October Newsletter 

In this edition of our monthly newsletter:

October Meet, Greet, Eat - Calling on all Community Leaders!

Annual General Meeting - Save the date 

Free movie screening for Queensland Seniors Month - All are welcome! 

What's happening in Iran? 

MCCGC Youth Advisory Group Updates 

Settlement Engagement and Transitional Support - How we can help you settle into Gold Coast life. 

Queensland Mental Health Week - How to get involved

MCCGC Cultural Identity Training - is your school next? 

...and much more! 

To celebrate Seniors Month, MCCGC & CURA are hosting a free screening of the award-winning Australian documentary Mary Meets Mohammad next Wednesday 19^th October at Dendy Southport (129 Queen St) 10am – 12pm.

It’s a beautiful film following the story of the unlikely connections that formed when Tasmania opened its first detention centre for 400 male asylum seekers from Afghanistan.

We will have some food and beverages available as well as a cultural performance at the beginning.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1306655260073623/?ref=newsfeed

Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/mary-meets-mohammad-seniors-month-screening-tickets-439439654837 - event is free but registration is encouraged to help us keep track of numbers!

All are welcome 😊

Join us at MCCGC Wellness Centre at 5:30pm for our second last MEET GREET & EAT for 2022!

We have some very interesting presentations from government and community...oh and some scrumptious dinner to follow! 

RSVP to Candice at cams@mccgc.com.au by the 13th of October. 

MCCGC AGM 29th of November 

Save the date!

Once a year we hold our annual general meeting (AGM) where individual and organisational members can vote on matters of MCCGC Board of Directors and other important decisions that shape our organisation. 

You can also deliver your vote via proxy. 

If you are wanting to come and vote but not yet a member of MCCGC, please apply by clicking the button below.  

What's happening in Iran? 

How Iran's Hijab protest movement has become so powerful

Last month, Iran’s morality police arrested Mahsa Amini, a twenty-two-year-old Kurdish Iranian who was visiting Tehran and apparently revealed some of her hair. She was sent to a re-education camp, and, several days later, died while in custody. Her family members suspect she was killed in a beating at the hands of the police.

Her death set off the most widespread protests—many of which have included women removing the head coverings mandated by Iran’s conservative government—that the country has seen since the Green Movement of 2009.

The authorities responded by cracking down harshly, and there have been unconfirmed reports of protesters being killed by the government.

The Iranian regime, currently led by an ailing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has tried clamping down on Internet access as well.

Sign the Amnesty International petition (link below) and call on states to set up an independent United Nations mechanism now to investigate and ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law in Iran.

MCCGC Cultural Identity Training - is your school next? 

MCCGC Community Development Officer Candice and a number of MCCGC staff members have conducted over 20 Cultural Identity Training workshops to over 450 Miami State High School students over the last few months. 

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! 

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!

This month we practiced our best impromptu pitch, a required skill when working in the advocacy space. Adam also promoted MCCGC programs at the Global Village Festival and Adam, Jannine & Tamana learnt more about Indonesian culture and values by attending the Seharum Nusantara gala dinner.

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! 

Settlement Engagement Transition Support Program (SETS) program is available to humanitarian entrants and certain family stream visa holders in their first five years in Australia.

We are now offering support for refugee's and asylum seekers from the Ukraine coming on temporary visa subclasses: 

• Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa (subclass 449) 
• Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa (subclass 449) 
• Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa (subclass 786) 
• Visitor Visa (subclass 600) 

MCCGC has two dedicated Settlement Caseworker's, Koren and Asmeret, who can assist with:

• providing settlement-related information, advice, and advocacy
• connecting with mainstream and other relevant services 
• accessing culturally appropriate physical and mental health services
• supporting vulnerable women at risk 
• developing English language skills
• engaging with education and training
• building employment readiness 
• empowering youth with their future goals
• a variety of other tasks which can range from acquiring a Tax File Number (TFN) to support with driving and licensing.

Meet Asmeret! 

Stories of survival: The story of kidnappings

Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland has written a submission to Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2022-2023. 

The report highlights some of our work with the recently resettled Eritrean community on the Gold Coast. Several community members have reached out for support after experiencing the kidnapping of a loved one. These kidnappings have occurred across the neighboring countries to Eritrea such as Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya.

Read the story by clicking below:

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.

Almost half of all Australian adults will face mental ill-health during their lives and on average nine people die every day by suicide .

This year, Queensland Mental Health Week is focusing on the theme '𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' with the aim of making change and helping increase community understanding of the factors that help enhance mental wellbeing. 

With over 360 registered events, there'll be plenty of fun, inspiring and informative activities during #QMHW .

Click below to find a Gold Coast event near you!

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!

This quarter the Gold Coast Multicultural Network had professional development delivered by QPASTT  (Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma)to further increase the sectors ability to deliver culturally responsive and appropriate support to those from refugee or trauma backgrounds.

Congratulations to Seharum Nusantara on their annual gala dinner which this year raised funds for Australian Cancer Research , The Arundel Mosque and other charity groups.

President Tika and committee hosted over 200 community members and entertained with the traditional Mandau dance and a most humorous MC.

Three members of our Youth Advisory Group attended in support along with CAMS Officer Candice and People & Culture Officer Vanessa.

We brought together a small group of MCCGC members to give feedback and input into our membership program and how we can improve.

We got to enjoy a meal together and network with community organisations and individuals that have an interest our diverse Gold Coast community.

It was great to hear what all attendees had to say and are looking forward to our next meeting!

Our MCCGC Youth Advisory Group member Adam, along with CAMS officer Candice and Community Programs Manager Jess attended Multicultural Families Organisation Inc.(MFO) annual Global Village Festival. 

MFO estimate attendance figures to be in the thousands

The day was filled with music, dance and food from all over the world. What an amazing display of the diversity we are so lucky to have here on the GC!

Incredible work MFO!

In support of Multicultural Families Organisation Candice and Meriani attended Waves Forward held at Foxwell State Secondary College.

The Waves Forward initiative aims to inspire and connect Maori and Pasifika students to their cultural roots and encourage young people to pursue their goals by hearing from key mentors.

Congratulations to MFO and Foxwell SSC for their commitment to developing and supporting young people.

In light of Queensland Mental Health Week , Jess our Community Programs Manager along with Millicent Magada Gold Coast Health Multicultural Mental Health coordinator presented at the Mental Health Symposium on how to provide better services for CALD communities here on the Gold Coast.

The true highlight though was hearing from Ayik Chut Deng who shared his very personal journey as a Sudanese child soldier and refugee. Ayik also shared his battle to overcome misdiagnosis once settled in Australia.

Ayik's story was a moving yet insightful insight into how we all must consider culture in all practices of health and recovery.

A large part of Ayik's healing journey was writing this incredibly powerful autobiography, which you can purchase here: https://bit.ly/3Esnqca

Congratulations to the VASA Gold Coast committee and students for an incredible showcase of Samoan culture, dance, and song at their annual event.

Students met and practiced for over 22 weeks with the project aiming to instill Samoan values such as alofa (love) , tautua (service) and fa'aaloalo (respect).

We'll done to all involved!

Australian Government reviews Modern Slavery laws

In the context of the report to the UN General Assembly, Australia's modern slavery laws are under review as the Government releases an issues paper inviting feedback and submissions for reform.

A copy of the Issues Paper is available to read HERE. 

Work Towards Program

Workshop Updates 

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

This National Carers Week, we are ‘celebrating every carer, in every role’. If you are one of
Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers providing care and support to a family member or
friend, this special ‘carer’ event is one not to miss.

Wellways Carer Gateway in conjunction with Dementia Australia warmly invite you to
relax and unwind at Music In The Air. Come along and enjoy musical entertainment
provided by talented local artists. Tea and coffee will be provided on entry along with a
delicious buffet lunch.

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.