AN APPEAL has gone out for volunteers to help newly arrived migrants settle into the Australian way of life.
The Noble Park-based Adult Multicultural Education Service (AMES) says it desperately needs extra volunteers to teach English and basic life skills.
AMES Volunteer Tutor Program coordinator Nada Railic said volunteers only needed to dedicate one or two hours each week.
In return they will receive a free accredited training course, and the self-satisfaction of helping recently arrived migrants in Greater Dandenong start their new lives in Australia.
One such person to already take the plunge into volunteering is Keysborough man Eddie Lim, 63.
The retiree who once migrated to Australia from Malaysia said he was one of the lucky ones who already knew English when arriving on Australian shores to study at university.
But he said a lot of Greater Dandenong’s new arrivals from African countries such as South Sudan, required the extra assistance.
“I basically assist the full time English tutors to teach basic English to those who have just migrated and have almost zero level English in the sense they can’t really speak English,” Mr Lim said.
“I also help them in the computer room to use computers and to solve any computer problems.”
Mr Lim is not only a volunteer English tutor, but also a settlement volunteer.
In his settlement role, Mr Lim helps migrants understand basic living skills such as booking medical appointments, filling out rental applications, understanding water restrictions, buying public transport tickets, and shopping at Dandenong Market.
Mr Lim said settlement volunteers needed to be patient and allow at least two hours each month for assignments.
“It’s very enjoyable, you learn about different cultures, countries, and people,” he said. “It broadens one’s view of different ways of life, and helps us to all live happily.
“Seeing students pretty happy when they know at least how to communicate is also self-satisfying.”
To volunteer or find out more information contact Nada Railic at AMES Noble Park on 8558 8804.
– Shaun Inguanzo
