Box Hill based Migrant Information Centre to provide program for refugees and new migrants

The Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the Hon Nicholas Kotsiras MP, has announced that the Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Metropolitan), based in Box Hill, has been chosen as one of the providers of a program to assist refugees and other newly arrived migrants.

Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark MP, welcomed the announcement, under which the Migrant Information Centre will receive $300,000 in funding to provide the program over the next two and half years.

Mr Clark said that the Refugee Action Program is designed to assist newly arrived humanitarian entrants settle in Victoria. It assists people to more fully participate in their local communities and to understand and access services, as well as helping migrant communities to identify and develop ways of better handling issues that arise for new arrivals during settlement.

The Migrant Information Centre will also run a series of seminars for newly arrived migrants on rights and responsibilities under Australian and Victorian law. These seminars provide valuable information on the law in Australia to help newly arrived migrants understand their legal obligations and how to obtain help if they are the victim of a crime or other illegal actions.

The Refugee Action Program is managed by the Settlement Coordination Unit within the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship at the Department of Premier and Cabinet. For more information please visit www.multicultural.vic.gov.au.