The keynote address was delivered by Cr Sean O Reilly, Mayor of Greater Dandenong, who of icially opened the new

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Ilene Elliott
5 years ago
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Diversity Respect Empowerment Participation Resilience website: www.smrc.org.au email: smrc@smrc.org.au The SMRC welcomed a large gathering of guests at the of icial opening of our new home, 39 Clow Street Dandenong.

Alan Grif in MP, Member for Bruce; Inga Peulich MP, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan; Gabrielle Williams MP, Member for Dandenong; Hong Lim MP, Member

Mayor of Greater Dandenong, who of icially opened the new of ice. Other guests included several life members of SMRC, including founding member Anton Nadarajah.

instruments. A small excerpt of the performance can be seen on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

1 Diversity Respect Empowerment Participation Resilience website: The SMRC welcomed a large gathering of guests at the of icial opening of our new home, 39 Clow Street Dandenong. Distinguished visitors included: Hon. Luke Donnellan MP, Member for Narre Warren North, Minister for Roads and Road Safety and Minister for Ports; Hon. Alan Grif in MP, Member for Bruce; Inga Peulich MP, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan; Gabrielle Williams MP, Member for Dandenong; Hong Lim MP, Member for Clarinda; Cr Mick Morland, City of Casey, Cr Angela Long, City of Greater Dandenong; Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, Victoria Police; The keynote address was delivered by Cr Sean O Reilly, Mayor of Greater Dandenong, who of icially opened the new of ice. Other guests included several life members of SMRC, including founding member Anton Nadarajah. In recognition of a signi icant community in the region who are represented in both the refugee settlement and aged care sectors, SMRC invited guest performers to play Tamil music on traditional instruments. A small excerpt of the performance can be seen on YouTube at this link: Pictured: [Top] Gabrielle Williams MP, SMRC Chairperson Brian Oates with local business owner Chris Nuske. [Upper middle] Board members Costa Azzam, Hafez Abdul Wahab, Virginia Simmons, chairperson Brian Oates and CEO Jenny Semple. [Lower middle] performers Lalitha Ratnsothy (mother), playing the Veenai, Priya Manoranjan (daughter), playing the drums, Vethika Tamilvender (granddaughter), playing the Veenai [Below] Tamil music performers with SMRC staff Sylvia Wan and Vivian Wong.

The biggest thing to happen that members might like details about is, that the proposed merge with SCAAB and DCAB will not be continuing at this time.

2 The biggest thing to happen that members might like details about is, that the proposed merge with SCAAB and DCAB will not be continuing at this time. It was a disappointing outcome after 10 months of many meetings and much work. The merge was initiated with expectations of many beneits, outlined at the AGM last year. Unfortunately not many could be realised. Among other things, the second stage of due diligence proposed that expected beneits would be unlikely to be achieved. The due diligence report also recommended the three organisations to have the same inance reporting system. To achieve this, SMRC would have to change our current reporting methods. The exercise has delivered lessons to our Board for future joint ventures, e.g. forward planning, knowing precisely what we want and to achieve it, sticking to decisions, and monitoring cultural and personality differences. We intend to continue our good working relationship with SCAAB and DCAB, who are well respected organisations in our region. We wish them well with their merge and look forward to greeting the new organisation they will become. The Board are now attending to business as usual and working on future plans, including returning to a budget surplus, developing criteria for future joint ventures, and reviewing activities in the light of report recommendations. If you wish to discuss these matters, please call me on Thank you for your continued support during this time. Brian Oates J.P. This year SMRC assisted the City of Casey during Refugee Week at a forum which provided an opportunity to acknowledge the skills and energy that refugees and asylum seekers contribute and how service providers assist in the settlement process. Asher Hirsch from the Refugee Council of Australia talked about the Refugee Communities Advocacy Network and shared some work the Council has been doing to assist refugee settlement in this region. Also addressing the forum was Hayatullah Rahimi, from SMRC, a Refugee Week ambassador and passionate advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. Hayatullah arrived in Australia in 2007, having been a refugee for eight years in Pakistan after escaping war and persecution in Afghanistan. His experience as a refugee inspired him to become a social worker. Hayatullah is now a case manager at SMRC supporting new arrivals and refugees. He is also inishing his Honours in Social Work at RMIT. Wendy Fox, Communities Team Leader from SMRC spoke about the South East Refugee Action Program, a signiicant partnership across the municipalities of Kingston, Greater Dandenong and Casey. The forum then heard from Anna Brazier, Dr Sayed Wahidi and Sahema Saberi from South East Melbourne Medicare Local, who shared insights into work that has taken place over the past three years to build bridges between the refugee community and health providers by improving the knowledge and con- idence of the local Afghan community to better use our local health services. The Refugee Health Program s Afghan Health Literacy Project demonstrated what can be achieved by collaborating with community leaders and local service providers. Finally, Catherine Fulgoni, from the Monash Health Refugee Health Program, interviewed a panel of local refugee and asylum seeker representatives about their experiences. Pict Khadim Hussain Hazara, Barkat Ali Tamki (SEMML Volunteers), Hayatullah Rahimi (SMRC), Asher Hirsch (RCOA), Wendy Fox (SMRC), Deputy Mayor Cr Louise Berkelmans (Springfield Ward), Cr Susan Serey (Edrington Ward).

This year SMRC entered into a partnership with Monash Health and South East Melbourne Medicare Local to host the 4th

Our combined efforts provided family-friendly activities, including children's activities, soccer and warm up drills.

The games were iercely competitive, but played with a great spirit of friendship.

The soccer teams were composed of asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees, mainly from Afghan backgrounds.

helped to distribute fruit, which was eagerly devoured.

We now have perpetual trophies, to be engraved annually with the winning teams.

3 This year SMRC entered into a partnership with Monash Health and South East Melbourne Medicare Local to host the 4th annual youth refugee soccer tournament at Springers Leisure Centre, Keysborough, during Refugee Week. Our combined efforts provided family-friendly activities, including children's activities, soccer and warm up drills. This year we had 4 female teams and 12 male teams a record number for both! The games were iercely competitive, but played with a great spirit of friendship. We also provided gifts for the children, including balls, Frisbees and refreshments. The soccer teams were composed of asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees, mainly from Afghan backgrounds. Our Master of Ceremonies was Rob Koch from Monash Health, and we were ably supported by Monash Health volunteers, who helped to distribute fruit, which was eagerly devoured. We helped to keep the teams energised, with water bottles promoting 'ill from the tap'. We now have perpetual trophies, to be engraved annually with the winning teams. One example illustrates the qualitative success of such an event; two young women who didn t have a team to play in still wanted to participate. Even though they were novice players, another team welcomed them into their team. They made the inals and both young women were able to participate, made to feel a part of the team and engage in this valuable experience. We eagerly look forward to next year s tournament!

This year SMRC chose to celebrate National Volunteer Week by combining all of our volunteer participants from our various programs and activities into one big celebration.

Latin dance group, a fun activity for all ages that in our case involved a lot of laughter and some strange moves, followed by a sumptuous morning tea.

Pictured: (above) Tong Huynh (volunteer), Trish Matthes (Volunteer Coordinator for Aged Care), Thi LeThuy and Thi Cam Nhung (volunteers), Godette McGregor (Community Visitors Scheme Coordinator).

4 This year SMRC chose to celebrate National Volunteer Week by combining all of our volunteer participants from our various programs and activities into one big celebration. After speeches and acknowledgements thanking all our volunteer for their work and commitment to the organisation and the clients, staff and volunteers were delighted to participate in a combined Latin dance group, a fun activity for all ages that in our case involved a lot of laughter and some strange moves, followed by a sumptuous morning tea. A fun way to thank our volunteers from Social Support, Homework Support, Community Volunteers Scheme and Settlement services. Pictured: (above) Tong Huynh (volunteer), Trish Matthes (Volunteer Coordinator for Aged Care), Thi LeThuy and Thi Cam Nhung (volunteers), Godette McGregor (Community Visitors Scheme Coordinator). (left) SMRC staff and volunteers attempting a Latin dance. Also as part of National Volunteers Week, several organisations from the Casey and Cardinia Network for Volunteer Managers hosted a joint promotional space near the MadCap Cafe at the ground level of Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. The aim was to jointly recruit volunteers for our respective organisations and to promote our range of services. Each agency had banners and table space for brochures and promotional products, and we spoke with members of the local community to discuss the merits and beneits of volunteering. It was a week of great opportunity to work together and cooperate with other community agencies, including the City of Casey, Greater Dandenong Volunteer Resource Service, South East Palliative Care, South East Volunteers, The Bridge, Outlook Community Centre and Pufing Billy. Pictured: Shirlene Standish (Manager of Volunteer Services, South East Volunteers), May Ip (Interview Officer, Greater Dandenong Volunteer Resource Service), Jenny Liebe (Volunteer Coordinator, The Bridge), Godette McGregor (Community Visitors Scheme Coordinator, SMRC) and Sarah Kelly (Volunteer Coordinator, Outlook Vic Inc).

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Aged Care Services We seek volunteers to support frail older migrants who are lonely. Volunteers can assist a person in their home or a small group in a nursing home.

au Refugee Support Do you want to make a difference in the lives of refugees? Are you interested in work experience for at least 3 hours per week?

5 VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Aged Care Services We seek volunteers to support frail older migrants who are lonely. Volunteers can assist a person in their home or a small group in a nursing home. Volunteers also assist in group activities at community centres and in strength-based exercise programs. For information, please contact Trish Matthes on or at PatriciaM@smrc.org.au Refugee Support Do you want to make a difference in the lives of refugees? Are you interested in work experience for at least 3 hours per week? Can you speak another language as well as read & write in English? Please contact Sharon Smith on or at sharons@smrc.org.au Homework Support We seek volunteer tutors to help refugee students (Years 7-12) after school hours with homework skills in Maths, Science and English. Please contact Sharon Smith on or sharons@smrc.org.au

Diverse Care is a social enterprise of SMRC Our 120 bi-lingual workers provide personal care, respite and home help.

diverse backgrounds. We are now recruiting. Cert III in Aged Care or HACC.

Languages in high demand: Greek, Italian, Bosnia, Croatian, Serbian, Dari, Polish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin,

6 Diverse Care is a social enterprise of SMRC Our 120 bi-lingual workers provide personal care, respite and home help. We have over 50 different languages in our workforce to meet the needs of clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We are now recruiting. Cert III in Aged Care or HACC. Ability to speak a language other than English is highly desirable. Languages in high demand: Greek, Italian, Bosnia, Croatian, Serbian, Dari, Polish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese Suburbs in high demand: Caul?ield, Bulleen, Narre Warren, Knox?ield, Ferntree Gully, Bentleigh, Mentone, Box Hill For more information, contact Penny Taramides, Team Leader, on or pennyt@smrc.org.au

7 To become a member of the SMRC APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP I, Surname Given Name(s) of Address - home (no. and Street Name) Postcode Address - work Postcode Tel: (Home) (Work) (Mobile) Fax: want to become a member of the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre; and I agree to be bound by the Rules of the Centre for the duration of my Membership. I enclose membership fee of ten dollars ($10.00 incl. GST) for 5 years membership fee. Signed: Dated: Please state which nationality, cultural or ethnic group you belong to. Ethnic Group: Language/s spoken: For details about SMRC services or publications please see our Website or contact the Client Services Manager, Bill Collopy, billc@smrc.org.au Page 7

respect and a sense of belonging. website:

respect and a sense of belonging. website: Diversity Respect Empowerment Participation Resilience website: www.smrc.org.au email: smrc@smrc.org.au This year SMRC chose to celebrate Harmony Day with two other local agencies that may well soon all