Former refugees & migrants

Bendigo Community Health Services’ Settlement and Cultural Diversity teams provide essential support for people of refugee and migrant backgrounds in Bendigo.

By guiding individuals through the first five years of their settlement journey and promoting health and wellbeing, these teams empower former refugees and migrants to settle peacefully and thrive independently.

Cultural Diversity

Our Cultural Diversity team works to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people of refugee and migrant backgrounds in Bendigo.

We partner with other service providers, and content experts to build health and service literacy for safe and sustainable living.

Many of our team are multilingual, with a background of lived experience. We work closely with our community to identify needs, and co-design programs in simple English and community languages.

Settlement Services and Supports

BCHS’ Settlement Services Team provides support during the first five years of the settlement journey to enable people of a refugee background to settle peacefully and independently in Bendigo.

We focus on health and wellbeing, community connectedness, economic and social participation, and self-reliance.

Acknowledgement of Country

Bendigo Community Health Services acknowledge we live, work and enjoy Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung country. We extend our appreciation to the Jaara and Taungurung peoples. We pay respect to Elders past and present for their continued holding of memories, traditions, culture and community aspirations.

We recognise sovereignty has never been ceded and express our sorrow for the personal, spiritual and cultural costs of colonisation and their lasting impact. May we walk forward together in harmony and the spirit of healing. It was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Image credit: Healing a Community by Paige Charles-Morgan