care resource package' for aged care service providers on the palliative care needs of six CALD communities will be developed.

Currently, the Migrant Information Centre is offering two free cultural training sessions under the CPP project. The sessions are targeted at aged care service providers and will cover the following topics; local demographics, customs and beliefs, issues related to death and dying and attitudes towards older people and aged care. To book for sessions please contact Linda Tan on 9285 4888 or email ltan@miceastmelb.com.au

Details of the remaining course for 2008 are:

Understanding Iranian Culture
Presenter:
Safieh Loulagar
Migrant Information Centre Tuesday 25th November 2008 2:00pm - 4:30pm Ringwood Room, Ringwood Library,
4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood

Multicultural Equity and Access Program (MEAP)
Understanding People from CALD Backgrounds Training Program September to December 2008. To book for sessions please contact Linda Tan on 9285 4888 or email ltan@miceastmelb.com.au

Topic: Exploring Cultural Festivals
Presenter: Migrant Information Centre (MIC)
Date: Friday 5 December 2008
Time: 9:30am - 12:00pm
Venue: Courtyard Room, Whitehorse Centre, 397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading

Private Rental Housing Assistance Program

The MIC now has a full time housing worker to assist refugees and family migrants from countries where English is not the principle language looking for private rental. The housing worker can assist with property searches, property inspections, completing application forms, condition reports and other private rental needs.

Group education and information sessions will also be held to provide information to those looking for private rental.

For further information please contact Daniel Lian at the MIC on 9285 4888 or by Email dlian@miceastmelb.com.au

Refugee Health Working Group

The group was established as part of the Eastern Region Migrant Settlement Committee to identify access barriers for refugees and health issues impacting on refugees, and to increase the understanding of health professionals on refugee health issues.
The topic for the next meeting will be access to GPs.

For further information please contact Robyn Kilpatrick at the Migrant Information Centre on 9285 4888 or Email rkilpatrick@miceastmelb.com.au

Migrant Settlement Committee

The Migrant Settlement Committee (Eastern Region) which is convened by the Communities Council on Ethnic Issues (Eastern Region) meets monthly (on the first Friday of the month) to discuss and identify settlement issues that impact on newly arrived migrants and refugees settling in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The committee has working groups that plan and facilitate activities for service providers and CALD communities on employment, family violence, youth issues and refugee week. As part of the meetings, guest speakers are invited to make presentations and topics are highlighted for discussion.

The next meeting will be held at 9.30am to 11.30am on Friday 5th November at the Community Resource Centre, Level 3, Forest Hill Chase, 270 Canterbury Road, Forest Hill.
For further information, contact Sam Navarria on Email navarria@ames.vic.edu.au.

Youth Settlement Workers

The Migrant Information Centre provides settlement support to young refugees and migrants aged 12 to 25 years. Saturnino Onyala and Jacquie Arulanandam can provide individual support and group programs including homework support groups and outreach services at Forest Hill Secondary College, Maroondah Secondary College and Mullauna College.

To make an appointment or for further information contact Saturnino or Jacquie at the Migrant Information Centre on telephone 9285 4888 or Email sonyala@miceastmelb.com.au or jarulanandam@miceastmelb.com.au.