Migrants lunch outlines help
Imagine moving to a new country where you have no friends or family, no knowledge of the culture or perhaps even the language and certainly do not understand who can advise you on how to access very basic services.
This is the daunting prospect for many new migrants to Ka¯ piti.
Immigration New Zealand has contracted Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) to provide information and assistance to new migrants to ensure they are able to settle in successfully and make New Zealand their home.
To help new migrants in our area, Kapiti Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is to hold a Community Services Advice Session and lunch on June 23 from 11am to 1pm in the Ka¯ piti Community Centre, Ngahina St, Paraparaumu.
The lunch is free and open to all migrant groups or individuals.
You can advise attendance to CAB Kapiti or just turn up on the day.
In the past two years Kapiti CAB has held workshops for new migrants covering a range of topics including, employment, health, education and immigration.
“However, we know how hard it is for migrants to gain an understanding of all the services that may be available to provide them with assistance,” Kapiti CAB’s David Robertson said.
“This lunch will provide an opportunity for new migrants to hear from and meet with a range of community organisations who are available to help them settle in Ka¯ piti.”
The organisations who will participate will include: Family Budgeting Service, Birthright, Plunket, Kapiti Women’s Centre, Adult Learning Support, English Language Partners, Ka¯ piti Coast District Council, and the Ka¯ piti Community Centre.
Information on immigration issues will also be provided.
“The format of the lunch will allow for each organisation to briefly explain what assistance they can provide to migrants and then be available over lunch for one on one meetings with attendees to talk further about what they do and offer individual advice.
“The lunch will also provide an opportunity for new migrants to meet with volunteers from CAB and hear how we can assist them to integrate successfully in Ka¯ piti.
“We already have good contact with many migrant groups but hope to reach out to individuals or smaller groups of new migrants who may have arrived more recently.
“CAB already provides help to all citizens in Ka¯ piti but we are aware of the needs of new migrants who may not be familiar with many of the services available both in the public and private sector.
“We understand what is familiar to us is not always easy to understand by someone who comes from a very different cultural background.”
CAB provides a person-to-person service to all its clients which is most helpful to new migrants.
Mr Robertson said being able to talk to a real person is a rarity these days and is a key part of what makes the CAB service unique.
“We can also access direct lines to a number of government departments to get immediate assistance which is not easily available to everyone.
“In addition we offer non English speakers help in their own language through our Language Connect service.
“We understand that new migrants really appreciate the chance to talk to someone in person about their problems.
“Although there’s now a wealth of information available online, someone new to New Zealand needs help to work out how that information relates to them, and that’s where we can help.
“We provide a person-to-person advice service that is independent, confidential and free of charge.”
Last year CAB Kapiti handled over 3600 inquiries.
“Some of the most common types of inquiries we dealt with included legal advice (provided through the Whitireia Community Law Centre), rental housing, family relationships and separations and problems with goods and services which are not to the required standard.
“CAB volunteers have access to an enormous amount of information and we want make sure this gets to new migrants in our community.
“We hope by attending the lunch new migrants will learn more about how CAB can assist them to benefit from that information as well as get support from real people in their own community.”
The lunch will also provide an opportunity for new migrants to meet with volunteers from CAB and hear how we can assist them to integrate successfully in Ka¯ piti. David Robertson Kapiti CAB
■ For further advice about the lunch or if you wish to talk to someone about any issue just call into Kapiti CAB upstairs at Coastlands weekdays from 9am to 4pm or phone 04 298 4944, email kapiti@cab.org.nz