$1.5 million to enhance South Australian settlement services
29 May 2009
Providing refugee and migrant youth with a forum for expression through music, drama and art is just one excellent example of the important work settlement grants recipients undertake, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, said today.
As part of $1.5 million settlement grants program (SGP) funding allocated to South Australia, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will provide $160 000 to Multicultural Youth South Australia (MYSA).
'MYSA provides activities tailored to suit the ages and cultural backgrounds of refugee and migrant youth. Music and performing arts workshops will form a significant part of the project, to help migrant youth engage with and participate in the broader community,' Mr Ferguson said.
'Among the issues we face in settling refugee youth into Australia are communication difficulties between young people and their parents, peers and communities. Projects such as this provide an outlet and a forum for young people to communicate and express themselves, at the same time engage with both their families and communities,' Mr Ferguson said.
During the 2009–10 financial year, DIAC's settlement grants program will provide $1.5 million to 16 projects that will help new arrivals to settle into South Australia.
Some of the successful applicant organisations include migrant resource centres, multicultural service agencies and community and welfare organisations.
'The many projects supported by the settlement grants program will help migrants and refugees to settle successfully into their new communities, promoting social participation and assisting in their cultural transition into Australia,' Mr Ferguson said.
A list of successful applicants in the 2009-10 funding round is available on the DIAC website.
See: www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/settlement-grants
'I commend all organisations for their contribution to the successful settlement of migrants and refugees in South Australia,' Mr Ferguson said.
Media contact: Carla Wilshire 0432 755 935
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2009/lf09027.htm
Last update: 29 May 2009 at 11:24 AEST