From the Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to the website of the Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) Inc (MRC). I hope that you find these pages informative and useful.
Established in 1979, the MRC is a non-government, non-profit organisation that has a volunteer Board of management. Amongst other Federal and State peak bodies, the MRC is a member of the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA), the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), the Mental health Council of Tasmania (MHCT) and is the only Tasmanian accredited member of the Forum of Australian Services for the Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT).
Our dedicated staff at the MRC assist with and provide responsive services and resources to promote the benefit and well-being of migrants and humanitarian entrants to the State, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. We also promote greater awareness of migrant and settlement issues to the wider community through various initiatives such as Cross Cultural Awareness Training.
The MRC consists of six program areas, Settlement, the Phoenix Centre, Connect (Employment Support Services), Frail Aged Programs, Home and Community Care and Administration. Settlement, the Phoenix Centre and Connect provide services to refugees and humanitarian entrants and work closely together by collaborating on program delivery, sharing information and event management.
The role of the Settlement team is to support individuals, community organisations and community groups to develop long-term independence. Seven of eight main projects in Settlement are: Housing Outreach, Top Gear/Second Gear, Youth Work, Justice Support, Immigration assistance, Case Management and Community Development. These programs are funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the eighth project Learning for Growth is funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund, this program delivers English classes to migrants at two different levels.
The Phoenix Centre was established in 1992 and is the Tasmanian member of the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT). A FASSTT agency is located in each state and territory of Australia. The Phoenix Centre provides a range of support services for people who have experienced torture and/or trauma prior to arrival in Australia. These services include counselling, advocacy, natural therapies, community development and education.
Connect, Employment Support Services is mainly funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to provide employment support services to refugee and humanitarian entrants to assistant them to gain employment outcomes.
The MRC's Frail Aged Programs offer a range of services including specialist training, community linkage and development, individual packages of services for Clients with complex care needs, support and advice to the residential care sector and input into State aged care service planning.
The MRC Home and Community Care (HACC) program provides services to HACC eligible Clients including frail elderly, younger people with disabilities and their carers. Most HACC Clients are from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
We remain thankful and appreciative to our funding agencies for their continued support of our important work. I would also like to acknowledge and recognise the Voluntary MRC Board of Management and all of our Volunteers who alongside our Staff are our most valuable resource.
Cedric Manen
Chief Executive Officer
Last Updated : 21-Nov-2011 03:50 PM
