Solid base for new migrants

By Rebecca Fraser
GREATER Dandenong Council has approved plans for a new education facility in Springvale South specifically designed for training migrants and new arrivals to Australia.
The centre will provide educational services to people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds and accommodation.
The application for the Springvale Road education centre was approved at Monday night’s council meeting and this week, Springvale Central Councillor Youhorn Chea said the new facility would bring many benefits to the people of Springvale.
“I think this education facility will be very good for the new migrants and refugees coming in to this area.
“When I arrived in Australia with my family we relied heavily on education and I know just how important facilities like this are to people.
“This is a wonderful thing for the Springvale area,” Cr Chea said.
The education centre will provide courses and counselling to support new international arrivals and people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds, with an emphasis on business and leadership skills as well as settlement issues and life coaching.
The education centre will also house three tenants, generally international students and boarders under a full board arrangement.
The council application proposed that a maximum of three boarders and the onsite property manager family would live at the facility.
The application also stated that the existing building already catered for international students and boarders and it appeared that the educational courses and counselling services proposed were in demand in Springvale.
Council received six objections to the application with issues generally related to traffic conflicts at the Springvale Road and Hume Road intersection.
Two objections were later withdrawn.