Program offers big welcome

By Bridget Scott
A NUMBER of cultures congregated at Dandenong Market on Friday.
The centre square of the market attracted a large crowd to celebrate a significant donation from the Settlement Grants Program.
The program provides funding to organisations in order to assist them in creating a welcoming environment for immigrants.
The program donated $3 million to five associations.
The Hotham MP Simon Crean and Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus attended the announcement and both said they were proud to be able to announce the donations.
Mr Crean said the environment around Dandenong is different from any other.
“What is unique is that we have been welcoming to the greatest diversity on the earth,” he said.
“We have been recognised as world leaders.”
He said he was excited to be able to announce these donations.
“It is a great pleasure for me to announce these significant grants,” he said.
“I look forward to this enabling them to continue their great work.”
Mr Dreyfus said he was pleased to see the commitment from the government to local communities carry on.
“It is a daunting task for many migrants and refugees to settle into a new community and become self-reliant,” he said.
“I am pleased that the partnership between the Federal Labour Government and community organisations will continue.”
Associations to receive funding from the Settlement Grants Program included The Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre, Springvale and Community Advice Bureau, Eastern and Central Africa Communities of Victoria, Springvale Indo-Chinese Mutual Assistance Association and the Cambodian Association of Victoria.
In conjunction with the announcement, Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau (SCAAB) launched its Our Stories website, with aims to provide newcomers to the country with information on services near their new home, such as housing and employment.
SCAAB’s Anna Holt said she was excited to be able to launch the new initiative.
“The Our Stories website is such a fantastic idea,” she said.
“It epitomises the very best of multiculturalism.”
To conclude the ceremony, volunteers from the Dandenong district received awards to recognise their contributions to the community.