The Multicultural Community Centre’s (MCC) work within Thornlie, Parkwood, Koondoola and Nollamara Primary Schools and provide services to families living in surrounding suburbs.
The MCC’s provide culturally responsive and trauma informed services to support refugee students and their families with their education, health, wellbeing and social integration.
The MCC’s provide families with holistic support as they settle into their new lives in Australia, by addressing settlement and transition issues. The MCC staff work collaboratively with external organisations to address health and psychosocial needs for the entire family.
MCC staff support people with general settlement issues that arise with housing, education, language, health and employment. This may be by supporting clients through individual case management and outreach support or through group work.
The MCC’s services
- Health Education and Promotion
- Increase parent engagement in the school environment
- Support to navigate the health system
- School Readiness support through learning and development of children under 5
- Advocacy
- Social support
- Referral to specialised support services, including employment support and mental health services
- Educational Programs
- Information dissemination
- Increase engagement with community support networks
The staff also run weekly parent support groups, which build community resilience by learning about life in Australia, providing parenting support, navigating support systems, understanding the education system and providing a space where the challenges of settling in Australia can be discussed and minimised. There are also after school student clubs and school holiday activities delivered for students.
The program was developed from a growing need in the community to support Intensive English Centre students and their families with additional settlement needs.
The service is funded by the Child and Adolescent Health Service WA and managed by the Edmund Rice Centre WA.
To reach the MCC at Koondoola and Nollamara please call 0435 069 769 or 9345 6200 and at Thornlie and Parkwood 9232 3499 or 0403 028 161.