Multicultural communities
Albury is home to people from many cultures, languages and backgrounds. We’re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and accessible community.
Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 for immediate telephone interpreting. Quote AlburyCity client code: 285237.
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Our multicultural community
The Albury region has a unique multicultural heritage. Traditionally the home of the Wiradjuri people, the region became home to German, Dutch, Italian, Greek and Polish migrant communities after World War II, with settlements located at Bonegilla.
More recently, Indian, Filipino, Bhutanese, Nepalese, South African and Congolese residents have contributed to the city’s vibrant, cosmopolitan feel. Albury has also become a Regional Settlement Hub for families from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Bhutan and Sudan.
Our commitment
We celebrate our multicultural heritage and uphold that people from multicultural backgrounds are valued, supported, included and respected members of the community.
Everyone in our community has the freedom to express their cultural, linguistic and religious traditions without fear or discrimination.
Albury was declared a Refugee Welcome Zone in June 2015.
A Refugee Welcome Zone is an LGA which has made a commitment in spirit to:
- welcoming refugees into the community,
- upholding the human rights of refugees,
- demonstrating compassion for refugees; and
- enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.
Multicultural Plan 2023–2028
The development of the Multicultural Plan is the reaffirmation of a long-term commitment by AlburyCity to diversity, inclusion and belonging.
This Plan provides an outline of how AlburyCity has integrated the Principles of Multiculturalism into our work and how we will engage with multicultural communities over the next five years.
Its development was guided by the expertise, knowledge and lived experiences of our CALD community leaders, service providers as well as community members.
We are grateful to all who took part in the process and provided input generously.
Plan priorities
We plan better, including using data to plan services and policies. AlburyCity addresses the needs of the multicultural community through planning and integrates multicultural policy goals into all of its planning processes.
We ensure that people from diverse cultural backgrounds receive high-quality services that meet their needs.
We ensure that AlburyCity has effective processes for engaging with people from culturally diverse communities to inform service and policy design and to provide mechanisms for feedback.
We ensure that all leaders value diversity and strive to support diversity in its various forms. Our Councillors, Executives and Council Officers promote and are accountable for the implementation of the Principles of Multiculturalism within the council and the local community.
Multicultural and settlement services
Local organisations provide settlement assistance, advocacy, volunteering, community connections and specialist support for multicultural communities and people from refugee backgrounds.
Albury Wodonga’s peak multicultural organisation.
Offering a range of programs and services to support refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and service providers. These programs help people find employment, volunteer opportunities, and build strong community connections.
Settlement, Engagement and Transition Support (SETS): Supports community leaders, new and emerging community groups and organisations to support communities towards collectively increasing the social participation, economic and personal well-being of community members ensuring positive settlement outcomes are sustained in the long term.
Driver Support: Assists new migrants with language barriers to get their driving licence.
Health Awareness and Mental Health: Partners for Change is a partnership AWECC has with the Victorian Department of Health to support the health needs of newly arrived migrants.
Ovens and Murray Multicultural Mental Health & Wellbeing Project: Supports the mental health and wellbeing needs of multicultural communities enhancing mental health literacy. The project seeks ways to overcome stigma aimed to increase help seeking behaviours among communities and raises cultural awareness for mental health service providers.
Emergency Resilience and Management: Emergency management programs to support the multicultural communities partnering with Ambulance Victoria, Community Fire Authority (CFA), Ethnic Communities Council Victoria and Local Government Authorities.
Education: Works with the local schools and tertiary institutions to support CALD students and parents/carers to understand and navigate the education system.
TAFE Awareness Sessions: Partners with Wodonga TAFE to provide awareness session with students studying English as the second language on a variety of topics monthly.
Family Safety (Relationships and Family Violence Prevention): Provides information sessions on standards of behaviour and to avoid unacceptable behaviour.
Employment/Business/Volunteering: Works with agencies supporting CALD communities to obtain and engage in gainful employment and volunteering outcomes.
Referrals may be made to other services.
Phone: 6024 6895
Address: 153 High St. Wodonga, VIC
Addresses migrant and refugee settlement needs to improve social participation, economic wellbeing, independence, personal well-being and community connectedness.
SETS Program: After clients are referred from Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) are supported until they become citizens. Often this support continues even after they become citizens.
Eligibility: Humanitarian entrants. Family stream migrants with low English proficiency. Dependents of selected working and skilled migrants with low English proficiency. Selected temporary residents and other stream visas.
The Drive to Connect Program: This program’s funding is limited each year providing approximately 5 women in the SETS Program driving lessons. A wait list exists.
Cultural Exchange Programs: Tertiary Tips, Homework Help, Conversations in English, Fitness Classes, and Coffee and Cards. Free during School Terms.
Other: Volunteer Referrals, Training for Pathways to Volunteering and Employment and Cultural Awareness Training.
Phone: 6021 0990
Address: Mirambeena Community Centre: 19 Martha Mews, Lavington
Email: reception@vrb.org.au
Website: www.vrb.org.au/multicultural
Delivers a range of programs to refugees, asylum seekers and those from migrant backgrounds:
Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP):Support is delivered to clients using an individualised case management approach tailored to their needs, strengths, and goals. The types of support clients receive may include:
- airport reception
- short-term accommodation
- referral to mainstream and specialist support services
- connections to local community groups and activities
- assistance to find long-term accommodation
- help to learn English, gain employment and access education and training
- orientation to Australia, including our values and laws.
Eligibility: To find out about visa classes eligible please visit Humanitarian Settlement Program
Phone: 02 5963 2999
Address: 1/324 Griffith Rd, Lavington
Email: hspalbury@redcross.org.au
Website: www.redcross.org.au/migration/humanitarian-settlement
Emergency Relief for Temporary Visa Holders:
Support for temporary visa holders, people applying for protection and people with an uncertain visa status to help meet their basic needs. Emergency relief is a small one-off payment to help people meet their needs like food, medicine or shelter.
Eligibility: You may be eligible if you; hold a temporary visa, are over 18 years of age, are living in Australia and you meet our financial hardship threshold.
Email: grantsupport@redcross.org.au
Website: Emergency relief support for temporary visa holders
Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP): If you have experienced human trafficking, forced labour or forced marriage, Red Cross can support you and help you to recover.
Our program can provide:
- casework support
- financial support
- access to health and accommodation services
- referrals to counselling
- referrals to legal and migration support.
Eligibility: Currently, eligibility to the program is determined by:
- The Australian Federal Police – 131 AFP (131 237) or Human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices (including forced marriage) information report - AFP
- The Additional Referral Pathway – 1800 000 277 or Additional Referral Pathway (ARP) | The Salvation Army Australia
Phone: 1800 113 015
Email: national_stpp@redcross.org.au
Restoring Family Links: If you have been separated from family by war, disaster or migration, Red Cross could support you.
How we can help:
- Find a family member missing as a result of war, disaster or migration through family tracing
- Send a message to a relative where there is no formal means of communication
- Check the welfare of a relative overseas whom you are unable to reach
- Provide you with a confirmation of detention
Phone: 1800 875 199
Email: tracing@redcross.org.au
A small volunteer group which works with members of the local African and Syrian community who have arrived here on humanitarian visas.
Offers support and guidance principally in the early settlement years. Works with these communities and their leaders to build capacity and independence.
The RDA Murray Welcoming Experience is a free service for skilled migrants (and their families) moving to regional NSW for work. If you have a job in the Albury area, RDA Murray’s Local Connectors can help you:
- Find job opportunities for your partner
- Search for housing
- Choose child-care services
- Meet and connect with your neighbours.
Referrals welcome.
Phone: 6060 2491
Address: 442 Swift St, Albury
Supports those who have experienced torture or trauma:
- Counselling and Support Groups: Individual and group sessions for adults, children, and adolescents
- Community Programs: Activities to help people heal and rebuild in Australia.
Programs offered:
- Weekly Groups: Youth (high school age), Syrian adults (Arabic-speaking), and Bhutanese seniors
- Fortnightly Group: Single women’s group for Congolese women
- Youth Camps: Twice a year for teenagers and young adults from refugee backgrounds
- Families in Cultural Transition Program (FICT): 10-week program in Swahili and Nepali language.
Other support includes:
- Building skills for community leaders
- Help to start sports teams, language classes, and cultural events.
Free transport is available for programs.
Referral required.
Phone: 02 9646 6700
Email: stts-startts@health.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.startts.org.au
Contact communitydevelopment@alburycity.nsw.gov.au to request an addition or update.
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