Humanitarian Settlement Services Regional profile #6 ,

Contents

About Mildura 3 Service provider 4

Accommodation 4

Education 5 Health services 5

Employment opportunities 5

A welcoming community 5

DIAC wishes to express its thanks to Sunraysia Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) for compiling this material.

While every care has been taken, DIAC makes no guarantees that the information provided is up to date.

For further information on the Humanitarian Settlement Services program see: http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/government-programs/settlement- programs/hss.htm

Regional profile | Mildura 2

About Mildura Mildura is a regional city in north-west Victoria situated on the . It is located on the border with and is 550 km north-west of Melbourne, 400 km north-east of Adelaide and 1080 km west of Sydney.

The region, which is known as Sunraysia, has a population of more than 60 000. Mildura is a major agricultural centre and the region supplies more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s grapes.

Regional profile | Mildura 3

Service providers Humanitarian Settlement Service (HSS) services provided in the region focus on helping refugees to gain access to mainstream services such as Centrelink, Medicare, banks, general and specialist health and medical services, English language tuition, training and employment, in addition to links to the community and community organisations.

Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) is the service provider in Mildura offering services on behalf of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). SMECC advocates for and provides services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and works in partnership with:

 Mildura Rural City Council  Sunraysia Institute of TAFE  Latrobe University  Primary Mental Health Services  Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership  Sunraysia Community Health Services  Victoria Police in local schools  CALD community groups.

SMECC offers services through the Settlement Grants Program (SGP), home and community care services, English language classes, supervised driver programs, two playgroups, meeting space, migration service and refugee community development support (through the Refugee Action Program).

SMECC offers free internet access at a kiosk in the SMECC Hub.

Accommodation SMECC currently rents 10 motel-style units as short-term accommodation for single men. These units have two bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchenette. There is also a four-bedroom house available for families.

Typical cost of renting in Mildura (as at September 2012) is:

 three to four bedroom houses: $200-$500 per week  two bedroom units: $150-$250 per week.

One bedroom units are difficult to source due to the high demand.

Examples of short-term housing

Short-term accommodation (house) Short-term accommodation (hotel)

Regional profile | Mildura 4

Education The Mildura English Language Centre (MELC) helps all newly arrived children to settle into local primary or secondary schools. Students are enrolled in schools and then attend MELC when required. MELC employs four teachers and a multicultural education aide.

SuniTAFE is the Adult Migrant English Program provider and offers both day and night classes.

The Latrobe University Mildura campus works with SuniTAFE to offer the Tertiary Enabling Program. This program provides students with the academic skills and confidence needed to complete a university degree or TAFE study.

Health Services The Mildura Base Hospital is a 146-bed tertiary teaching hospital that provides a range of acute services, including emergency, maternity, intensive care and surgery. A refugee health nurse is available. There is also a monthly Refugee/Infectious Diseases Clinic.

Sunraysia Community Health Services offer torture and trauma counselling.

Employment Opportunities Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) works with local agencies to provide employment and training opportunities. Most of the work is on farms and HSS client communities in the area link with the broader community to organise transport.

Job opportunities for women are mainly in aged care. Clients who stay at home receive support through the Refugee Action Program.

Training is given to refugee clients in their preferred field of interest and is tailored to meet their literacy and numeracy needs. Max Employment, in partnership with Sunraysia TAFE, offers a Certificate II in Horticulture to 866 visa holders.

A welcoming community SMECC works with many groups and organisations in the community that are committed to making new refugee arrivals feel welcome. These include:

 Mildura Rural City Council: employs a Social Inclusion Officer who works closely with SMECC to provide information to local government about new arrivals.  Sunraysia Community Health Services: provides counselling and dental services to refugees.  Tristar Mildura Medical Clinic: provides health assessments and information sessions for refugees, in partnership with SMECC.  Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership (NMPCP): SMECC is a partner in NMPCP which works with local health providers to ensure that refugee health needs are embedded in the work programs of all the partners, and are an integral part of whole-of-community service planning.  Sunraysia Multicultural Action Group: local service providers who work together to resolve CALD community issues.  Passport to Drive: a volunteer mentor-supervised learner driver program operated by SMECC. Learner-drivers are encouraged to participate in the program. On completion they are eligible for seven free lessons with an accredited driving school.

Regional profile | Mildura 5