November Newsletter 

In this edition of our monthly newsletter:

Annual General Meeting - We'd love to see you there!

Members of the Month - Carer Gateway Wellways and Act for Kids

2022-23 Federal Budget - What it means for Multicultural communities throughout Australia

CURA NDIS Support Coordination - How we can support your NDIS plan 

Community Development Updates - Check out what we've been up to 

...and much more! 

All our MCCGC members are invited to attend Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will take place at our offices at 1 Dominions Road Ashmore, on Tuesday 29 November 2022, commencing at 5:00pm.

Individual and Organisational members will be asked to vote on:

• accepting the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting;
• accepting the Annual Reports including the Annual Financial Report, the Directors Report and the Auditors Report;
• confirming the appointment of the Auditor;
• accepting the changes to the Constitution (by special resolution) as detailed in the summary of changes;
• electing the Directors.

We hope to see you at the AGM and if you have any questions about the meeting or attached documents, please let us know.

If you are planning to attend the meeting, please click below to RSVP.

Want to attend or AGM but not yet a member? Become one today! 

• $5 for individual (1 year)
• $50 for an organisation or business (5 years)

We have some big plans over the next few years and are keen to grow our membership to get more community members, groups and organisations involved.

The more members we have, the better we can understand our diverse communities across the coast and the more people we can support. We already have a wonderful and diverse group of members and we hope to keep growing throughout 2022 into 2023!

Have a question about MCCGC Membership? Email membership@mccgc.com.au for more information.

What is Carer Gateway – Wellways?

Carer Gateway is a national support service funded by the Australian Government connecting carers with free local supports and services through a network of regional Carer Gateway service providers.

Wellways Australia is the chosen service provider of Carer Gateway services throughout Queensland and NSW Southeast Sydney.

Carer Gateway services are designed by carers for carers meaning that whatever support you access, you know it’s been designed with you in mind.

• If you need to talk, our counsellors are here to listen.
• If you’re feeling alone, we can connect you with other carers.
• If you need help setting goals, our coaches can help.
•  If you need time to yourself, we can give you a break.
• If you need help in an emergency, were available 24/7.

To be eligible for Carer Gateway support you need to be a carer, provide ongoing support for the person you care for at least 6 months, no residential requirement is needed and no age requirement  to be a carer.

If you or someone you know provides support for a loved one you can register for Carer Gateway by calling 1800 422 737 or by visiting carergateway.gov.au.

When was the organisation established?

Established in 1978, Wellways Australia is a leading not-for-profit provider specializing in mental health, disability support, youth, and carer services. We work with individuals, families and communities to imagine and achieve better lives.

Who does Carer Gateway Wellways support? 

Carer Gateway Wellways support unpaid/family Carers, who look after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, terminal illness, or is frail aged.

Caring may include help and support with any of the daily activities of living for the person being cared for. It may include physical and personal care such as dressing, lifting, showering, toileting, feeding or providing transport.

Commonly, carers are responsible for the management of medications, and also provide emotional and social support.  Caring may also involve help with organizing and attending appointments, banking and dealing with emergencies.

Act for Kids is a for-purpose organisation that delivers evidence-led professional therapy and support services to children and families who have experienced or are at risk of harm. Through prevention, treatment, research, education and advocacy, Act for Kids are committed to supporting thousands of children, young people and their families.

What is SafeCare? 

SafeCare is a free, evidence-based parent education program offered by Act of Kids. The program is designed for parents of children 0-5 years. It is a structured curriculum delivered in the home over a period of 4-6 months. The curriculum covers three modules:

Parent Child/Infant Interaction– we work with parents to structure daily activities, increase positive interactions and bonding with their children, with a focus on child-led play.

Health– teaches parents how to keep good health records and make informed health decisions for their little ones

Home Safety– parents learn about age-appropriate supervision, household hazards, and strategies to minimise or remove them from the home.

SafeCare Groups

SafeCare is traditionally delivered one-on-one in the caregiver’s home, but it can also be delivered in a group-based format. The SafeCare team on the Gold Coast can run groups open to anyone interested or collaborate with organisations to deliver a SafeCare group to your clients. The parenting curriculum remains the same to preserve the evidence-base of SafeCare, only modifying the mode of delivery to families in a group setting. SafeCare group can consist of only one module or all three modules. Please email us by Friday 18 November 2022 regarding referrals to our next group.

Want to know more:

If you are interested in knowing more about SafeCare, we are happy to come to you, deliver a presentation or meet with your team either in person or virtually. If you would like to discuss a potential referral or collaboration for SafeCare Group program, please do not hesitate to contact us at safecaregc@actforkids.com.au, call us on (07) 55 083 800. 

The Federal Government delivered their first budget from Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 25 October 2022. 

Here's what the 2022-2023 Budget means for Multicultural communities throughout Australia. 

How are funds going to help multiculturalism and migration in Australia? 

The Government will provide $1.0 million over two years from 2022–23 to conduct a review of Australia’s multicultural policy settings to support efforts to further strengthen social cohesion.

The Government will provide $18.2 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to establish a Community Language Schools Grants program to support more young Australians to learn a second language.

The Government will provide $20.0 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to provide more flexible delivery options for the Adult Migrant English Program and increase case management support to students.

As announced at the Jobs and Skills Summit, the Government will increase the 2022–23 permanent Migration Program planning level from 160,000 to 195,000. This will help ease widespread, critical workforce and skills shortages. Priority will be given to offshore applicants and on-hand applications for the Skilled Independent visa – New Zealand stream. This measure is estimated to increase receipts by $935.0 million and increase payments by $487.2 million over the 4 years from 2022–23.

The humanitarian visa program will stay the same with 13,750 places available in 2022/23, and an extra 16,500 for Afghan refugees over four years.

Parent visas will increase from 4,500 in 2021/22, to 8,500 this year. Partner and child visas will remain demand-driven with no limit placed on these. There will also be around 500 other family visas, and 100 special eligibility visas available.

If you are wanting to know more about what the budget is allocating to multiculturalism and migration, women's safety, human rights and anti-racism click the button below. 

MCCGC Cultural Identity Training - is your school next? 

This year we launched a pilot Cultural Identity Workshop program with Miami State High School students. Candice our CAMS Officer worked with five classes totaling 110 students to start conversations about cultural identity and encourage greater understanding of visible and hidden factors that contribute to culture and how that impacts individuals.

The workshops include the sharing of real-life migrant experiences and encourage students to check their unconscious bias and contribute to become a welcoming Gold Coast community. Miami High welcomed back many international students this year and it was a great opportunity to raise awareness and understanding among the wider student body.

If Cultural Identity Training is something yours or your child's high school would be interested in, please feel free to email us at cams@mccgc.com.au.

We're looking for more people to join our CÜRA team and support seniors across Sunshine Coast, Moreton, Gold Coast and Tweed! 

At CÜRA our goal is to make life better for seniors in our community by helping them stay connected, engaged, active and healthy. We encourage you to bring your whole self to the job because we value diversity and welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities. Join our team to work with like-minded people while making a difference and building a meaningful career. 

We're currently hiring:

• Roster Officer - Full time >> Apply Now 
• Purchasing Officer - >> Apply Now 
• Client Staff Liaison Officer >> Apply Now 
• In Home Domestic Workers Gold Coast - Casual >> Apply Now
• Home Care Workers Gold Coast – Casual  >> Apply Now 
• Home Care Workers Tweed Shire – Casual >> Apply Now 
• Home Care Workers Sunshine Coast – Casual >> Apply Now 
• Home Care Workers Moreton – Casual >> Apply Now 

Please share these opportunities with your networks! 

Our Support Coordination program is designed to help multicultural individuals navigate the complex NDIS space and ensure they’re getting support that aligns with their unique needs.

We help customers put their plan into action by supporting them to understand what services and funds are available to them and connecting them with their community and suitable providers. Our aim is to help customers get the most out of their funding while providing support that is accessible, consistent and personalized. 

We have two dedicated professionals, Brendan and Laura, on our team. They are always eager to help! 

Contact Laura (Spanish speaking) at laurab@curacares.com or Brendan at brendanm@curacares.com for further information. 

Want to know more about NDIS Support Coordination? 

Let Brendan explain! 

Visit our website for more information. 

Towards the end of July we held our first MCCGC Youth Advisory Group meeting facilitated by our Community Development Officer, Candice. In just a few months these incredible young people have achieved some amazing things. We are very proud of them!

MCCGC Youth Advisory Group meets once per month to connect with like minded individuals, champion advocacy for young people of multicultural backgrounds & learn new skills!

What's new? 

This month we had four new members join our team, Henrietta from Hong Kong, V from Kenya, Vlad from Russia and Tessa from Mauritius. The focus of the night was on consultation of a Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program grant we are hoping to go for in the near future! 

Adam and Jannine volunteered at the Nerang State High School Wellbeing Expo sharing their ideas on keeping well when under exam pressure and reflected on connecting to culture as a wellbeing tool.

Later in the week Jannine and Language Support Worker Majid visited Miami State High School for their Wellbeing lunch break and played some fun activities with the students. Tamana hosted our Community Leader's dinner and Leila and Frishta collected resposnes from leaders on how the Meet, Greet, Eat forum can improve.

We are so grateful for the commitment and dedication the YAG has shown thus far!

Want to join our MCCGC Youth Advisory Group? 

Do you know of or are a young person (18-25) wanting experience in a NGO? Do you identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background?  As a volunteer you can help to advise MCCGC, a peak regional multicultural body, to support better services for young CALD people on the Gold Coast. 

What's in it for you? 

• Professional development 
• Have an edge over others when pursuing your career 
• Ensure the voice of CALD young people are heard. 
• Paid work opportunities 

There are many unique opportunities to get involved.  

Contact Candice on cams@mccgc.com.au to get involved! 

Join for free today!

We are inviting local organisations and businesses that provide services in other languages to list for free in our new Multicultural Services Directory. Please share with any local businesses/services you know. 

What is the Multicultural Services Directory? 

It's a free online database that allows anyone to search by language, service or key words to find and connect with Gold Coast organisations that speak their language. We want to make it easier for multicultural communities to access services in their language while promoting diverse providers who offer services in languages other than English.

Please share far and wide with your networks as we want as many local Gold Coast service providers to register so it can be a great resource for the community.

Our Community Development team does some amazing things in and around our community so we thought we'd share their adventures with you each month.

See a bit of what we got up to!

Congratulations to our Work Towards team for another successful community workshop.

The night focused on finding pathways to employment and permanent residency here in Australia.

We have an array of fantastic workshops scattered throughout the year that are centered around employment, self confidence, taxation and business; to help navigate the Australian workplace.

Another successful Meet, Greet, Eat went down in mid October!

It was great to connect with community leaders and organisations.

We learnt how to manage an incorporated group, listened in on a Queensland Health bowel screening presentation, watched traditional Ethiopian and Samoan performances, and ate some incredible food!

We ended the night with a guided meditation facilitated by Samar from Latin Community Hub

We hosted our movie screening of Mary meets Mohammad at Dendy Southport as part of Queensland Seniors Month.

Before the movie began, we had a traditional Balinese dance preformed by Agung Budianthika. The cultural dance is called 'Topeng Manis' or 'Sweet/Hard Mask'. 'Topeng' is a series of masked dances. Agung preformed the King Mask Dance (Arsa Wijaya) and the Old Mask Dance (Topeng Tua). The dance is used for ritual ceremonies throughout Bali.

Mary meets Mohammad message was a perfect synergy of what we do here at MCCGC/CURA, helping people of all ages and cultural backgrounds feel supported in life.

We look forward to our next movie screening!

It was wonderful to attend learn more about diverse Spiritual Care Needs in times of crisis as presented by Gold Coast Health Spiritual Care Services team and external community leaders. 

The Forum brought together a variety of exciting Spiritual Care Practitioners from diverse faith traditions speaking on the diverse spiritual care practices within healthcare. This year’s Spiritual Care Week theme is “Relevant and Responsive in times of Crises.”

Thank you to the Gold Coast Turkish Society for inviting us to celebrate Republic Day with you! It was a beautiful celebration of culture and community and we were honoured to attend and enjoy good company and delicious Turkish food.

Our brilliant Work Towards team hosted another successful workshop supported by Integrative Counselor & Parental Educator Eve Florou around being an immigrant and turning your dreams into a reality. 

It was wonderful to support Roselle Tenefrancia and the Art and Potluck project this month! 

Art + Potluck Project is a personal project that encourages community storytelling and sharing food at the dining table. The concept brings strangers together to share a meal and build greater connections to each other and the wider community. These gatherings are hosted monthly!

If you would like to join or know more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/ArtPotluckProject

Gold Coast are you ready to Rumbaaaaa??

Mariesly Paradelo is known as “Latin Bomb of Cuba”. She has taught all over the world from Italy in “Vamos a Rumbear” to the Midwest in Dubai at Fujairah Dance Festival, also participating in international conferences. For several years she was part of the team of teachers with the prestigious dance school La Casona del Son under the direction of Silvia Canals.

Mariesly is back and ready to give you the best energy Cuban dance classes at Southport Community Centre Wednesdays and Fridays!

THE CLASSES START 9th OF NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAYS
7 - PM SALSA & CASINO

Book here: https://buy.stripe.com/8wM16Q1Cw6xw0246oy

FRIDAYS
7 - 9 PM TIMBA & RUEDA DE CASINO

Book here: https://buy.stripe.com/28o6radlef425modQZ

Budget funds first Indigenous birth centre

Australia's first dedicated Indigenous birth centre will be built on the NSW South Coast after $22.5 million was secured for the landmark project in the federal budget.

Maternal deaths of Indigenous women are 4.6 times higher, perinatal deaths 1.7 times higher and preterm births 1.6 times higher, compared with non-Indigenous women.
 

Preterm birth is the largest contributor to child mortality and is associated with significant childhood disability and chronic diseases in adulthood.

Experts say these figures show disparate health inequities have not changed in the last decade 

The funding for the Birthing on Country Centre of Excellence over the next three years will allow Indigenous women to give birth on their ancestral country with Indigenous midwives in a dedicated facility at Nowra.

Read the SBS NITV article here: https://bit.ly/3WvxJTl

Work Towards Program

Workshop Updates 

To register for this FREE event use this link: https://bit.ly/3Dpj9Ek 

If you have any questions about the program or want to book into workshops, please email worktowards@mccgc.com.au.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate, the Kombumerri people, the Gubbi Gubbi people, the Jinibara people, the Turrbal people, the Quandamooka people and the Bundjalung people. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their ongoing connection to land, sea, culture and community.