Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast -September 2020 Newsletter 

🍔🍗🌮 Eat delicious food and support local! 🥣🥗 🥟

In August, we highlighted 31 different Gold Coast restaurants experiencing tastes from around the world to celebrate Queensland Multicultural Month, promote local businesses and enjoy some delicious food. Check out the full list and share with your networks to support some fantastic local restaurants! 

• I Like Ramen (Mermaid Beach)
• Indian Hut (Burleigh Waters)
• Yuyin (Southport)
• Mt. Lebanon Deli (Nobbys)
• Little Gypsy Cafe (PCYC Ahsmore)
• Jasmine Room (Souhport)
• Delhi Darbar (Surfers)
• The Kai Kitchen (Coomera)
• Bonus Bros (Chirn Park)
• Dosa Hut (Molendinar)
• The Polish Place (Tamborine)
• Aux Fines Bouches (Burleigh Heads)
• Shiraz Authentic Persian Restaurant (Surfers)
• Kopitalk Coffee (Molendinar)
• Dim Sum Delight (Robina)
• Blank Angus Bar and Grill (Surfers)
• Spaghetti and Jazz (Robina)
• Oz Thai (Palm Beach)
• Go Indian Fusion (Main Beach)
• Izakaya Midori (Reedy Creek)
• Sandrino Kitchen and Bar (Broadbeach Waters)
• Fish Depot (Pimpama)
• Meraki Whole Food Kitchen (Southport)
• Can Tho Vietnamese (Runaway Bay)
• Easy House Vegetarian (Mermaid Waters)
• Palm Gardens Chinese (Palm Beach)
• Black Sheep Bistro (Oxenford)
• Ipoh Town (Robina)
• Top Noodle (Coolangatta)
• Gills Indian (Upper Coomera)
• Brick Cafe (Ashmore)

Help us connect with more multicultural community members  

We are still looking to support more people across Queensland in all the languages listed above for our I Speak Your Language Program. We now have over 100 volunteers making weekly phone calls to fellow Queenslanders in more than 40 languages. 

COVID restrictions and social distancing can increase feelings of loneliness, so it's more important than ever that we help our communities feel supported and connected. A weekly chat with a new friend who understands your language and culture can make a big difference for anyone who is feeling isolated.

We are happy to recruit volunteers for new languages as needed, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you or anyone you know could benefit from this service. 

If you would like to refer someone, click here to download our referral form. You can also call 1800 95 40 40 or email ispeak@mccgc.com.au to join the program. 

WE ALL ARE ONE, WE ALL BELONG 

During August, most Qld Multicultural Month events unfortunately had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, but we still wanted to find a way to celebrate our Pacific cultures with our annual Waves Forward movement. MCCGC worked with Isabel Daley from Moon Valley Events & Visionaire to create three videos highlighting three Pacific cultures, embracing core values that we all share - Family, Connection, and Identity. Thank you Vasa Performing Arts, Drums of the Pacific Australia, and Kikaro Maori for your outstanding contribution to enriching the Gold Coast. Thanks to Jay Samson, Toni Huata, Good Vibrationz Tatatau, Nerang Neighbourhood Centre, Griffith Pacific Programs, Multicultural Affairs, Queensland Government for the support.

Talking about racism in our schools 

In August, we were invited to St Michaels College for a panel on Racism and its effects on community by school counsellor Jeff Kemp. MCCGC organised guest speakers Khensa and Rohaan (members of our Lead the Way Youth Leadership Team) along with Luther Cora from and indigenous perspective to share their experiences with over 200 St Michaels Year 9-10 students and teachers. We ended the session with the rap video from “Racism stops with me” campaign. Special mention to the students who after hearing Khensa’s powerful story apologised for her experience with racism on the Gold Coast. We can all do more, together united.     

Junior Council invited Kevin Dando from MCCGC to be a guest speaker online to 23 local schools, sharing about his CAMS (Community Action for a Multicultural Society) role on the Gold Coast, multiculturalism and empowering young people to facilitate cultural events that encourage unity and celebrate diversity like Harmony Week, Multicultural month and Walk Together.

Thank you St Michaels and Junior Council for the opportunity to listen and to speak.  

For more resources on standing up to racism visit:

https://www.australia.gov.au/helpstopracism   

https://domoreproject.com.au/

Contact KevinD@mccgc.com.au for any questions relating to above.  

CAMS is a community program funded by Queensland Government.   

COVID-19 Resources in Language 

SBS has created an easy to understand infographic explaining the essential steps required to wear a mask properly. It is available in 42 languages and we encourage you to share it with your friends, family and others in your community to equip them with the information they need.

Click here to view all the infographics. 

Click here to check out all of SBS's coronavirus resources in language.

Headspace Upper Coomera is now open! 

The new headspace location has officially opened its doors and the team is ready and waiting to support the young people of the Upper Coomera area. 

headspace began in 2006 to address this critical gap, by providing tailored and holistic mental health support to 12 - 25 year olds. With a focus on early intervention, they work with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives – to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.

They can help with mental health, physical health, relationships, sexual health, work and study, alcohol and drug use, and anything else affecting youth. If you're unsure of where to start, give their friendly crew a call on (07) 5600 1999 or email them at reception@headspaceuc.org.au. 

Visit their website: https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/upper-coomera/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headspaceuppercoomera/

Member of the Month 

ACCESS Community Services

Access' Multicultural Sports Club has launched a kids' activity library with Logan Partners.

Access Community Services has been leading the way in supporting new arrivals to Australia with social services support, employment, recreational and education opportunities for over 30 years.

While COVID-19 has brought about many challenges, the team at Access have been working hard to continue to support clients and community alike, with programs that encourage physical and mental wellness.

Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, Access’ Multicultural Sports Club (MSC) collaborated with other organisations in the Logan area to create the Logan Kids’ Online Physical Activity Library, hosted by Logan Together.

While a Logan City initiative, kids everywhere can access and enjoy what the library has to offer.

Brendon, MSC’s Senior Sports and Recreation Officer, was asked what he thought were the most significant benefits of the program.  

“We are excited to take over coordination of the activity library as this creates employment security and pathways for our casual and part-time Community Coaches. It has also challenged the team, boosted their skills, and created great networking opportunities for us all,” Brendon said.

“This experience has been great to push staff out of their comfort zones and look for alternatives to delivering online programming. For the MSC, this initiative helps to reach new audiences in Logan and beyond, and build our brand, with our vision to support children to ‘Be, Belong and Become’.

Logan Together has used CAP funding to contract MSC for three months. During this time, it is anticipated the Logan Kids’ Physical Activity Library will grow to more than 140 sessions.

To view the library, visit Stronger Together Logan.

MCCGC Membership Program

Join the family and be part of the peak multicultural organisation of the Gold Coast, support us to continue to make the community more inclusive and enjoy the Membership Program benefits.

LINKS & RESOURCES

Good story of the month

During COVID-19 one of our Sunshine Coast CÜRA clients has been busy recycling pieces of materials, paint, carboard, paper, silver charms and sticks from the garden into master pieces.  Marion is 87 years young and has been accessing “Pinterest” on the internet for ideas on different crafts using recycled materials. CÜRA has purchased Marion’s iPad which she has been using to keep in touch with her family and also to google different craft ideas.  Marion has created these designs just from items that she has had in her home.  Marion believes today’s society is a throw-away society.  She has been holding on to different items of clothing, birthday cards and charms with the hope of one day finding a use for them.  And she did.  Due to COVID-19 Marion has had lots of time to be able to find these items around her home and create masterpieces that are now displayed proudly through her home.  Marion wants to encourage others to look in their cupboards and create their own masterpieces.  She has found that it has given her something exciting and different to do when she may otherwise just be watching TV. Well done Marion and thanks for sharing!

CÜRA is a branch of MCCGC (Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast Ltd) and specialises in providing tailored care services including CÜRA Kitchen, CÜRA Active Living, CÜRA Health & Well-being and CÜRA In-Home Support.   Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast  Ltd trading as CÜRA Community Services.