2023 brings a very cute addition to our extended MFO family, baby Zain. Congrats to Mohamed, one of our SETS Case Manager's (Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program) and his wife Nura for their beautiful bundle of joy. We are all so happy for you both, welcome little one. In a few years you can join Dad for beach volleyball. |
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Hola!!! My name is Diana Montoya, I am originally from Colombia. At the moment I am finishing my Diploma in Counselling and I was blessed enough to do my placement at MFO and SARA (Support Assessment Referral Advocacy) PROGRAM www.mfo.org.au/domestic-violence I have found beautiful people who dedicate their lives supporting Multicultural communities (MFO) as well as women who have experienced Domestic Violence (SARA). I can honestly say that some of these beautiful people have given me the inspiration to continue studying so that I can be of better help for others. On my last week at MFO, I would like to extend my gratitude to the SARA team and MFO for putting up with me. 😅 To lovely Sharee, who has been so patient and helpful with me and Cornelia who accepted me here and gave me the opportunity to join this amazing team🙏💕✨ |
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Holiday Activities 2023 Our MFO Youth team started the year off with some fun holiday activities. We went to the movies to watch the amazing universe created by director James Cameron in Avatar: The Way of Water filmed in NZ. What an amazing movie for all ages besides all the action there was great insight into family relationships, ocean and land environments. We enjoyed a silent disco on a cloudy but fun day at beautiful Coolangatta beach. Nothing is better than being near the water with a little bit of rain with friends and some pizza for lunch. Everyone is ready to go back to school! The MFO Youth team wishes the best to all our students in 2023 |
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Youth Programs are back in 2023 Homework Club are back from 30th of January at Broadbeach Library, 31st of January at Southport Library and 1st of February at Southport High from 3:15pm to 4:45pm. The team is ready to help primary and high school students with their homework We Connect Youth is back the 2nd of February at MFO offices from 3:30pm to 5pm. Our Social youth hub, activities, workshops and more awaits high school students at MFO For more information on Youth Team at MFO, email Wai Yin Naidoo, Manager, Youth & Community Development homework@mfo.org.au |
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MFO is very excited to be taking referrals in our latest program to support young people of the Gold Coast community. The Youth At Promise program or YAP as it will be better known currentlly has three part-time staff (pictured below) Kevin M our Youth Worker, Candice our Registered Psychologist & Steve our Manager of Mental Health & Wellbeing YAP is a free service for young people aged 12-24 years of age who are at risk of disconnecting from family, community and /or disengaging from education or employment and becoming caught up in the Youth Justice or Criminal Justice Systems To make a referral download the Referral form by clicking below, fill it out and email to yap@mfo.org.au or call us on 0450 390 025. You can also visit the MFO Website for information |
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Check out the new digital version of the Gold Coast Youth Info Card. Many thanks to Care for Life Suicide Prevention Network who produced the first edition and many updated versions over the last two decades The online version has a new name; Help Contacts for Gold Coast Young People. It has been developed through a working group (of the Gold Coast Youth Network) with feedback from GC young people The City of Gold Coast will print a re-designed and re-styled condensed Gold Coast Youth Info Card, to compliment this digital version www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Supporting-our-community/Young-people/Youth-support-resources |
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LEARNING & FRIENDSHIP Great to meet with Ben from U3A (University of the 3rd Age, a volunteer organisation that provides learning, physical and social activities in a friendly environment) Looking forward to future collaboration with MFO https://www.u3asoutherngoldcoast.org.au |
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I am in the middle of filling out a life changing application for my client at 9.30 in the morning. He is excited and anxious to make sure that he has all the right documents as after 4 years the time has finally come to apply for his Australian citizenship. My private phone rings. I ignore it, because I feel it’s disrespectful to take a phone call while I am with a client. However, the phone keeps ringing. I recognise the caller id. After the 3rd attempt I apologise to my client and I take the phone call. A trembling voice of a mother with broken English trying to explain that her daughter is missing. She explained that she received a text message from her daughter’s school, which said that she was not present at roll. Her daughter’s phone is off and cannot get hold off her. Mum did not know what to do next. I asked her to call the school to make sure it was not just a mistake or only missing at the roll call out. This happens to my own kids all the time. Especially, when they have before school activity, so I thought nothing of it. I put the phone down and settled back to my citizenship application front of me. The phone rang again a minute later. I knew if the child was at school my client would not call me back. I just had that feeling. Mum did not understand what the school was trying to explain to her. Her daughter was not in school. She never made it in the morning. My client overheard my conversation and acknowledged my worried face. Both of us knew that this was an emergency. He just said: “I come back tomorrow, you must go”. I was ever so grateful that he did not expect me to stay and carry on with his application. He was a father. He knew his application can wait, this cannot. I grabbed my phone, car key and my colleague Mohamed. We drove to the child’s school first to make sure there is no misunderstanding about her missing from school. When we got there the school refused to give us any information. We were desperate to know what was happening. They would not tell us anything without the mother being there. We drove to pick up mum who was staying home with a little one just in case her daughter comes home. We grabbed her and drove back to the school. In the meanwhile, mum managed to get hold off her daughter’s friend’s phone number. We rang her. She told us that her daughter is not in school, but they saw her in the morning at the school gate with someone. We tried to identify who she may be with or most likely skipping school with. The school was very confused about some kids whereabouts as they had an excursion that day |
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We were very worried. Mum kept saying that this is out of character. She would not do such thing. She would not be capable to leave school and go anywhere by herself. We drove to all the local parks, library, youth community services and coffee shops. This made me worried further. At this stage, school was no help whatsoever. We rushed to the local police station to report the missing child. As a mother of 3 teenagers myself, I understood the possibility of just her “wagging” school. Yet, I was screaming inside my head of the fact, that this was such a norm that nobody seemed to worry and care as much as I thought they should. Mohamed and I just knew that we needed to alert our community members throughout the GC. That meant to put a message out on Facebook, Instagram, and general text messages to all our clients at the settlement program. In 2 minutes, our phones rang. Few mums and their daughters informed us how they can see the whereabouts of the missing child on Snapchat. Mohamed and I rushed to the location, which was one of the biggest shopping centre's on the GC. We ran looked around but could not find her. We went back to Mum’s house to collect more information. By then, it was 3.30pm. And the missing daughter was at the doorstep sobbing. We were relieved. Yet, we wanted answers, but understood this was a family matter. We let the community know that she has been found safe and left the family to deal with this themselves. First, I would like to thank my client on the day for his understanding us running out of the door. I am extremely proud of our SETS (Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program) team. They always have empathy and time, they are ready to act immediately, whatever it takes. As we say, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”. We screamed that day, and the community heard us. We worked together and maybe saved an innocent life. But for most, we were there together when an individual was lost and needed help. Couldn’t be prouder of working with this amazing team at MFO. Renata |
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More Fantastic Opportunities |
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Our first intake of Cert III Individual Support students started the year strong by completing their final modules and moving into work placement. Here’s what come of the students have to say about the course. ”I really enjoyed the course and appreciate the support that was provided. They helped me find a job as well and helped me transition into a new career. Made a lot of friends that I still stay in touch with. It’s been nothing less than amazing. Thank you to everyone!” Bartolmeo Feliziani ”Thanks to the Certificate now I have regained self-confidence. Because I felt really surrounded and accompanied by Nicole from the MFO, always very attentive to the slightest stress and difficulties that I may have had throughout these weeks. The lessons were really very enriching and very well presented by a very nice teacher. Always present in the slightest difficulty. I was very pleasantly surrounded by a great multicultural group where I learned a lot. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for being there for me and I highly recommend this certificate” Sylvie Gueriaud |
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Enrolments are now open for our 2023 courses: Please contact Nicole from MFO on 0426636904 or nicole@mfo.org.au for more details or scan the QR code to register your interest. |
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MFO’s NDIS team would like to wish you all a happy new year and hope 2023 is full of positivity and prosperity. Last year MFO NDIS team welcomed many new individuals and we have been able to make many positive impacts on their lives and see firsthand the growth in their confidence and capacity and their motivated strive towards independence. In response to the growth for our disability services, MFO has just employed a Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Support Coordinator to support our new clients and ensure they are meeting their goals and receive the care and support they deserve. If you or someone you know is in need of disability supports, please do not hesitate to contact either Sharee 0424 994 058 (sc1@mfo.org.au) or Sebastian 0402 257 118 (sebastian@mfo.org.au) any time |
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MFO Multicultural Swimming Nights: February 2, 9 16 MFO Multicultural Swimming Nights at the Southport Aquatic Centre started will finish on 16th February. Free entry for swimming, starts at 5:30pm for everyone to swim in the public pool and the free swimming lessons for adult women in the indoor pool starts from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Come along and join in the fun. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while at the pool, and we have floaties for the kids and have extra lifeguards, staff and volunteers on hand to make sure the children are kept safe and have loads of fun. Why learn how to swim? Here on the Gold Coast, swimming in the pool or at the beach is a popular activity for families, so knowing how to swim and where to swim safely is very important! Safety Info | Surf Life Saving Queensland If you are not a client of MFO, please contact our office on 5571 0381 and register your details so we can put you on the list to attend. Hope you see you there at the next MFO Multicultural Swimming Night! |
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Students are back to school, so watch for children crossing the road and be aware of school zone speed limits. • Most school zones in Queensland operate between 7am–9am and 2pm–4pm, but in some areas they operate at slightly different times, and some split-campus schools also have an all-day school zone that applies between 7am–4pm. They are clearly sign posted. • Slow down, observe the speed limits and pay attention to your surroundings as you travel through school zones. • Please familiarise yourself with your child’s school drop off and pickup zones. Schools have designated areas to ensure the safety of their students for easy and safe movement abiding by their rules and procedures. • For more information on back-to-school road safety, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website at School road safety www.tmr.qld.gov.au/safety/school-road-safety |
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This full day event is a collaborative response to homelessness on the Gold Coast. For more info contact the dedicated team from Gold Coast Homelessness Network, email: admin@gchomelessnessnetwork.com |
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Don’t miss this special movie offer! Beat the heat and escape to the cool comfort of $5 Movies at the new Dendy Cinemas Southport for one week only! |
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MFO - SONSHINE Multicultural Men's social group will be February 1st from 5pm. Contact kevin@mfo.org.au |
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"FINDING HOME - Journeys of Hope"
For the past 23 years Multicultural Families Organisation has had the privilege of supporting thousands of refugee families settling on the Gold Coast. We have comforted them through their tragedies, and rejoiced with them through their celebrations. We have assisted them to adapt and thrive in their new country and have seen the incredibly valuable contribution that their vibrant cultures have brought to our beautiful city. These are some of their inspirational stories of strength, resilience and survival and their long journey to their new home on the Gold Coast. 100% of all proceeds of this book go back into supporting newly arrived refugees on the Gold Coast |
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Thank you so much for your support and generous donations. We are unable to accept any donations at present due to the large amount received over the holidays. We will advise when we can take donations again. We have a large amount of cultural wear, if interested please drop by and see the staff. #culturalwear #costumesale #freeculturaldress |
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Multicultural Families Organisation office in Southport Ring 5571-0381 for in person or phone appointment Please do not attend office if unwell, close contact or COVID positive Global Village Op shop open Monday to Thursday 10am - 3pm
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MFO 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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Crisis support In case of an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire or Ambulance. |
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