Spectrum

What we offer

Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre not only provides advice, information and referrals to clients, but also to a wide range of service providers and specialist agencies with a part to play in the settlement process.

This can involve:

• statistical information
• advice on program development
• intensive training in the area of cross cultural training
• immigrant community profiles.

Our training program is designed to build the capacity of the agency and individuals to be able to communicate and work more effectively with newly arrived migrants and refugees from different countries and backgrounds.

Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre has developed Cultural Competence Training sessions to provide more intensive training for organisations and services. Cultural Competence Training is tailored to suit the relevant group, and provides strategies and skills to work effectively with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Spectrum has developed and delivered training packages for community organisations, mainstream service providers, Government departments and corporate outfits around Australia.

For further information please contact:

Michael van Vliet, General Manager, Advocacy, Innovation and Marketing (AIM) Unit on (03) 9496 0223 or email michaelv@spectrumvic.org.au .

What form does the MRC's Cross-cultural Training take?

Spectrum’s method of Cross-Cultural Training is Immigrant Community Profiles, which take the format of visual PowerPoint presentations about a range of migrant and refugee populations that have recently settled in Victoria . The profiles are highly visual, interactive, informative, and are based on comprehensive literature reviews. Real-life examples are drawn from the communities themselves and all profiles are culturally accredited by using ethnic focus groups.

Why Community Profiles?

Spectrum developed its popular immigrant community profiles to prepare and support the general community in welcoming new settlers to Victoria . This is consistent with international best practice, which shows that this model has been successful in fostering positive attitudes towards the newly arrived migrants and refugees. Spectrum is keen to foster this environment in the northern region and across the state.

Spectrum’s first community profiles were developed in 2000. Since then, these interactive profiles have been regularly updated to include new trends and relevant statistics. New country profiles are developed to reflect the ever-changing communities that are settling in Victoria .

We currently have profiles for:

Given the current Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) humanitarian and refugee intake of west and central African's from Sierra Leone, Liberia , Burundi and Rwanda and their newness as a community in Australia, Spectrum has developed a presentation that covers the historical and political context of these countries, cultural beliefs and values and current settlement trends and issues. Spectrum presents these profiles to community organisations and services who would like to gain some more information about how they might interact, communicate and understand people from these communities.

For more information please contact: 

Michael van Vliet, General Manager, Advocacy, Innovation and Marketing (AIM) Unit on (03) 9496 0223 or email michaelv@spectrumvic.org.au .

 What exactly do the Community Profiles cover?

• Achieving Cultural Competency
• Historical & Political context of the country

 Cultural behaviors and values

• What does it mean to be a member of a certain tribe or clan?
• What religions are practiced?
• What food do they eat?
• How do they dress?
• How do people greet each other?
• What are their experiences of overseas education and health?
• How does their family function and what roles and responsibilities do family members have?
• Settlement trends in Australia for this community
• Presenting Issues of this new and established immigrant community

Who should attend these Community Profiles?

Frontline service staff

• Receptionists
• Administrative Assistants

Staff who have daily contact or work with CALD clients in metropolitan or regional/rural Victoria

• Community Health Centre
• Local Council staff (from the Parking Officer to the Leisure Centre Lifeguard)
• Social/Welfare/Community Development Workers in a variety of fields
• Job Network providers
• Community & Neighbourhood Houses
• Childcare workers
• Police Officers
• Teachers
• Lawyers
• Doctors / staff in the medical profession

Staff who research or develop policies for CALD clients

• Public servants - Policy Officers/Advisers
• Health Promotion Officers
• Academics

What would your staff/organisation gain?

These short training sessions will assist your staff and your organisation to develop knowledge and skills and more specifically:

• gain an understanding of the historical and political context of these new immigrant groups settling in Victoria to inform their practices
• gain details of general settlement trends and issues facing new and established immigrant communities in Victoria
• you can compare cultural behaviours and values of cross-cultural adaptation
• you can ask questions regarding newly arrived migrants and refugees that you may have started to have contact with, and
• you can meet an ethnic community member/leader of the immigrant community being profiled.

How long does it go for?

Approximately 1-2 hours, facilitated by an MRC staff member and an ethnic representative from the profiled community

How do I book?

Call Michael van Vliet, General Manager, Advocacy, Innovation and Marketing (AIM) Unit on (03) 9496 0223 or email michaelv@spectrumvic.org.au .