Youth hub to aid with migrant integration
FINDING a job or filling in a form can be tough, but it’s even harder if you’re new to the country.
Multicultural Australia Toowoomba is looking to tackle this issue and more at its new youth hub, which opened on Monday.
The hub will be used to support refugees and migrants, 12 to 21 years of age, with social integration.
“It’s all about linking them into government and local government services in Toowoomba,” Multicultural Australia regional manager Kelly Buckingham said.
“We really want to promote that sense of belonging - we know if they feel belonging or if they feel welcome they are going to settle down.”
Ms Buckingham said the service would provide career help among other things.
“We want to support them with what they want to do when they’re older, so we will be holding a jobs club and job search training,” she said.
“But we’ll even help with things like filling in a superannuation form, things we take for granted.
“Usually you turn to your mum and dad for help, but for many (of our clients) their parents don’t speak English.”
The hub is funded by the Department of Home Affairs and will operate as a pilot service until September, when it will be reviewed.
The program will also be delivered at a number of schools across Toowoomba.
“Two positions have been funded, so one will be based here (at the hub) and the other will be working in collaboration with schools,” she said.
“We hope it becomes a fully fledged program.
“(Monday) was our first day and we had a lot of youth come in and talk about what they would like to see happen in the hubs - many were talking about the need for help with their resumes and looking for jobs.”
She said while there were plenty of youth services in town, this was one of the first to focus on young migrants and refugees.
“They do go to other services, but this service will have language support when it’s needed and other young people of the same ethnicity,” she said. “When we look at these people, not only are they experiencing what youth experience, but they’re also new to a country.”
The hub is open from 3pm - 6pm on Monday to Wednesday and 3pm - 7.30pm on Thursday and Friday.