THANK YOU EVERYONE for your continued support throughout 2022, it has been another challenging year but with continued strong partnerships and collaborations it has also been very rewarding. On behalf of MFO Board, staff and volunteers we wish you a safe and enjoyable festive season and a very prosperous and healthy 2023 |
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GOLD COAST CHRISTMAS Festive Meal and Event Calendar Guide Where and when - Community lunches, dinners, family functions This list has been prepared from info provided by third parties – details subject to change. Please contact service provider to confirm details |
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Thank you to the incredible MFO staff who give so much of themselves to everything that they do and always have a positive proactive attitude. Thank you to the more than 65 active volunteers and students who support all our programs, events and projects. Thank you to all the organisations who have collaborated with us this year and supported our work and events. WE LOVE WHAT WE DO and we love to share our message of being a Leader of Positive Change promoting personal leadership by every single one of us so that together we can reduce violence and create a welcoming, safe and respectful city. Thank you to you the beautiful Gold Coast community that we are so proud to be a part of. A HUGE thank you to our volunteer Diana Lopez for this wonderful video. #2022 #LeadersOfPositiveChange #community #GoldCoast #Multicultural #Refugee #family #support #events #diversity #inclusion |
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MFO Leaders of Positive Change Dinner - Change Starts With Me It was a beautiful night of community celebration at the Southport Sharks, Gold Coast with nearly 600 attendees connecting and networking. Since 2017, MFO has hosted the Leaders of Positive Change Annual dinner to celebrate our multicultural community and promote the message of personal leadership when it comes to creating positive changes in our community |
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MFO Leaders of Positive Change Dinner - Change Starts With Me Special thanks to our guest speakers, Mr Lann Levinge for Welcome to Country, Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP Surfers Paradise LNP Shadow Minister for Seniors, Communities and Disability Services Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Assistant Commissioner QPS for South Eastern Region Mr Brian Swan, Senior Sargeant Debbie Phillips, Cornelia Babbage OAM, Lillan Nielson, Crossing Borders Project |
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Wonderful performances from Iranian Opera singer Shirin Majd, Year 9 student and Cultural Art Leader from St Hilda’s School Yanyan Zhang, local musician Obi Sun and our finale by the exciting Orana Dance Group. Appreciate the beautiful gifts presented to Queen Cornelia by our fellow GC multicultural leaders on the evening. Thank you for all your hard work in community over 2022 |
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Thanks to our MCs Rana and Kevin and Southport Sharks staff, MFO team for set up. Thanks to local, State and Federal Governments for your continued support. See you in 2023 Let's make IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE together! |
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Imposible is not a fact It is an opinion Muhammad Ali |
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HUGE THANK YOU FOR THE KIND DONATIONS FOR COMMUNITY New Life Church Robina New Life Care Christmas Project 2022 Baby Give Back Rise Up Share the Dignity Street Smart Sheridan Australia Good 360 Big W Friends with Dignity To so many others who gave unconditionally and donated food, presents and clothing BLESS YOU ALL |
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MFO wore orange on the 25th November which is International Day to End Violence against Women and standing against gender-based violence #OrangeTheWorld |
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SARA program hosted a “Paint and Connect” event in honour of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The theme of this year is UNITE, SARA Program and MFO encouraged service providers to spread the messages of unity toward gender equality and safety through artistic expression. SARA Program created an environment to acknowledge and embrace the organisations that are supporting our community against gender-based violence |
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The idea for this event was to recognise the effort that everyone of us put into supporting women and children who are escaping from violence and to acknowledge the strength and resilience of women who are going through this journey maybe with their kids or by themselves |
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25th of November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Historically, the date is based on the date of the 1960 assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic; the killings were ordered by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930–1961). In 1981, activists at the Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentros marked November 25 as a day to combat and raise awareness of violence against women more broadly; on February 7, 2000, the date received its official United Nations (UN) resolution. Be part of the orange movement! UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December) Our Multicultural Women’s group have a message for everyone today “end violence against women and children!” 25 of November is the international day for the elimination of violence against women and we want to send a message in our own languages “basta de violencia”, “parar a violência”, 停止, zaustaviti nasilje, itigil ang karahasan. How do you say “stop violence” in your language? #orangetheworld #16daysofactivism #endviolenceagainstwomen #16daysofactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence #saraprogram |
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I move quickly to the back room and get the keys from a rack and then go straight to Mohamed and pick up the blue folder which has my students for the day, but I already know my first and here she comes. Martha is a small woman. She came to Australia 5 years ago from Iraq, fleeing persecution. Martha has a young daughter. Her family was split up in the refugee camp and because of the pandemic, she has been unable to see them for years. Her usual smile has been replaced by a worried brow, which is understandable given that she will be doing her driving test in less than an hour. This is the third time she has gone for the test. After the last one she burst into tears. It was not the first time I had seen her do this; a month before she told me about the sudden death of her aunt in Iraq. She was Martha’s God mother and Martha was afraid that her two young boys would end up with no one because she could not go back and care for them. She felt so alone, so far from home. In case you haven’t worked it out, I spend 3 days a week as a volunteer teaching refugees and migrants how to drive. It’s in just a normal car; a Mazda 2. For all of my students, English is a second language. For some it is their first time behind the wheel of a car. It can be really scary. They come from everywhere and each one has their own story. Doctors, engineers, nurses and lawyers, all of whom cannot practice their profession in Australia. There are single mothers, domestic violence victims, and families split by war. Some have been tortured and others imprisoned for years, some have never had an education, but they all have one thing in common; they are so thankful to be here. You see they are just like me. They want the same sort of things. They love their children, they want to provide for them and keep them safe and they can do this here. They strive to learn the language and some are excellent at it and as soon as they can, they become citizens. They rarely complain and the joy they extrude as we drive the streets is infectious. I love every minute! I get to know them and share in their lives, their fears and their dreams as we drive around Southport together. I wait at the testing centre, apprehensive as ever, counting down the minutes until her return. The longer the better. Finally, I see her before she sees me, I can tell immediately the result. She rushes over and gives me a hug *Name changed to Martha for this story |
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Hello, my name is Lew. I am a fourth generation Australian whose family has lived in the Brisbane area for over 100 years. Five years ago, I retired after teaching in high school for 40 years, to take care of my father. When he died in 2020, I went looking for something to do but found I could not even get a job interview because of my age. The employment support officer told me about MFO and gave me a number to contact. The first voice I heard was Rana’s. She organized for me to come in and meet the Queen. At this interview they asked me if I would come in and join the team doing homework club which I did for the rest of the year. I was also asked if I could teach driving. Well I had taught my sons how to drive and being one who is up for a challenge, I said yes. So for the last 2 years I have enjoyed teaching many how to drive. Some get their licenses some don’t, but through it all we learn a lot and laugh a lot Why don’t you go and see Mohamed and come for a spin with me mohamed@mfo.org.au |
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MFO - MOVEMBER 2022 To all who donated over the month of November, our first target of $500 was reached in 2 weeks, it was extended to $1000 we reached $1085! Some moustaches were very impressive while some just wanted to give it a go to save a bro. It stirred up conversations about Men's Mental Health everywhere which was great to see. On behalf of the bros at Multicultural Families Organisation Inc. we would like to thank you all for your kind donations that will help fathers, brothers, sons, mates, colleagues, husbands nationwide. https://au.movember.com Check in with each other as we approach the festive season Thanks to Kevin Melo for leading the Mo(vement) this year |
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Our next MFO - SONSHINE Multicultural Men's social session will be January 11th from 5pm. Contact kevin@mfo.org.au or 0402448208 |
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A wonderful evening on the Gold Coast in November with Marcus Mission team. Thanks to the tireless passion and dedication all over Queensland by Glenn Wallwork, Gary Cooper and Jon Morgan. Appreciate the support on the Gold Coast from Wesley Mission QLD. Great to see individuals and communities showing their passion for Marcus Mission and valuing the importance of men supporting men through peer to peer mentoring. Contact Gary Cooper for more info on Men's Support Group on third Thursday of the month at Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club 0419 363 075 safeman1@bigpond.com |
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What a HUGE year that 2022 has been for the Multicultural Women’s Office supporting so many amazing women by providing them with a safe space to develop their skills, build their social network, set new goals and build their confidence so they can live the most fulfilling life possible Our WE EARN employment program has been a huge success providing so many women with all the skills they need to become job ready. We provided case management, mentoring, employment workshops, interview skills practice, English language support, computer skills and supported many of them to secure long term employment. The program will run again next year starting in March |
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We have shared special moments in our Multicultural Women’s Friendship Group and the Women’s Sewing Group, working on so many fun and creative projects together and building the social network of our local women. A HUGE thank you to all the amazing volunteers who assist us with running all these groups |
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We have celebrated women through various events including International Women’s Day celebration at MFO and cultural display at the Robina hospital. We have also shared important information with women at MFO’s Gold Coast Women’s Health Expo organised in collaboration with TAFE QLD Southport Campus |
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The Crossing Borders project provided a platform for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women to share their stories through a curated performance in partnership with one of the major Gold Coast arts festivals, Bleach* Festival. This project had far reaching impact where every single one of the 10 women felt truly heard, important and valued. Audience members were touched by the experience commenting to us how amazed they were at the women’s humour, strength and resilience in spite of their adversity. We also held a variety of training sessions sharing important information about the prevention of violence by providing a variety of workshops on the topics of diversity and inclusion, domestic and family violence, sexual violence and modern slavery *Rana A.M |
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MFO Social Inclusion and life skills has been building slowly over the year due. We are happy to announce the program has been extended for the next two years. All Abilities Touch team we work with have been developing both on and off the playing field this year. The team was once again asked to play in a feature spot on the local grand final day that was live streamed on Facebook. The team was also invited to be a part of the Tara Brown Touch of Love memorial fundraiser to raise much needed money and community awareness about domestic violence. The team had a great time and was supported by the community throughout the whole day. In November the team was invited to participate in the Qld Touch Football State Cup where the team played 5 other teams from across South East Qld and tied for 3rd place. CONGRATULATIONS! *Cassie H |
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We Connect Youth group is done for this school term! We would like to say thanks to all participants who made this term so fun! We had salsa dance lessons, photography workshops, water fights and BBQ! Looking forward for holiday activities 2023! |
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Welcome Pacific Pines SHS! MFO’s Manager Lillan Nielson visited Pacific Pines State High School to sign our ‘work-together-contract’ for 2023. We are really looking forward to coming back next year and start to put into reality the many ideas we have about supporting and making a difference for our community |
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This is a proud moment for the Youth Development Team. Wai Yin, Rick, Kevin M and Mirvat, supported by Lillan. WELL DONE! For more information about the Youth Team at MFO, email Wai Yin Naidoo, Manager, Youth & Community Development at homework@mfo.org.au *Kevin M |
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My name is Jake, I’m 25 years old and I’m currently working as a Forensic Engineer. I began with MFO around 7 years ago when I was at my first year of university. My volunteering journey began when I applied to become a tutor at the MFO Homework program where I had the opportunity to assist kids who needed help with their homework. I loved it. I felt that although I was assisting the kids with their homework (or becoming the UNO champion), that it was me who was growing through the experiences, and I really enjoyed contributing my time to assist kids who were struggling and building a rapport so they were comfortable to talk openly with me |
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Knowing the past, and present struggles these kids were enduring and being able to assist them with their future endeavours was truly rewarding. Following this, I assisted with school holiday activities, swimming classes, mentoring groups and MFO events including Queensland Day, Walk Together, and Multicultural Day + others. I had no idea what my journey would be like when I applied to assist with tutoring, but it has been one of the best decisions I have made. Every minute I have spent assisting MFO has been truly blessed. I can’t recommend this highly enough to anyone who is considering becoming a part of the volunteer culture at MFO. Unfortunately, my time with MFO is temporarily on hold as I travel to Canada to explore the world, but I look forward to continuing to assist the MFO when I return. “You have light and peace inside of you. If you let it out, you can change the world around you.” – Uncle Iroh For more information about the Youth Team at MFO, email Wai Yin Naidoo, Manager, Youth & Community Development at homework@mfo.org.au |
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“Southport’s largest mural - with and by local young people” MFO is proud to be part of "The Wall on Scarborough" project, where we worked together with other organisations and transformed the heart of Southport artistically |
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The first part of the project was two workshops at Street Uni where the lead artist Mystery taught creative skills and techniques to the young people, then the youth created their own drawings which came together as part of the final design. The local community was excited and grateful for the new creative hot spot in Southport. MFO would like to say thanks to the organisations that we literally worked shoulder to shoulder with: Monkey Conveyancing, YHES House, MFO, Anglicare (IBI), The Street University, MOB (Men Of Business) and GCYS (Gold Coast Youth Service) |
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Additional to the Wall Mural in Southport, another important collaborative project at Street University was celebrated in December with the launch of the ‘Voice Box’ video that was the culmination of some 6 months work between Qld Police (Co-Responder program), Noffs Foundation (Street Uni), Gold Coast Youth Service (Street CRED), Anglicare (Intensive Bail Initiative) and ‘Article One’ social media & promotion Team. Sam, Lana and Keenan played lead roles in building trust with young people to feel safe enough to share their important and powerful stories about some of the reasons for & impacts of chroming and substance use in our community |
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MFO was very happy to attend the latest Esuarve Graduation ceremony in which 17 young people (mostly from diverse backgrounds) were celebrated for completing the 10-week course |
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90% have either secured employment or further training opportunities & several spoke passionately about the incredible experience they have had becoming part of the Esuarve family |
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The first meeting of the re-established Qld Health Multicultural Mental Health Network was held at MFO in November. The meeting was hosted by Millie Magada, the new GH&HS Multicultural Mental Health Coordinator and over 30 people were in attendance with a further 5 people joining online. The next meeting will be held in March 2023 where important collaborative training opportunities will be discussed and promoted |
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MFO was pleased to attend the MCCGC Mixer event at Robina TAFE in December. This was a wonderful gathering in the spirit of MCCGC’s Meet Greet & Eat, to celebrate the importance of our diverse community. Young People from the Youth Advisory Group at MCCGC spoke about the great opportunities they have had to serve their community and grown their skills. MFO joins the MCCGC crew in wishing CAMS Worker Candice Sullivan, all the very best on her maternity leave for the birth of her second child! *Steve H |
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More Fantastic Opportunities |
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SQW Employment and Training 2022 was by far the biggest year ever for MFO’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) projects with an 18 week Paid Cert I Construction traineeship, 2 x 7 week Cert II supply chain classes, a 12 week Cert II Hospitality class and a 14 week Cert II Individual Support class being delivered. A total of 56 students enrolled into our class with a majority of those who completed training being placed into positions of employment. We have been busy planning for 2023 and hope to deliver the following courses in the new year: 18 week Paid Cert I Construction Course (12 trainees) 2 x 12 week Cert II Cookery Class (24 students) 2 x 7 week Cert II Supply Chain Course (28 students) 2 x 14 Week Cert III Individual Support in Aged Care/Disability
If you or anyone you know is looking to undertake some study or need help getting new skills to gain employment, please feel free to contact Nicole or Sebastian at MFO on 5571 0381 any time |
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What a fantastic year 2022 has been for MFO’s NDIS services with the number of clients doubling from the prior year. This is a testament to the great service and support that is offered by Sharee and Sebastian and the NDIS team and going the extra mile to make sure clients receive the care they need from support workers that they can connect with and relate. 90% of MFO’s NDIS client are from culturally diverse backgrounds and are supported by our culturally diverse workforce. Currently we have workers from Hungary, Italy, Ethiopia, Philippines, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Brazil, Ghana and also Multigenerational Australia born individuals. With such an amazing and diverse workforce and we are able to provide support to a wide range of individuals and support them not only in their daily lives but also to support them to engage in their cultural traditions and religious beliefs. It’s been an amazing year and we hope you can join us in our journey through 2023. Please remember if you or someone you know need any form of NDIS support or assistance or have any disability support questions, please feel free to call MFO any time of 5571 0381 and we will gladly do whatever we can to assist. |
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Highlights of the Year: *Sharee H In the past 12 months, MFO has seen the expansion of the NDIS space and have worked alongside our participants and celebrated in their personal achievements. I have also had the honour and privilege of assisting fellow MFO team members in facilitating and implementing their various programs and projects. Plans for 2023: To do what I do, to do it well and to get it done! |
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Adventures of "T" at 2022 Pan Pacific Masters - HOCKEY Players are from all across South East Qld including Mackay, Gladstone, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast representing multiple nationalities and sporting events. Congrats to Cassie super team manager! |
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MFO Multicultural Swimming Nights MFO Multicultural Swimming Nights at the Southport Aquatic Centre started on Thursday the 8th December and will run until the 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. MFO Multicultural Swimming Nights and on the following dates: December 8, 16 Jan 12, 19 February 2, 9 16 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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Migrants living in Australia may be able to access the Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot. Visit the Skills Assessment Pilots website: www.dewr.gov.au/skills-supportindividuals/skills-assessment-pilots |
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The annual free community event “Walk4Jack” is on again this year to remember the tragic loss of Jack Beasley to Knife Crime in Surfers Paradise in 2019. The current event will take place Sunday 11 December 2022 with a BBQ breakfast at 8am and a short walk around Damian Leeding Park at Oxenford. Brett and Belinda Beasley invite you to come along with your family and show your support and help raise awareness for youth crime and keep our kids safe in memory of their son. https://www.gofundme.com/f/mad-moves-for-jack?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome You are all invited and encouraged to attend to show the QPS support for this amazing cause. The Beasley Foundation is a Non Profit Foundation set up in loving memory of Jack to help make a difference by educating and drive change around youth violence and can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackBeasleyFoundation/ |
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Would you like to make a real difference? Become a Boots for One & All Community member! Please sign up or you can contribute any amount through the website. Boots for One & All Community is DGR Registered so all of your contributions are tax deductible! Boots for One & All Community is Gold Coast based and collect pre-loved football boots, sporting gear, clothing, sanitary items, and other donations, to send to the most rural parts of Australia for our Indigenous communities. https://bootsforoneandall.com.au/membership Boots for One & All Community |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign With the fourth wave of COVID-19 upon us, Brisbane North Primary Health Network have worked with 6 specific language groups – Dari, Hazaragi, Somali, Swahili, Tigrinya and Mandarin - to understand perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine for the Queensland community. The final product is 8 videos and one newspaper campaign. These were developed alongside community members, with their guidance, cultural and local knowledge and expertise. This is their voice and message to multicultural Queensland. You can view all videos on ECCQ’s YouTube channel here You can access and download the videos and newsletter campaign here: ECCQ COVID-19 Vaccine Campaigns. Please share the campaigns with your network, friends and community. #StrongerTogether |
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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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'Tis the season to Get Ready As we plan and prepare to enjoy the festive season, it’s important to consider the weather. Severe storms are common at this time of year, so, while you write your Christmas list, write your emergency plan and check it twice. If you are heading away on holidays don't forget, protect your home by: • regularly checking your roof to make sure it's in good condition
• keeping gutters, downpipes and drains clear
• securing loose items around your home
• learning how to safely turn off your power, water and gas
• ensuring your home, contents and car insurance is adequate and current Visit https://dashboard.cityofgoldcoast.com.au/ Click the 'Subscribe to Gold Coast Alerts' button |
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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 Will be closed Dec 16 - Jan 8
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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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