Another very busy and trying year comes to an end, but before we turn our focus to 2022, MFO is looking forward to hosting you from 11am at the beautiful Broadwater Parklands, Great Lawn, Gold Coast. Thanks to Queensland Government for supporting this event. Let's farewell 2021 together. Have a safe and enjoyable festive time. Welcome to Country to start the day by Lann Levinge is followed by MFO Director Cornelia Babbage OAM who will share with us her 2021 experiences in community service. Special guest speaker Mr Habib Jamal President of Islamic Council of Qld and recipient of 2021 Qld Multicultural awards - Multicultural Sector Outstanding Achiever. He has led several innovative projects all designed to unify and support Queensland’s diverse Muslim communities, particularly throughout the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Performances by Kikaro Maori, Gold Coast Tweed Pipes and Drums with Scottish Bagpipes, Dancers from Africa, India, Hungary, Afghanistan, China, Cook Islands, Latin America, Hawaii, Cuba, Indonesia, and Lebanon will follow. Lots of free fun activities for the whole family to join in with. A vaccination hub will be there as well for those wanting to receive their COVID jab. SES, Qld Police and Surf Lifesaving will be there along with Gold Coast City Council with key information especially for fire, storm and flood season upon us. Over 50 cultural stalls, food trucks will also be there. We have a signed Gold Coast Titans player jersey to giveaway and AFL Qld are providing giveaways and activities throughout the day. We will have copies of the amazing FINDING HOME booklet available to purchase. Check out the live streaming and fun posts! Come get a selfie with the vibrant Global performers to send to your families all over the world, they will be dressed in traditional costumes. Global Village Festival takes its name from the Op Shop at MFO where clothes, footwear and more is donated and sold to community at bargain prices. Money goes to supporting families in need and those experiencing domestic and family violence. Take care, bring a hat, shade, mat and sunscreen, see you Saturday! |
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Multicultural Families Organisation office in Southport will be closed from 23 December 2021 and reopen 10 January 2022. For emergency matters pls contact director@mfo.org.au or text 0406759188. | | |
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I’m Magali, born in Barcelona, Spain. I’ve been travelling the world since 2015, just after quitting my job, as a lawyer in Spain. I arrived to Australia just before Covid hit, after travelling a bit through the big island I decided to settle in the Gold Coast. Once settled, in October last year I started a Masters in Equity and Equality in cooperation projects, and in order to get involved with different communities and to know more about women’s rights and circumstances in this part of the world I started to browse around for an internship or a volunteering position in an organisation, and that’s how I found Multicultural Families Organisation. To be honest is not because I need the experience for my studies, it is more about me learning about another cultures and getting involve with different communities, get to know the people in this country and learn from professionals in this sector. Finding MFO has been a real match. I started at the end of April beginning of May… I’ve been helping managing some social media platforms, organising events, anything that I’ve been asked for. One day I received a call, Rana, who I consider a great professional and an inspiration, called me when I just have left the supermarket after my weekly grocery shopping, I fondly remember that day, that moment and that phone call. She asked me if I wanted to be part of a project called Crossing borders; she mentioned that more women from different backgrounds will be joining… before Rana could say any more words I instantly said.. yes, I am in, count on me! I didn’t know to what I signed up into. This has been a life changing experience for me in a very positive way. I went to the first session knowing that I had to bring an object with me, not a random object, but a meaningful one. So I took my travelling backpack with me, a little story on my mind so I could tell to the group why I chose this object… that was the first day, first session and while waiting for my turn, while listening to one of the women’s stories, I broke into tears. Couldn’t stop myself from crying. Not because of the story itself but because the way she told her story, how confident, determined and strong she was while telling her story. |
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Not because of the story itself but because the way she told her story, how confident, determined and strong she was while telling her story.In that instant I realised the magnitude of this project and made me feel an hypocrite for willing to tell a story that it wasn’t completely true … it was just one version of the story with a lot of make up on, not my true self. I thought it wasn’t fair for the group… it wasn’t fair for the project. That day I didn’t tell my story. Second session, I took my backpack again and went to the group with the honest version of the story about myself and the object. That was the first step, not only for me but for all of us, finding the courage to be honest and share part of our lives that have been tough, not pretty… not easy to hear, but true. And that’s what we did for the rest of the sessions, through different workshops Rosie - CEO of Placemakers Gold Coast- guide us to find the version of the story that would be good for an audience and most importantly safe for us. Her patience and her knowledge has been outstanding. We learnt about trusting the process, tops and tails, eye contact, passing the clap… we cried, we laughed, we supported each other and we got stronger every single week, we gained confidence about our own stories and about ourselves. We also learnt how powerful storytelling can be… and on the event day we definitely took control in an empowered kind of way. We rocked it! This journey has been amazing, I am truly honoured to had had the opportunity to work with Olga, Salma, Sara, Agness, Namratta, Rachelle, Roselle, Samira, Tina, Omnia, Rana, Mirvat and Rosie, and be in this project and this experience with all of them. We all have experienced stereotyping and discrimination against women and all of us have experienced at least one type of violence, structural, physical, sexual, psychological… our stories are a reflection of a reality women are experiencing everyday, all of our struggles, fights and triumphs. Our stories matter because every single story of every single person matters. Thank you Magali for this article and for your voluntary work with MFO social media posts and promotions. Thank you all for sharing CROSSING BORDERS at HOTA with us #Queensland Women #investinginqldwomen #OrangeTheWorld #16daysofActivism2021 |
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Thank you to the amazing HOTA staff for hosting so many events and activities in collaboration with MFO. From our Homework Club visits, Scattered People movie premiere, Crossing Borders project and so much more. We look forward to working with HOTA again in the new year and beyond. | | |
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| | Sebastian and Sharee from MFO’s NDIS Services team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you and your family have a great time over the Christmas holidays. It’s been a busy year for MFO and we have welcomed many new people to the MFO family and we hope to welcome many more next year. MFO’s disability services continue to grow as we provide a wide variety of services such as Support Coordination, Plan Management and a wide variety of service for inside and outside the home. Remember if you or someone you know needs a caring, supportive, culturally sensitive disability service provider then please contact MFO on 07 5571 0381 and ask for Sharee or Sebastian. | | |
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| | Skilling Queenslanders for Work MFO was successful in securing Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) funding for next year with 3 Certificate programs on offer. We will be running the following programs throughout the year: - April 2022 - Certificate 1 in Construction for 12 students, This is a paid traineeship as you learn essential skills for employment in the Construction Industry. We will have a focus on Painting and Decorating as there are many employment opportunities in this industry.
- February 2022 - Certificate 2 in Logistics for 28 students. This is for logistics and warehousing roles.
- March 2022 – Certificate 2 in Hospitality. This course will guarantee employment in house keeping roles, however there are opportunities to take your hospitality career in your own direction.
These courses are free to participate and most people are eligible to enrol. To register your interest and check eligibility, please contact Sebastian on 07 5571 0381 or email sebastian@mfo.org.au. | | |
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“Change starts with Me” What a fantastic turn out for LEADERS OF POSITIVE CHANGE 2021 held at Southport Sharks in November. Reconnecting, networking and sharing about the past year. We look forward to 2022 and wish you all a very safe and prosperous new year. | | |
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| | We have reached the end of the year and the end of the youth anti-discrimination program for now. We are so grateful to have met close to 1000 students in 9 different schools on the Gold Coast, discussing multiculturalism, stereotypes, human rights, laws and most importantly, how to be a leader through active bystandership. The core message: we can all be leaders of positive change, “Change Starts With Me!” | | |
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| | Screen Printing on Paper at HOTA with local Artist Sam, was our last Fun creative session yesterday for 2021. Sincere thank You to Renate from HOTA, local artist Sam, Debbie and Sophie to make it happen for our Group. Thank you to the students schools, parents and our MFO Homework team. what a busy year it has been! If you are interested in our Youth Programs for 2022 please contact our Youth Coordinator Wai Yin on homework@mfo.org.au Don't forget from Dec 13th, Wesley Mission in collaboration with City of Gold Coast have free activities in 7 community centres. Click below for details. Ages 12-17 yrs. | | |
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| | Thank you Paulie , Gold Coast Touch for having MFO as part of All Abilities Touch this year. Here we are at Finals, wishing everyone safe festive season. MFO delivers a FREE Social Inclusion and Life Skills program across the Gold Coast. Contact our Life Skills program coordinator Cassie Hicks on 0401 533 661 for more information on activities, locations and times. | | |
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| | MFO “SONSHINE” Multicultural Men’s social group will be attending “Walk 4 Jack” a Community Event at Damian Leeding Park, Oxenford. Bring your families and friends along for breakfast and join in. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2021 from 8am breakfast followed by 9am Walk, gold coin donation, wear green or purchase a shirt on the day. "LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT A KNIFE" | | |
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| | MFO was proud to support TE MAEVA NUI 2021 in Logan with stunning photography on the day. Attendees from Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast came to witness Cook Islands music, culture and food, live on stage. Congrats to CICQ, all involved in front and behind the scenes. See the wonderful moments captured by The Creative Mane. Click on photo for Cook Islands news article. | | |
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| | Cornelia and Rana attended a fabulous event hosted by Annastacia Palaszczuk MP and Meaghan Scanlon MP at the convention centre - the Premier’s Women on Boards Event. There were many inspirational speakers encouraging women to #getonboardqld and for business to provide opportunities support women to get on board. | | |
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Please be aware of Scams at this time of year, MFO is encouraging everyone to start a conversation about scams to reduce stigma and help people recognise a scam sooner, or prevent scams from happening in the first place. Visit the office at 7 Short St, Southport or click below on link. | | |
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The call for a PCYC in the Ormeau-Pimpama-Coomera region has broad community support including, the City of Gold Coast, Police, Educators, local community groups such as the Rotary Club of Ormeau-Pimpama and local residents. | | |
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Check out the City of Gold Coast website. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter on what's happening on our beautiful Gold Coast. | | |
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How you can support our work at MFO? - Do some shopping at our Global Village Store Op Shop
- Make a tax deductable donation to our charity
- Purchase our book “Finding Home – Journey’s of Hope” for $20
- Donate food vouchers for people in need
- Follow us and share our information on social media YouTube, Facebook & Instagram
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We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Kombumerri People of the Yugambeh Language Region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging on this land we work and provide services. We extend respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture, community and country. | | |
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