Shepparton’s diverse multicultural population will have access to a more comprehensive range of services thanks to a $150 000 grant to map the area’s multicultural communities and identify gaps in service provision.
Mrs Powell said the grant would fund the council’s Taking the Next Step project, which will allow greater collaboration between service providers and enhance service delivery.
“It will see them doing mapping of where some of the communities are in Shepparton, the facilities that are provided to them, the services that are provided to them, to see where there are gaps and duplication in services to the multicultural community,” she said.
Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District manager Chris Hazelman said the funding recognised the large number of different multicultural communities in the region.
“It’s very exciting for us — it will allow us to do strategic planning and mapping of what Shepparton needs,” he said.
“As a peak organisation acting on behalf of the community, we have to ensure the needs are being met and the services we provide are appropriate.”
Shepparton was one of the first of 11 peak multicultural organisations across Victoria to receive the funding, totalling $1.45 million.
“Shepparton has the highest amount of funding and that is in recognition of the amount of multicultural people that are here, and the great work that they do and the need for that mapping,” Mrs Powell said.
Chris Hazelman, Jeanette Powell, Maria Brown – Shepherd, Aleena Qazikhil, Andrea Foster and Attilio Borzillo
Article and image courtesy Shepparton News
