Tag: employment opportunities

Monkami Luncheon – Introducing Alarming Art

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The Monkami Centre is located in Croydon and is a not-for-profit disability services provider for people with intellectual disabilities.  The Centre has a strong emphasis on empowering its clients and provides a range of educational, employment and community development activities.

This afternoon I attended a luncheon organised by the Monkami Centre to provide an introduction to their latest project, ‘Alarming Art’. The project includes the transforming of the former Croydon Fire Station into a community art space, featuring artwork from Monkami’s clients and other artists.

Today’s lunch also provided an opportunity for Monkami to discuss their other projects, including volunteer and employment opportunities that exist for their clients. These projects are critical in demonstrating that people with intellectual disabilities can contribute positively to our community and I commend Monkami for its emphasis on developing and enhancing the skills of its clients.

An official launch of Alarming Art is planned for 6.30 pm on Thursday the 14th of October at the former Croydon Fire Station, 14A Croydon Road in Croydon.

Sharing cuisine with Maroondah’s Sudanese Community

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In recent years the City of Maroondah has become home to refugees from Sudan, who have settled into the municipality to start a life within Australia. This evening, Maroondah’s Sudanese community prepared a traditional Sudanese meal to share with the Maroondah community, with the aim of bringing bring people together and to discuss common challenges facing people in the municipality.

Like many people within our community, Maroondah’s Sudanese population is finding it challenging to secure housing and employment opportunities and there is a need for all levels of government to work together in providing a diverse range of employment and housing options.

As the Mayor of Maroondah, I have assisted in the Sudanese community in establishing a dialogue with Central Ringwood Community Centre, with the aim of providing a meeting space for their community and thus encourage civic participation within the municipality.

While solutions to housing and employment focus on State and Federal Governments, local government can support this through delivering on a vision for the municipality. For example, the Ringwood Central Activities District aims to create a diverse range of employment opportunities and this will need to be reinforced through a range of housing types and community facilities.

I welcome Maroondah’s Sudanese community and thank them for the meal they have shared with the Maroondah community. The food, included lamb and cous cous with members explaining the different range of cuisines that exist within Sudan.

Southern Sudanese Christian Welfare Association Annual General Meeting

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The Southern Sudanese Christian Welfare Association was formed by members of the Sudanese community to provide support for Maroondah’s Sudanese migrants.  The organisation not only provides peer support but holds cultural events to create a sense of community and provide opportunities to learn about Sudanese culture.

Today’s meeting elected committee members for the next twelve months and provided an update on the organisation and its objectives.  While housing and employment challenges remain and will require a coordinated approach across all levels of government, the Association has been successful in holding cultural events and promoting the need for social inclusion and opportunities.

It is imperative that  Maroondah’s Sudanese community is able to find suitable housing and employment opportunities so that these newly arrived migrants and their families are able to reside within the municipality.