Making connections with newest young Aussies
Friday, 9 May 2008
Young African Australians living in Melbourne’s south east will be among a diverse group of people participating in a new project designed to improve community relations.
The Making Connections project will be jointly conducted by Adult Multicultural Education Services, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues and the South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre.
Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services Laurie Ferguson said today project funding totaling $129 822 would enable each organisation to conduct a range of activities in Greater Dandenong and Casey.
'One group of activities will focus on building greater understanding and interaction between the young people and older residents, and will involve community groups including the University of the Third Age,' Mr Ferguson said.
'They will work together to develop presentations of their personal histories and also plan a Youth Citizenship Ceremony.
'Another set of activities will involve new and established groups of young people collaborating on staging musical events in Casey, and a third part of the project will address a range of health issues experienced by newly arrived young women.'
Mr Ferguson said the south eastern region of Melbourne was one of the most culturally diverse in Australia.
'Greater Dandenong alone is home to people who have come from some 150 nations, and more than half of the population was born overseas,' the parliamentary secretary said.
'In recent years, people from Africa, Afghanistan and Burma have added to this diversity, and many of them are young people.
'It is crucial for the wellbeing of the whole community that both newcomers and existing residents have opportunities to make connections with each other, so we can avoid the problems that result from isolation, fear and misinformation,' Mr Ferguson added.
The Making Connections project is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.Media contact: Khaldoun Hajaj 02 6277 4920 or 0404 078 692
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08035.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST