Migrant Support Services

	Migrant Support Contact	Multicultural Mothers Morning Group (MMM)	Orange Filipino/Australian Cultural Club
	Anni Gallagher (full time) and Carmel Dunn (part time) 79-81 Kite Street, Orange. Ph: 02 6393 8600 Fax: 02 6393 8604  Mob: 0409 458 156 Email: agallagher@orange.nsw.gov.au or cdunn@orange.nsw.gov.au	Ms Seini Fosio Ph: 02 6361 4883	President: Julie Egea ph 02 6362 2851 Vice President: Jovie Bargwanna ph 02 6362 9460.

Orange City Council's Migrant Support Officer (full time) is funded through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). The Assistant Migrant Support Officer (part time) is funded through the Community Relations Commission (CRC).

These two staff provide information, referral and individual casework to newly-arrived and socially-isolated migrants living in the local government area of Orange with outreach services to Cabonne, Forbes and Parkes Shires.

Drummer, Bollywood dancers to feature in local Harmony Week

A series of multi-cultural music workshops, dance events and concerts will be the highlight of Harmony Week in Orange this month, as the Orange Regional Conservatorium becomes the venue for events.
Under the theme ‘A Week in Harmony’, the annual celebration of Australia’s diverse cultures will be held in Orange from 18 March 2013, will all events at the Conservatorium, at 73a Hill Street, Orange.
The Orange Regional Conservatorium in partnership with the Migrant Support Service of Orange City Council and NSW Regional Arts, are hosting a series of workshops each day led by local and visiting Artists in a range of cultural themes including:

• • African Djembe drumming,
• • a multicultural singing group,
• • Indian percussion and ‘Bollywood’ dancing,
• • Chinese piano and vocals and
• • an Aboriginal group with didge playing and vocals.

 You can download the Harmony Week Work Application Form here. (335 K)

You can hear the latest news about Orange Migrant Suport Services by liking their Facebook page here.

  You can download the latest December 2012 Newsletter here.

The Migrant Support Service aims are to provide:

• Information, referral and casework services for migrants, dependants of skilled migrants and refugees of up to 5 years residence in Australia
• Community support through information sessions and group development
• Support for, and partnership with, providers to ensure their awareness of settlement needs; facilitation of cultural awareness training throughout the year
• Engaging Culturally and Liguistically Diverse (CALD) community members in capacity building and integration into the community
• Specific assistance to Sudanese community members with up to 5 years' residency

Migrant Support Brochure  (147 kb)                                        Multicultural Directory  (54 kb)

Orange Multicultural Network (OMN)

Network meetings are held twice during each school term at the Community Information and Services Centre, 79-81 Kite Street, Orange between 10.30am and 12 noon. Dates for 2012 are 21 February, 13 March, 8 May (10.30am to 1.30pm), 19 June, 21 August, 18 September, 16 October and 20 November.

February 2012 newsletter  (534 kb)

Migrant and Refugee Mentoring

Community volunteers are trained by TAFE in mentoring, then offered cultural awareness before linking with families to provide social and emotional support in settling into the community. The program is beneficial to both parties.Multicultural Mothers Morning Group (MMM)

Multicultural Mothers Morning Group (MMM)

Meets every Monday morning during term time, usually at the Orange Family Support Centre, 211 March Street, Orange. However, a varied program does include other venues. Children are welcome.

Regional Multicultural Interagency

The Interagency will meet: 15 February in Bathurst, 8 May combined with OMN in Orange, 15 August in Dubbo and 21 November in Lithgow. Contact Anni or Carmel for venues.

Orange Filipino/Australian Cultural Club

This group practices traditional Filipino dances and songs and performs regularly in Orange. In addition there are links with the Filipino Martial Arts School.

Other Services

Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) officers visit the Central West twice per year and are available for appointments by phoning 6393 8600. Direct contact with DIAC is available on 131 881.

Translator Interpreter Services (TIS) phone 131 450

Migration Agents from Northern Settlement Services, Newcastle (previously known as the Migrant Resource Centre) are available for telephone consultation on 1800 813 205.

Interviews are held in Orange once per year usually in May.

If you have any questions about family migration, permanent residence, Australian citizenship or other immigration related matters, consider using the opportunity to speak to a qualified officer. First consultation is FREE and then there are scaled charges according to income levels.

Postal address: 8 Chaucer Street, Hamilton, NSW  2303

More on-line Resources :

www.citizenship.gov.au

www.immi.gov.au

www.immi.gov.au/tis

www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au

www.mmha.org.au