The Australian Institute of Family Studies via the Child Family Community Australia has produced a set of resources for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families.
ABCD Parenting Young Adolescents (link is external)
Offers parent resources in Arabic, Macedonian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.
Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES)(link is external)
The Adult Migrant Education Services (AMES) is a major provider of English language and settlement services in Victoria.
Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) – Asylum Seekers and Refugees
The AHRC website includes a factsheet on the impact of bridging visas restrictions on asylum seekers, a section of questions and answers on immigration detention and human rights, and on asylum seekers, refugees and human rights. Links are also available to the range of AHRC work related to immigration, asylum seekers and refugees.
Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Inc. (AUSIT)(link is external)
AUSIT is a national association for the translating and interpreting profession.
Australian Multicultural Foundation(link is external)
The Australian Multicultural Foundation was established in 1988 as a legacy of Australia’s Bicentenary to: promote awareness among the people of Australia and the contribution for people from all cultures and the development of Australia; spread respect, tolerance and understanding between all cultural groups through any appropriate means; cultivate in all Australians a strong commitment to Australia as one people drawn from many cultures.
Brotherhood of St Laurence – Ecumenical Migration Centre (VIC)(link is external)
The EMC, established in 1962, is one of the oldest agencies of its kind in Australia. EMC works statewide and across ethnic, faith and language boundaries for the full participation of migrants and refugees and the development of Australia as a multicultural society. The Centre’s activities include:
- casework/counselling
- community development and organisational support for new and emerging communities
- service development and special projects across sectors
- policy analysis and advice
- information, action research and publications
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing(link is external)
The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing is a Victorian based organisation that primarily supports the aged care sector address the needs of elderly people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The organisation provides training, consultancy and translation services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities to better understand the aged care services available in Australia.
Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH)(link is external)
Agency that provides specialist information, training and support on cultural diversity and wellbeing. They also offer practical support and training to help organisations improve outcomes for culturally diverse clients and communities.
Centre for Refugee Research(link is external)
The Centre for Refugee Research holds a range of information about many aspects of refugee rights, refugee law, policy and service provision.
Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)(link is external)
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) site has information for workers on young people from different cultural backgrounds, including some great information sheets on newly arrived families.
Children and separation (Arabic) – MensLine Australia(link is external)
Mensline provides a national telephone counselling support service for men with family and relationship concerns. Communication materials that respond to the specific needs of Arabic men are provided at the above links. Materials are also available for Indigenous and young men.
Community Development Division – Tasmanian Government
Community Development Division Tasmania provides policy advice to Government on issues relating to multicultural affairs and has the role to ensure that appropriate and equitable services are provided to all Tasmanians, taking into account the State’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.
Community Information Summaries – Department of Social Services (DSS)
The Community Information Summaries describe the communities in Australia by country of birth, and their descendants who are living in Australia. These summaries present a broad range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. Most have a brief historical background on the community. The summaries are available for the first 100 countries of birth.
Community Relations Commission NSW (CRC)
The Community Relations Commission is the leading government agency supporting multicultural communities in NSW, it builds strong relationships with ethnic community groups and develops and fosters extensive networks throughout various communities through its programs and services. As such, the CRC is positioned to provide comprehensive advice to the government on multicultural issues.
Continuous Survey of Australia’s Migrants
The Department of Immigration and Border Patrol (DIBP) survey outcomes provide an evidence base for assessment of government policies and programs.
Diversity Health Institute Clearinghouse(link is external)
Provides a central access point for Australian multicultural health services, resources, research, training, and events.
Face the Facts: Some Questions and Answers about Indigenous Peoples, Migrants and Refugees and Asylum Seekers (2012)
Australian Human Rights Commission’s contribution to informed factual public debate about race, Indigenous peoples and cultural diversity in Australia. Publication provides information about Indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Families in Cultural Transition (FICT)(link is external)
Program under STARTTS, the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors. STARTTS undertakes research and provides training in related issues.
Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA)(link is external)
Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the national body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. FECCA’s role is to advocate, lobby and promote issues on behalf of its constituency to government, business and the broader community.
Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT)(link is external)
The Forum of Australia Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) is a network of Australia’s eight specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma who have come to Australia from overseas. There is one FASSTT member agency in each state and territory of Australia.
Foundation House(link is external)
The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. (also known as Foundation House) develops publications and resources to enhance the understanding of the needs of people from refugee backgrounds among health and other professionals, government and the wider community.
Immigration Museum – Melbourne(link is external)
The Immigration Museum re-creates the real-life stories of migrants to Australia with a mix of moving images, personal and community voices, memories and memorabilia.
Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHMA)(link is external)
The MHiMA project is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health, to provide a national focus for advice and support to providers and governments on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
Migrant Resource Centres
Migrant Resource Centres (MRC) exist in many cities and towns throughout Australia. Use a search engine or directory to find your nearest MRC.
Multicultural Affairs Queensland
Multicultural Affairs Queensland is a branch of the Queensland Governments Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. It works to strengthen multiculturalism by providing advice on multicultural issues, coordinating multicultural policy development and planning and promoting positive community relations.
Multicultural Communities Council of SA (MCCSA)(link is external)
The Multicultural Communities Council of SA is the peak organisation that services and advocates for CALD communities in South Australia.
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH)(link is external)
A women’s health organisation committed to improving the health of immigrant and refugee women around Australia.
Multicultural SA
Multicultural SA is the agency responsible for advising the Government on all matters relating to multicultural and ethnic affairs in South Australia. Multicultural SA is part of the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.
National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)(link is external)
The national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia. NEDA is a community based, non-government organisation funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Office of Multicultural Interests – Western Australian Government
OMI supports the development of State Government policies and programs to promote multiculturalism and improve services to Western Australians from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
Parenting between cultures: the primary school years manual (PDF 2.9 MB)(link is external)
A program for parents from culturally and linguistically diverse communities produced by the Marymead Child and Family Centre.
Parenting in a new culture: the preschool years (PDF 638 KB)
Produced by the Northern Migrant Resource Centre
Refugee Council of Australia(link is external)
The Refugee Council of Australia is a non-profit peak organisation. It provides information on and advocacy for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia on behalf of its 100 organisational members and many individual members.
Separation – looking after yourself (Arabic) – MensLine Australia(link is external)
Mensline provides a national telephone counselling support service for men with family and relationship concerns. Communication materials that respond to the specific needs of Arabic men are provided at the above links. Materials are also available for Indigenous and young men.
Settlement Reporting Facility – DIBP
The Settlement Reporting Facility utilises the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s Settlement Database with statistical data on permanent arrivals to Australia since January 1991.
The Settlement Database brings together data from various internal and external sources to assist government and community agencies involved in the planning and provision of services to migrants. The settlement database can also be of use to researchers or members of the general public.
See also Settler Arrival Tables
Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre(link is external)
Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre caters for the needs of newly arrived and established migrants and refugees. The Centre has developed settlement service packages specifically tailored to meet the on-arrival and longer term settlement and integration needs.
The Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP)
The Diversity and Social Cohesion Program is an Australian Government, Department of Social Services initiative that evolved from the ‘Living in Harmony’ program which was established in 1998. The primary objective of DSCP is to help not for profit community organisations turn plans into reality to promote respect, fairness and sense of belonging for everyone. DSCP has a small grants program to support multicultural arts and festivals.
The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia
Data on the outcomes of three groups of migrants, those who:
- arrived in Australia between September 1993 and August 1995 (LSIA 1)
- arrived in Australia between September 1999 and August 2000 (LSIA 2)
- either arrived in Australia, or were granted a permanent visa in Australia between December 2004 and March 2005.
Translating & Interpreting Service (TIS National) – DIBP
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to provide interpreting services for people who do not speak English and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
The Victorian Multicultural Commission is an independent statutory authority that provides independent advice to the Victorian Government to inform the development of legislative and policy frameworks and the delivery of services to the culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse society.
Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH)(link is external)
The VTMH is a statewide unit which supports area mental health and psychiatric disability support services in working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers and carers throughout Victoria.
