Media Statement - 10th November 2007
Labor’s Shadow Minister for Immigration, Tony Burke and Labor Candidate for Stirling, Peter Tinley today announced a $1 million contribution towards building a Multicultural Centre in Mirrabooka.
The centre will be built on land allocated in the redevelopment of Mirrabooka and the City of Stirling will auspice the proposed centre.
Mr Burke said that a Rudd Labor Government was committed to ensuring that newly arrived migrants are given as much support as possible to allow for easy integration into the community.
“This multicultural centre in Mirrabooka, an area that has a high intake of newly arrived migrants, will provide an important range of services.
“First and foremost, english language classes are the starting point for most families wanting to become part of our multicultural society. The current government’s program is inadequate for this important integration step and follow on language classes will become a priority at the new centre in Mirrabooka ,” Mr Burke said.
“I have spent a lot of time talking with various cultural groups in the electorate of Stirling and I am extremely pleased that a Rudd Labor Government has taken the initiative to build this highly needed resource centre,” Mr Tinley said.
Proposed uses for the multicultural centre will include:
- An outreach service for women, providing important links to government health, housing and financial services agencies;
- A homework and support centre for young people to help them adjust with language issues, education choices and options for training and employment
- Organised sport and recreation activities, based on the Clontarf Academy model, to provide incentives to complete learning tasks.
Mr Tinley said that the multicultural centre would provide a supportive and culturally appropriate environment for newly arrived migrants who face a multitude of integration issues when they first arrive in Australia.
“Migrants in Stirling have been desperate for a facility like this for many years and I know that the centre will play an important part in ensuring migrants have the resources to learn valuable english language skills, discover employment and training opportunities and generally feel confident about starting their new life in Australia,” Mr Tinley said.