As published in the Westside Weekly Messenger.
Written by Mohsen Nazari.
Photo: Najafi Carpet Gallery owner Ramazan Najafi and News Corp’s Mohsen Nazari, who all marvel at the incredible changes that have taken place on Prospect Rd in Kilburn.
When News Corp’s Mohsen Nazari arrived in Kilburn as a refugee back in 2005, northern Prospect Rd was a “high-crime neighbourhood”. Over the years, Mo’s family has seen the street become enriched with Middle Eastern culture. Here, he shares the story of Kilburn’s changing face.
As published in The Naracoorte Herald.
Written by Amy Maynard.
Photo: Pearl Indian: Hafeezullah “Hafeez” Haidari has been rewarded for his hard work with state award nominations.
Hafeezulla “Hafeez” Haidari is having a moment – not only has the Pearl Indian proprietor been nominated for two state awards for excellence in business, but he’s also planning a new restaurant in Penola.
As published in the City Messenger.
Written by Natalie De Nadai.
Photo: Baindu Tamba, Haja Koroma, David Biar, Nixon Sola, Michael Nketiah Boakye and children, Usman, 5, and Amanda, 7, in Victoria Square in the lead up to Unmasked African Festival (photo courtesy of AAP/Morgan Sette).
Experience the energy, colour and cultural richness of Africa right in the heart of the city this weekend.
In partnership with Fisheries SA, Victorian Fisheries and Parks Victoria, the Mount Gambier Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) held an information session for new arrival migrants and refugees on sustainable fishing practices and fishing regulations in South Australia and Victoria.
As published in the Murray Valley Standard.
Written by Heather Muirhead.
Photo: Gather: Eugenia Tsoulis, OAM, CEO of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC), Murray Bridge Mayor Brenton Lewis, President of Overseas Chinese Association SA Mr Yong Koh and President of Murray Bridge Chinese Association (MBCA) Mr Morong Xu (photo courtesy of Murraylands MRC).
A large community gathering, of around 140 people, took place in Murray Bridge over the first weekend of September.
As published in the Border Chronicle.
Written by Louise Horobin.
Photo: Students: Khatera Rezai, Shakila Ghulami, Ivy Thien, Parwana Abdullahi and Asif Abdullahi.
Bordertown’s Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) has received a 2018 ABC Heywire grant, which will be used to encourage long term career opportunities in the agricultural sector for migrant and refugee youths.
MRC multicultural community services coordinator Tracey Grosser said the grant money would be put towards developing a pilot program in collaboration with Bordertown High School and the MRC.
The AMRC hosted key community women leaders from a diversity of backgrounds including Afghan, African, Burmese, Bhutanese and Syrian, who participated in a consultation with the National Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change.
The Council for Migrant and Refugee Women (CMRW) of SA held a Governance Strategic Planning Workshop with Vanessa Swan, CMRW Honorary Chair and board members to further the aim and objectives of the council, with guest speaker Iona Roy, representing the National Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change.
A large community gathering in Murray Bridge over the weekend was welcomed by Mayor Brenton Lewis, Rural City of Murray Bridge; Mr Yong Koh, President of the Overseas Chinese Association (OCA); and Eugenia Tsoulis OAM, CEO of the AMRC. It was hosted by Murraylands MRC in partnership with the OCA, with participants of Chinese, Filipino, Burmese and other backgrounds enjoying a BBQ. The OCA introduced its ethnic school, providing Chinese classes to local residents.
Today the Honourable Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier, launched the NDIS Training Resource ‘Culturally Responsive Services: A Resource for NDIS Service Providers’ to a huge crowd of NDIS service providers, other services, government representatives, people with a disability, carers and community leaders. The resource is a product of a partnership of the AMRC, Department for Industry and Skills, Northern Futures and Disability Workforce Hub.
AMRC representatives Hiba Alwani and Simon Cinzah were delighted to accept backpacks on behalf of the AMRC from Saint Ignatius’ College for new arrival primary school children.
Do you want to train to work in aged or disability care?
We are seeking expressions of interest from eligible individuals who have a bicultural and bilingual background, experience and/or qualifications aligned to the job description.
Photo: Participants with WLSSA CEO Zita Adut Deng Ngor and Project Officer/Paralegal Chloe Fragos at Murraylands MRC.
Ask Maria Project delivered in partnership with Women’s Legal Service SA (WLSSA), Multicultural Aged Care and regional MRCs, empowering women of migrant and refugee background with knowledge on women’s rights and the Australian legal system.
As published in the Murray Valley Standard.
Written by John Scarvelis.
Photo: United front: Some of the Murraylands Multicultural Network’s new management committee are photographed with Australian Migrant Resource Centre CEO Eugenia Tsoulis and Murraylands multicultural community services coordinator Heather Muirhead.
The Murraylands Multicultural Network held its annual general meeting on Saturday, July 22, with key community members and service providers attending.
Eritrean and Ethiopian Youth of Adelaide enjoying a peace celebration.
The wonderful sound of Arabic music filled the Adelaide Multicultural Centre during Café Musica and the Launch of SALA Exhibition ‘Damascus Thinking of You.’
AMRC Staff Strategic Planning and Evaluation Day reflecting on achievements and identifying priorities through individual and group input.
Naracoorte’s Zahra is a finalist for this year’s Vocational Student of the Year Award. She arrived in Naracoorte in 2015 and was awarded the Limestone Coast Training Award in 2017. She is currently studying a foundation course at UniSA to pursue a Bachelor of Primary Education and is also volunteering at Michelle DeGaris Memorial Kindergarten. “My English is not always perfect, but the children and staff at the child care service have always been willing to help me, which encouraged me to pursue my future goal of becoming a teacher to transfer skills and knowledge to others.
Photo: Hafeezullah (left) with team members from Pearl Indian Cuisine (Credit: The Naracoorte Herald).
Photo: Members of the Chinese community photographed with new chair of the Murraylands Multicultural Network (MMN) representing the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge, Mr John Scarvelis and Murraylands MRC Multicultural Community Services Coordinator Heather Muirhead.
Photo: Murraylands Multicultural Network (MMN) New Management Committee photographed with AMRC CEO Ms Eugenia Tsoulis OAM and Murraylands MRC Multicultural Community Services Coordinator Heather Muirhead.
Murraylands Multicultural Network 2018 Annual General Meeting, with key community leaders forming the new management committee. The network will assist in advancing and sustaining regional settlement.
Photo: AMRC Youth Parliament Team with Member of Parliament.
Our inspiring Youth Leaders have done us proud by presenting the ‘Affordable Electricity Bill’ at Parliament House, focusing on reducing electricity prices and energy bill costs in SA.
Syrian sisters Dania and Hala Naji are about to take the Adelaide Multicultural Centre by storm when they present their first exhibition of drawings and paintings ‘Damascus – Thinking of You,’ launched by Adjunct Professor Andrew Hill AM, School of Art, Architecture and Design, UniSA. Join us at the AMRC on Saturday 4 August 2018 at 12pm for the launch. RSVP to keith@amrc.org.au
Drop by to see the sister’s artwork, which will be exhibited throughout August Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm at the AMRC.
As part of its connecting women health workshops, the Northern Area Migrant Resource Centre (NAMRC) and SA Health delivered an information session on the importance of cervical screening, with over 45 women from a diversity of backgrounds learning about the benefits of early detection and prevention.
The second CSCS meeting was held at the Adelaide Multicultural Centre, with over 50 participants from community services and government sharing vital settlement and allied services information.
The African Students Council of SA (ASCSA) is hosting an informative session for international students on Wednesday 25 July 2018 from 5pm-6.30pm at the Mezzanine, Adelaide University Hub.
The session will cover new immigration laws and policies, student services, and event and lifestyle experiences. To register, visit the link.
Photo: AMRC Youth Parliament team mentored by previous participant Taha Shabibi (photo courtesy of YMCA Youth Parliament South Australia).
With Youth Parliament 2018 just around the corner, AMRC’s team is ready to present their ‘Affordable Electricity Bill’ at Parliament House. Stay tuned to AMRC’s Facebook channel and website to discover how our inspiring youth leaders went in presenting their Youth Bill in July.
It was a bright and colourful Multicultural Welcome Day at the Northern Area MRC with the Honourable Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier and City of Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM.
To view more photos from the Multicultural Welcome Day, visit the Gallery section of the AMRC Website.
As published in The Border Chronicle.
Written by Louise Horobin.
Photo: Bordertown MRC and Tatiara District Council’s ‘Building on Our Diversity’ event, as part of Refugee Week 2018.
The Tatiara is getting behind the nation’s soon approaching annual Refugee Week.
Refugee Week brings issues affecting refugees to surface and celebrates the positive contributions refugees make to Australian society.
As published in The Border Chronicle.
Written by Louise Horobin.
Photo: Building on Diversity: Many members of the Tatiara community attended the ‘building on diversity’ event held at the MRC on Friday June 22.
Many members of the Tatiara community came together on Friday night for a ‘building on diversity’ event held at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC).
As published in ABC South East SA.
Written by Glen Moret.
For Wah Ree Paw the simplest things were some of the hardest when she arrived in Australia.
“We had never actually got inside a car before, so we didn’t know how to wear or how to put on seatbelts,” she said.
On the flight to Australia she also found it tricky not knowing any English.
“They had food to eat on the plane but then you don’t know how to ask which food you want to eat”.
We are employing part-time casual bilingual carers/personal assistants to care for aged and disability clients in their home.
In a proactive move by members of the Naracoorte migrant community, SAPOL officers from Naracoorte, Mt Gambier and Adelaide met with 20 residents on Tuesday night 26th of June to expand understanding and knowledge of Australian law and the role of police officers in the community.
Dr Juma Abyui, SAPOL Community Liaison Officer, gave a presentation at the Naracoorte Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) based partly on his own experiences as a former refugee encountering Australian concepts of law and law enforcement.
As published in The Border Watch.
Written by Raquel Mustillo.
Photo: Program Support: Migrant success story and Noodle Sushi Bar owners Saw Khain and Saw Myo have backed a continuation of the Australian Refugee and Humanitarian Program.
The success of the Noodle Sushi Bar is a world away from owners’ Saw Myo and Saw Khain’s challenging arrival in Australia as Karen refugees.
The pair were in their mid-20s when they fled Burma (now Myanmar) to be granted refugee status in Malaysia.
Written by Raquel Mustillo.
A new report highlighting locally led migration strategies to stem population decline and labour shortages has been welcomed by Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee.
The Regional Australia Institute, a think-tank devoted to issues concerning country areas, unveiled a new policy paper highlighting the opportunity for a new national policy around migration.
As published in The Border Watch.
Written by Katie Jackson.
Photo: Social Outing: Loujain and Ranim Alkaharabeh, Lily Coote with Judith Kakule and Shaste Kakule enjoy the food at Mount Gambier North Primary School’s Refugee week event.
Contributions recognised at South East Refugee Week celebration
Diverse contributions of refugees to the community were celebrated at Mount Gambier North Primary School last week.
Refugee Week celebrated the successful settlement of over 140 migrant families in Mount Gambier.
As published in The Border Watch.
Written by Katie Jackson.
Refugees celebrate new lives in lucky country
Mount Gambier’s refugee community and supporters celebrated the city’s settlement program and the new lives they have built in our peaceful region last week. Refugee Week celebrations were held at Mount Gambier North Primary School, where guests were greeted in various languages by children from Reception to Year 2 (pictured above).
As published in The Naracoorte Herald.
Written by Amy Maynard.
Photo: What Makes Our Community Great: Sarah McWaters from Teys Australia, Sandy Talbot from the NLBTA, Hafeezullah Haidari of Pearl Indian Cuisine, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride, MRC Coordinator Jenny Stirling, and Mayor Erika Vickery.
Thank you to all participating organisations in South Australia for a reflective, educational and celebratory Refugee Week.
As published in The Border Watch.
Written by Katie Jackson.
Photo: Life-changing: Karen refugee Klo Moo has made Mount Gambier his new home and is contributing to the community, becoming one of our city’s many small business operators.
After spending more than 20 years of his life in a Thai refugee camp, Karen refugee Klo Moo has built a new life in Mount Gambier.
Mr Moo was born in the refugee camp after his parents fled persecution in Myanmar (formerly Burma) over 30 years ago.
As published in The Border Watch.
Written by Katie Jackson.
Photo: Artistic Flair: Mount Gambier Migrant Resource Centre volunteer Lorna Gilmore and Moo Too have been creating items which will be showcased tomorrow night as part of a celebration of refugee settlement in the region.
South East participates in nationwide annual event
Australia’s Refugee Week celebrations began on Sunday, marking 20 years since becoming a nationwide annual event.
Three traineeships available with a multilingual real estate company in the Central Business District (CBD).
An exciting and warm welcoming for new arrival women in Bordertown in celebration of SA Refugee Week 2018.
As published in Brand South Australia.
Written by Melissa Keogh.