Celebrating diversity

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) celebrates cultural diversity and is committed to providing access to all our programs for all Victorians.

We believe in strengthening families and providing services that cater to community needs. We understand that traditional family structures are diverse. Our staff endeavour to work with members of diverse communities to provide information and assistance on a whole range of family issues.

In collaboration with many organisations across the state, we coordinate workshops, forums, meetings, networks and support groups to meet the growing needs of Victoria’s multicultural community.

We are committed to providing access to our services for both established and emerging migrant communities in both metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Celebrating diversity flyer

Programs

RAV centres are undertaking a variety of programs and activities:

•  Berwick FRC (Family Relationship Centre) will work in collaboration with the Springvale Community Aid & Advice Bureau, the Migrant Resource Centre and the Afghan Centre for Victoria in 2010 to develop community engagement projects for the Sudanese and Afghan communities in the south eastern region.

•  Cranbourne Centre in collaboration with the Springvale Community Aid & Advice Bureau and the Springvale Indo-Chinese Mutual Assistance Association. facilitates support groups for Sudanese men (brochure in English &  Arabic), Vietnamese men (brochure in English & Vietnamese) and Afghan men. Men's migrant support groups brochure

•  Croydon Centre will broaden access to its men's program with a particular focus on established migrant men. Men's group - RAV Croydon brochure.

•  Greensborough FRC (Family Relationship Centre) has a dedicated Community Liaison Officer who engages with both the migrant and Indigenous communities. The centre has also appointed a Somalian Community Liaison Officer to build links with the local Somalian community, in particular to work with the Somalian Elders in the Northern suburbs. This initiative complements the work being undertaken by the centre to develop a family dispute resolution model that meets the community's needs. In addition, the centre provides information sessions to many different cultural groups on the role of FRCs and the wider service system.

•  Melbourne FRC (Family Relationship Centre) has a working relationship with the Brotherhood of St Laurence through the Ecumenical Migration Centre. The two centres work together to meet the needs of humanitarian entrants and refugees from the Horn of Africa to ensure that clients receive culturally appropriate support at all times.

•  Shepparton Centre runs the program “People Talking – Expression through Creativity” that provides an opportunity for newly arrived migrants to connect with people from the broader community through creative activities, enabling the sharing of stories and experiences.

•  Sunshine Centre runs a successful Men’s Behaviour Change Program, which actively works with men from diverse backgrounds - Men's group - RAV Sunshine brochure. In 2010, the centre will run a specific Vietnamese speaking Men’s Behaviour Change program in Footscray in collaboration with several other organisations.

•  Sunshine FRC (Family Relationship Centre) has delivered an interactive series of education and information sessions titled “Parenting - a Shared Approach” to the Vietnamese community. The centre has also translated in Vietnamese the Brimwest Early Intervention Services (EIS) brochure, which supports the programs provided by the Brimwest EIS consortium. Brimwest EIS brochure - translation in Vietnamese.

•  Traralgon Centre, in partnership with Latrobe Community Health Service and Gippsland Multicultural Service, co-facilitates a weekly Sudanese Women’s sewing group in Morwell. The centre also runs a Sudanese Men’s Group which meets fortnightly to assist with information on how to access employment and other services. This group is run in partnership with Gippsland Multicultural Service.

Ballarat, Greensborough and Kew Centres are focusing on expanding their work to reach established migrant communities and international students in their region, with new initiatives to be launched in 2010.

For more specific program information, please contact the centre closest to you.

Resources

RAV corporate profile - Greek, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi.

Harmony Day

RAV supports Harmony Day 2010.

The key message of the day is "Everyone Belongs" and Harmony Day is about community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. 

Listen to a boy describe what Harmony Day is.

Hear the Harmony Day Song

Take a few moments to listen to what Harmony Day means to five Australians.
What people say about Harmony Day

RAV Harmony Day fesitivities in Darebin
RAV, in partnership with the Darebin African Resource Centre, will celebrate Harmony Day on Sunday 21 March with festivities for the local African community in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Harmony Day Flyer
View Media release