Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast -January 2021 Newsletter 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Kombumerri People of the Yugambeh Language Region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and acknowledge their ongoing connection to land, sea, culture and community.

As we enter 2021, it is hard to predict what this year will hold for us all, but what we do know is that we must continue to help one another to keep our communities safe, healthy and connected. Please take time to check in with yourself and your loved ones and ensure you're getting the support you need. 

We have a number of services available in the Gold Coast and more widely across South East Queensland to support community members to live healthy, full and connected lives. Please take a minute to review them below in case any of them may be of assistance.

NDIS Support

• Multicultural Community Connectors - Helping multicultural people and their families to understand, access and use the NDIS 
• Support Coordinators - Helping individuals with allocated NDIS support coordination funds to choose providers, negotiate and link to services

​More info >> 

Social Support 

• Telephone Support - Receive a weekly social phone call in your language anywhere across Queensland through our free I Speak Your Language program ​More info >> 
• Women's Talking Circle - Join a diverse and friendly group of women for great chat and fun activities every Friday 10.00am at Women's Space at Labrador ​More info >> 

Mental Health Support  

• Community Pathway Connectors - We can help you connect with mental health and wellbeing services suited to your unique needs - no diagnosis required More info >> 

Multicultural Seniors Support

• In-Home Support - Get help in your home with tailored support that lets you continue to live your best life More info >> 
• Advice & Referrals - We can help connect individuals and groups to support services and information. Contact JennieB@mccgc.com.au for more information.  

Settlement Support

• Settlement Engagement & Transition Support - Support for humanitarian entrants and certain family stream visa holders in their first 5 years in Australia More info >> 

Training 

• Train 2 Care - Earn a Health Support Services Certificate 2 or an Individual Support Certificate 3, gain practical training and employment support More info >>  

DATES TO REMEMBER 2021

• 6th-15th March - Queensland Women's Week
• 8th March - Sisters for Success
• 15th-21st March - Harmony Week
• 1st-9th April - Queensland Youth Week
• 18th April - City of Champions Football Cup
• 3rd May - Waves Forward Expo
• August - Queensland Multicultural Month & Seniors Week
• November - National Unity Week

Meet Greet Eat Community Networking Dinners

• Tuesday, 9th February 
• Tuesday, 11th May
• Tuesday, 10th August 
• Tuesday, 14th December

Please contact Kevin Dando at kevind@mccgc.com.au for more information.

Gold Coast Multicultural Network Meetings

• Tuesday, 16th February
• Tuesday, 20h April
• Tuesday, 15th June
• Tuesday, 17th August
• Tuesday, 19th October
• Tuesday, 7th December

Please contact Rhee Duthie at rheed@mccgc.com.au for more information.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dates 

• 13 February - Anniversary of National Apology Day
• 19 March - National Close the Gap Day
• 26 May - National Sorry Day
• 27 May - 1967 Referendum
• 27 May - 3 June - National Reconciliation week
• 3 June - Mabo Day
• 1 July - Coming of the light
• 4 August - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
• 2 September - Indigenous Literacy day
• 13 September - Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
• 8-15 November - NAIDOC Week 

The Greater Brisbane region will transition to eased restrictions at 6pm today, following a weekend lockdown enacted to contain any potential spread of the UK variant of COVID-19.

The restrictions are similar to Stage 3 restrictions Queensland saw in July last year and will be in place at least until 1am 22 January.

• You will be allowed to leave your home for any purpose. The following gathering restrictions are in place to keep you and others safe:
• You must carry a mask at all times.
• Masks must be worn in indoor places including shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, places of worship, libraries, public transport, and taxis and rideshare vehicles.
• Masks must be worn in workplaces if social distancing isn’t possible and it’s safe to do so.
• You don’t need to wear a mask in private vehicles, while outdoors at a safe distance from other people or if you’re doing strenuous exercise.
• Businesses and venues can have one person per 4m² indoors and one person per 2m² outdoors.
• Smaller venues up to 200m² can have one person per 2m² up to a maximum of 50.
• You must be seated to eat and drink, and no dancing is allowed except at weddings.
• Gatherings are restricted to 20 people in homes and public spaces.
• Weddings and funerals can have up to 100 people, and dancing is allowed at weddings without restrictions.
• Indoor concert venues and theatres can operate at 50% capacity or one person per four square metres, whichever is greater.
• Outdoor stadiums can operate at 50% capacity with COVID-safe plans.
• Restrictions on visits to hospitals, aged care, disability accommodation and prisons will remain.

Visit here for more information https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/easing-greater-brisbane-restrictions

For translated resources visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/support-and-resources/translated-resources 

Over the past 72 hours, people in the Greater Brisbane area have followed lockdown and movement advice strongly. It is because of such a strong response from the community that we are able to ease these restrictions, but we aren't out of the woods yet. Thank you all for coming together - as you have before - and playing your part. Let's keep up the amazing work.

Remember to always:

• Practise good hygiene
• Socially distance
• Exercise common sense
• Stay at home when unwell

Request for public submissions​​ by 29th Jan 2021

​Australia's permanent Migration Program is planned annually, with program settings announced as part of the Federal Budget each year. Each year the Department of Home Affairs undertakes comprehensive consultation to inform the make-up of the Migration Program, including advice from states and territories, government agencies, industry, academia and the public.

The Department is now inviting public submissions as part of the 2021-22 Migration Program planning process. We welcome submissions regarding Australia's permanent migration needs, including views on the size and composition of the 2021-22 Migration Program. ​Submissions will inform Australia’s Migration Program settings to support strong outcomes for all Australians over the long term.

A Discussion Paper will be provided in January to assist with submissions. In the meantime, y​ou may wish to refer to some of the following information:​

• 2020-21 Migration Program planning levels
• Historical Migration planning levels and program outcomes from 2009-10 to 2019-20
• Australia’s first Population Statement
• Continuous Survey of Australia’s Migrants (CSAM)
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Migrant Data Matrices
• Productivity Commission inquiry report – Migrant Intake into Australia

The Department invites submissions to migration.policy@homeaffairs.gov.au by 29 January 2021. ​

Help us connect with more multicultural community members  

We are still looking to support more people across Queensland through our I Speak Your Language Program telephone program. Our volunteers are ready to make friendly social phone calls in the following languages:

Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Chin Hakha, Chin Mizo, Dari, Dutch, English, Farsi, Filipino, French, Greek, Italian, Hakka, Hokkein, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian,  Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Malay, Mandarin, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian. Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

A weekly chat with a new friend who understands your language and culture can make a big difference for anyone who is feeling isolated.

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

StandbyU has launched our Australian-first service @ Helensvale – Magnolia Place, a safe space for anyone who has been mistreated or abused by someone close to them, where they can get the support they need to see a brighter future, without fear or judgement.

Above all, it is a place of hope, where new beginnings are sparked.

For people experiencing intimate partner and family abuse and isolation, the shopping centre is one of the few places they can freely visit. Magnolia Place's central location means more people can access help, safely.  Here, they are supported to reach out to friends and family, and given secure ways to stay connected - feeling safe to move forward with their life.

Magnolia Place offers a non-stigmatising, universal place-based access with no eligibility requirements. We work to ensure people are meaningfully connected to their personal relationships, as well as those funded services who may be able to support.

More information about Magnolia Place is here.

And the StandbyU Shield here.

Member of the Month 

Afrekete Afro-Cuban Festival

Come & experience a slice of authentic Cuba on the southern Gold Coast on the weekend of 22nd – 24th January 2021, at the annual Afrekete – Afro-Cuban Dance, Music & Culture Festival by the Sea.

This unique Afro-Cuban Cultural Festival will offer an amazing 2 days & 2 nights of authentic Cuban dance, drumming & music facilitated by Australia's Cuban dance & music masters – all at the Tugun Village Community Centre! 

It all begins with a colourful Opening 'Night in Havana' with live Cuban Band, Cuban DJ & 'History of Cuba' showcase by our Cuban performers on Friday night, with an authentic 'Comida Criolla' Cuban dinner. Cross-cultural exchanges will start the evening with a beautiful Welcome Ceremony involving local Kombumerri Indigenous cultural knowledge holders alongside Afro-Cuban Spiritual Drummers. Workshops follow all weekend including some taster workshops for the community to try out, PLUS a Marketplace open to the whole community with Cuban-inspired arts & crafts, food, live percussion, & of course coffee!!

Everyone of all ages and abilities is catered for to come and experience this authentic piece of Cuba via an historical journey from the earthy African Tribal roots to the ever-popular and seductive Salsa and everything else in between.

Full weekend tickets, day passes, individual workshop & party-only tickets are available to pre-purchase online. Some events are FREE to the local community like our taster workshops & outdoor Cuban art gallery and organic farming due to our new connection to the Southern Beaches Community Garden!                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ***As an MCCGC member we have an extra SUPER SPECIAL OFFER - $20 off full weekend ticket price with the discount code 'mccgc' on checkout.

For more information and bookings, please call the main event coordinator Christina on 0432 509 519 or email afreketeaustralia@gmail.com. Pre-bookings are essential for to guarantee your space and for Covid-safe purposes.

More details can be found on the website www.afrekete.com or Facebook under www.facebook.com/AfreketeAustralia or Instagram #afreketeaustralia  

Afrekete give thanks for the tremendous support provided by the Multicultural Events Queensland Celebrate Multicultural Queensland grants program and collective support of the Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast, the Cultural Association of Cuban Heritage & Roots, the City of Gold Coast Community Events program & Australia's most esteemed Cuban Dance & Music Masters to help bring this event together. 

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

Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Eve lunch over the holidays! We had a lovely time celebrating with customers, staff and volunteers over delicious food and festive music. Another reminder of how important it is to stay connected with our communities and celebrate when we can! 

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.