History of Migrant Resource Centre
The History of the Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) Inc
Migrant resource centres were born out of changing Federal government policy in the 1970s towards multiculturalism. In 1977, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser commissioned a report into a review of the changing needs of newly arrived migrants to Australia. The report Migrant Services and Programs: Report of the Review of Post-Arrival Programs and Services for Migrants [or the Galbally Report] was presented to Prime Minister Fraser in April 1978. Copies of the report were presented in Arabic, Dutch, English, German, Greek, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.
A total of 57 recommendations were made which included an increase of expenditure in areas such as immediate settlement, education and the teaching of English. A need for greater support for older migrants was also recognised, including assistance given to those willing to care for elderly relatives at home and that organisations accommodating older people should specialise in providing environments more acceptable to ethnic groups. The report also recommended that Migrant Resource Centres be established as incorporated bodies, consisting of representatives of local ethnic communities and many levels of government.
The Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) Inc. (MRC) was founded in March 1979 by a Steering Committee. Among those present at the first meeting were members of the Good Neighbour Council. Four past or present Good Neighbour Council State Council members were appointed to the Migrant Resource Centre Steering committee. Nationally, Migrant Resource Centres were to take over migrant assistance services from the Good Neighbour Councils after the Federal government’s change in migrant policy from assimilation and integration to multiculturalism.
The first Board of Management included: Tjipke Joustra (Chairperson), Linda Denton (Vice-Chairperson), Frans Sakul (Treasurer) and Helga Sander (Secretary). Board Sub-Committee members were Linda Denton (Welfare), Norachi Thavisin (Library) and Frans Sakul (Publicity). Committee members were Allenby Salter, Oscar Minari, Ruth Burejeff, Draga Port, Maria Vialle, Bruce Hartney, Karle Underwood (Tasmanian Office of Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs representative (OMEA)), Marshal MacKay, Vu Thaow and Norachi Thavisin.
The first Coordinator was Allan Gregson followed by Elizabeth Liew and the first receptionist was Helga Sander; Raija Heffernan started as receptionist in 1982 and continues to work at the MRC today. The MRC was first temporarily located in a Sandy Bay flat. The first official premises were on the first floor of the Mundy’s Meats building on 222 Elizabeth Street, which it occupied from 1979 to 1988. The MRC moved to 81 Murray Street from 1988 to 1990, 138 Bathurst Street from 1990 to 1994 and finally to its current premises of 49 Molle Street in 1994.
The founders of the MRC were determined to provide a suitable location for a multicultural community centre; accommodating community groups, elderly social clubs, a drop-in centre and MRC staff. The centre would provide information and library services to Clients and non-MRC Clients, meeting rooms, equipment hire, administrative services and support to staff and Client communities.
The MRC’s first Clients were of various age groups including those previously assisted by the Good Neighbour Council, new arrivals, overseas students, temporary residents, refugees and asylum seekers. The first communities to connect with the MRC were established and new migrant and refugee communities. Clients came from the following countries:
Europe
Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Asia
China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam.
Middle-East
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey (including Kurdish people).
Americas
Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru and United States.
Africa
Algeria, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, the Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Oceania
New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa
Amongst the first programs to be started by the MRC were welcoming functions, English language classes and Home and Community Care (HACC). As time passed and more migrant communities were introduced to the MRC and services were created and extended to accommodate their needs.
Some past programs and projects the MRC delivered include: the Brighton Safe Haven a project established by the Federal government to accommodate and assist Kosovo refugees in 1999, AfriTas a project to aid the establishment of African managed businesses, the Refugee Men’s Club, the International Chess Club and the Young Women’s Cultural Club.
For up-to-date information on our current programs, please refer to our 2010-2011 Annual Report.
Last Updated : 21-Nov-2011 09:51 AM
