EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Work Placement Program
July 20, 2010
The Multicultural Development Association is seeking expressions of interest from people from non-English speaking backgrounds to participate in an Office Administration Work Placement Program.
The program will assist unemployed refugee and migrant job seekers from Brisbane’s Southside by providing paid work experience opportunities in the office administration field. The program will place 15 participants with local not-for-profit host organisations for 15 weeks to learn new skills on-the-job and gather Australian work experience.
Typical work duties will include:
- Administrative tasks (e.g., typing, data entry, drafting documents, ingoing/outgoing mail processing, order processing, receipting payments, filing documents, photocopying, faxing, emailing, etc.)
- Reception and customer service tasks (e.g., welcoming clients or customers, answering the telephone, responding to enquiries, etc.)
- Project work tasks (e.g., researching information, collating documents, collecting and processing data, etc.)
The program is supported by one day a week of non-accredited training in general employability skills and basic admin skills.
To be considered for participation, applicants should have some knowledge and/or previous overseas experience in office administration or customer service, as well as good communication and computer skills. Applicants must also be able to work full-time hours.
The program will run from Monday, 27 September 2010 to Friday, 14 January 2011.
Application Process
- Please download the Participant Information Sheet and Expression of Interest Form.
- Read carefully the Participant Information Sheet.
- Print out the Expression of Interest Form, fill it in and sign it.
- Prepare a type-written copy of your current resume.
- Submit your Expression of Interest together with your resume to MDA by 5pm on Monday, 30 August 2010.
Applications can be submitted:
- by post to:
MDA Employment Services
512 Stanley St
South Brisbane QLD 4101
- by email to:
wpp@mdabne.org.au
This project has been funded under the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
MEDIA RELEASE: Asylum seeker policy shift risks harming effective refugee settlement
July 7, 2010
The Multicultural Development Association (MDA) has expressed concern that the latest policy announcements from both the federal government and the Opposition risk shifting asylum seeker policy back to the days of the Pacific Solution, where prolonged detention inflicted enormous, unnecessary trauma on many genuine refugees.
MDA CEO Kerrin Benson said, “There is still a lot of detail to come about how the proposed ‘regional processing center’ in East Timor would work. MDA’s concern is that any process used to target people smugglers does not disadvantage refugees”.
“As a refugee settlement agency, MDA supported many of the refugees who eventually settled here from Nauru. We see how much harder it is for refugees to quickly settle in our community when they also have to deal with the trauma of prolonged detention and uncertainty.
“Impairing the settlement efforts of refugees is against the interests of our entire community, as well as the refugees and their families, as is public rhetoric which demonises or disparages refugees.”
“MDA welcomes the Prime Minister’s comments aimed at debunking some of the myths about asylum seekers and the level of support they receive. We strongly urge her to continue to expose and counter these myths.”
MDA believes it is also very important for public leaders to emphasise the very positive contribution which refugees make to the Australian community.
“In all the years that MDA has been operating as a settlement provider, we have not encountered a single instance where any refugees have refused to learn about Australian life and its culture.
“Refugee communities such as the Afghan Hazara community in Brisbane has many young people currently studying at university and are active contributors to social life.
“Many refugees who have arrived in Australia have significant language and cultural barriers as well as complex settlement needs, but they are very committed to Australia and take up citizenship as soon as they can”.
ENDS
Media contact: Kerrin Benson 3337 5408 or 0432 326 651
MEDIA RELEASE: Asylum seeker policy shift risks harming effective refugee settlement
MEDIA RELEASE: Border Protection vs. Human Rights
July 5, 2010
As cabinet deliberates its direction on asylum seeker policy today, the Multicultural Development Association (MDA) is calling on the Federal Government to show leadership and compassion to those who are in need of protection.
MDA CEO Kerrin Benson said now was the time for political leaders to show genuine leadership on this issue and to not allow fear mongering to win out against our human rights obligations.
“It is vital that the issue of asylum seekers does not become a political football to be kicked around to boost polling results,” Ms. Benson said.
“This is the time for all leaders of this country to demonstrate that we are a compassionate nation that recognises the spirit of giving people a fair go,” she said.
Ms Benson said demonising asylum seekers not only risked increasing public antagonism, it also hindered the ability of refugees to settlement in this country.
“As Australia marked World Refugee Day last weekend celebrating the spirit of Freedom from Fear, we call on the Government to remember our commitment to human rights.
“MDA recognises that a central element of human rights is the right of all persecuted people to seek asylum in another country and not be returned to situations of danger.
“People fleeing from persecution genuinely want the opportunity at a safe and secure future like all Australians for their children and families.
“In the current political climate we believe that strong leadership around issues of compassion and our obligations in international law to those seeking protection is vital.”
Media contact: Kerrin Benson 3337 5408
Candlelight Walk & Lantern Parade
May 21, 2010
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Please click here to download the flyer.
World Refugee Day 2010
May 14, 2010
Sunday 27 June 2010
9:00am to 5:00pm
Presented by Brisbane City Council in conjunction with
Multicultural Development Association
Venue: Annerley Soccer Club Fields, Ridge and Juliette Streets, Annerley
FREE ADMISSION
There will be:
- Soccer and Volleyball Tournaments
- Cultural Performances – Music, Dance and Theatre
- International food Stalls, Arts and Craft Stalls/Kids Activities including painting workshops
- Community Stalls
- Animal Farm/Amusement Rides/Workshop activities, and many more…..
Please come and join us in celebrating the contribution and achievements of refugee communities in Brisbane. For more information contact Behice Bagdas, Manager, Major Project, Multicultural Development Association on (07) 33375476 or email behiceb@mdabne.org.au.
Please note that due to increased demand from refugee football teams, this year the World Refugee Day, Community Festival 2010 Qualifying Football Tournaments will take place on the 20th of June 2010 and 16 teams will make to the Finals and compete on the 27th of June 2010. We will send you more information about the football tournaments shortly.
Please click here to download the Flyer and Date Claimer.
Join MDA’s Choir
March 25, 2010
You are invited to join MDA’s Choir
The first rehearsal for 2010 will take place on Saturday 27th March, 2-4pm in the Top Floor Community Space at MDA, enter from the carpark at 289 Vulture Street, South Brisbane.
We’ll be singing the beautiful African songs performed by the choir at the Into Africa Festival and MDA’s End of Year Celebration in 2009, and …
For more information contact Joyce or Donna on 3337 5400 or email donnab@mdabne.org.au
Please click here to download the Flyer.
Celebrate Neighbour Day in Banyo
March 25, 2010
When: Sunday 28th March from 11am to 1pm
Where: Memorial Park, St Vincents Rd, Banyo (next to Library)
Activities include:
Halal food, Volleyball, Games
This event is proudly supported by Multicultural Development Assoc. Inc, the Burmese Rohingyan Association of Qld, Australia and Councillor Kim Flesser from Brisbane City Council.
For more information please call 3337 5400
Please click here to download the flyer in PDF
Football Team Managers Meeting
March 17, 2010
This is an important announcement for Football Team Managers for Football Tournaments for the World Refugee Day, Community Festival 2010.
We are pleased to announce that the World Refugee Day, Community Festival 2010 is on the 27th of June 2010.
The Qualifying Day for Football Tournament is on the 20th of June 2010 at Wynnum Wolves Soccer Club, Boundary Road, Tingalpa.
All finals for the World Refugee Day, Community Festival 2010 Football Tournament will be on Sunday 27th June 2010 @ Annerley Soccer Club
The Football Team Managers meeting will be held on the 18th of March 2010 at Metropolitan South Regional Office,
Level 1, 1993 Logan Road at 5:30pm.
Please click here to get the map.
You will receive important information about the tournament at this meeting.
Every TEAM must have at least one REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS MEETING.
For more information, please contact:
Jim Bellos
Sergeant
Cross Cultural Liaison Officer
Metropolitan South Region
Mobile: 0438 114 619
Fax: (07) 3849 0344
Email: Bellos.Dimitrios@police.qld.gov.au
International Human Rights Day
December 2, 2009
Please come and join the CSS team to celebrate Human Rights Day 2009.
Where: MDA Community Space ground floor
512 Stanley St South Brisbane
When: Thursday 10 December 2009
Time: 10.30am – 1pm
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by Monday 7 December to assist us with catering: email aydani@mdabne.org.au or phone 03 33375 400
We look forward to seeing you.
Click to download the International Human Rights Day flyer
New SAFE COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN RESOURCES
November 10, 2009
MDA has launched an innovative new range of resources for migrants and refugees about child safety in Australia. The resources are in five languages, and provide information to parents about the range of issues that arise from the interface between culture and child safety.
The resources are available as fact sheets on MDA’s website, as well as in booklet form and on DVD.
The booklets have been developed with the aim of communicating these sensitive topics in a culturally appropriate manner.
The booklets are available as a set of four:
- What is child abuse?
- What is neglect?
- Domestic violence and children
- Your family and Child Safety
The booklet sets are available in the following languages: English, Arabic (Sudanese), Dari, Kirundi and Swahili.
The DVD has been designed to cater the target communities’ needs with the use of visual and audio cues. It is available in Rohingyan, Arabic (Sudanese) as well as English.
A training manual has also been developed to complement the booklets and DVD. The training manual offers a range of strategies to better cater for the particular needs of migrant and refugee families.
Please feel free to contact Aydan on 07 3337 5400 or email aydani@mdabne.org.au if you would like to know more about the resources, or if your organisation is interested in purchasing the resources.