Call to multicultural youth in Ballarat to get involved

Media Release – Tuesday 4 September 2012

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith today opened the second Victorian  Coalition Government funded Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) office in  Ballarat.
Mr Smith said the new Ballarat CMY office delivers on the Coalition  Government’s $1.8 million election commitment to ensure young people from  culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have access to services  and opportunities in regional Victoria.
“Research shows people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are more  vulnerable to experiencing disadvantage and social exclusion,” Mr Smith  said.
“Ballarat was chosen as the second location for a regional CMY office to  meet the needs of the migrant population of Ballarat that is estimated to  increase by 15,000 by 2036,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said the Coalition Government was committed to providing young  Victorians with the opportunity to develop support networks, participate  in their community and strengthen their connections with families, peers  and communities.
“This new Centre for Multicultural Youth office will provide young people  from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Western  Victoria with practical opportunities to get involved in their local  community, engage in meaningful relationships and gain important support  networks,” Mr Smith said.
“I encourage young people from CALD backgrounds in Ballarat and Western  Victoria to visit the new CMY office and get involved in their programs,” Mr Smith said.
Minister for Regional Cities Denis Napthine who joined the opening  celebrations said Ballarat was an important location for the office given  that it has a high number of young refugees and international students who  need access to support and services.
“A number of newly-arrived families have settled in the region in the past  five years including young people from Sudan and other African  backgrounds.
“In addition, Ballarat University has the highest per capita quota of  international students in Australia, with more than 5,000 currently  studying, including students from India, Bangladesh and Nepal,” Dr  Napthine said.
Centre for Multicultural Youth CEO Carmel Guerra congratulated the  Coalition Government for acknowledging and responding to the extra support  needed in rural and regional Victoria for multicultural young people.
“CMY has a long history of providing support where it is most needed,  typically high settlement areas. Our new Ballarat office will allow us to  continue to work in partnership with local service providers to deliver a  range of programs and support for young people,” Ms Guerra said.
The new Ballarat CMY is located at 710 Sturt St, Ballarat.
For further information on the Centre for Multicultural Youth please visit  www.cmy.net.au