Our settlement team are passionate about supporting new refugees to feel welcome and part of their new community. This can mean helping with everything from teaching someone how to catch a bus to finding a rental property, getting a health check or hosting the annual Multicultural Youth Camp.
To give you an insight into the work of our settlement team and celebrate Refugee Week 2019 we asked some of the team members to share some memories.
Nay Chee Aung
Settlement Engagement Transition and Supports (SETS) Case Worker
“There are so many memorable moments for me and it is hard to pinpoint which one is the most memorable one.
“I am so lucky to work with so many amazing clients and they help me create memorable moments almost every day.
“But if I must pick one it has to be the one where one of my clients passed his learner driving test. Passing a leaner permit test may not be a great deal for many people but for this client it a life changing experience and also boost his self-confidence.
“I have been working with this client since he settled in Bendigo.
“He is an older gentleman who is illiterate in his own language so passing learner permit test was very challenging for him. He sat the test for a few times in the past but was not successful.
“He was very nervous and not hopeful when he told me he failed his test again. So, I caught up with him weekly and went through the learner resource one chapter at a time and did the practice test online for several weeks.
“After several weeks of mentoring him he decided that he was ready to sit the test again.
"This time he passed the test. He was so happy and excited and was so thankful for supporting him.
“Seeing the smile on his face when he was walking out of VicRoads was just amazing and that is something I cannot forget. And I just found out that he is now learning to drive. So, I think this is probably one of the most memorable moments of my life as a case worker.
Zahir Azimi
Settlement Case Worker
“Driving one of my clients Sayed Arifeen to his first day of employment in Australia.
“On the way to Jimmy Possum, we were talking about the importance of being punctual at work in Australia, and we were so busy talking that we missed the street to turn and by the time we realised we have already passed about 10 kilometres and we end up with 10 minutes late on the first day of Sayed work.
“I was glad that the factory owner (Ms Margo) accepted our apology for being late for the day.
“Sayed was working full time at Jimmy Possum and later his partner Fatima also got job at Jimmy Possum, they were both happy working at there until the Factory unfortunately shut down.
Sharyn Gibbs
Refugee Health Nurse and co-ordinator
“There have been lots of memorable moments, many challenging times also but one highlight has been the day I could log on correctly and utilise the new health information database called Haplite from the Department of Home Affairs (extra win for an old nurse conquering a computer data base!)
“This has been a game changer from a health/medical perspective.
“Being able to identify and know of the health information pre-arrival for the newly arrived refugee background clients assists with their medical care post arrival.
“Certainly provides for better planning and care.
ABOVE: Nido hosts an information session with the Victoria Police for the Refugee Youth Group.
Posao ‘Nido’ Taveesupmai
Project worker and community guide
These are the most memorable moments while people from refugee background.
- I am very happy working Karen new arrivals. This is because I am Karen and they can talk to me directly in Karen.
- Many thanks go to BCHS going giving the opportunity to work with Karen people.
- Karen helping Karen.
- Karen people feel more comfortable and safe when they see someone working with them is coming from the same background they come from.
- Karen people are here to build new life. Please let’s support them in their settlement in Bendigo to make their dreams come true.
- I feel very rewarding to be given the job I’m doing, a community messenger, so that I can give back to my community.
- I will make sure Karen people not saying YES all the time.
Sue Ghalayini
Case Manager Humanitarian Settlement Program
So far, one of the most rewarding outcomes for me was to see this family being symbolised by Interchange as their model family.
The collaboration our organisation was able to achieve with the disability sector created a new level of positive service outcomes for not just the families they support but for service providers as well, as they too were walking into new territory and working with complexities not often dealt with.
ABOVE: A Karen family featurs on the Interchange bus.
Some more highlights from our Settlement services and how we help the community:
Mini Roos Canteen Projects helps refugees play Bendigo soccer: http://bit.ly/MiniRoosCanteen
Multicultural focus of Bendigo on show as Mayor presents orientation graduation certificates to new refugees: http://bit.ly/Refugeeorientation
Road laws and safety a big focus for BCHS settlement services team with refugees: http://bit.ly/refugeeroadsafety
Bendigo refugee services directory launched: http://bit.ly/BendigoRefugeeServices
Refugees discover pedal power on recycled bikes: http://bit.ly/WheelsInMotionprogram
Refugee Youth Camp delivers great mix of fun, games and learning: http://bit.ly/RefugeeYouthCamp
Refugee youth leadership program encourages participants to drive change in their community: http://bit.ly/RefugeeYouthLeadership
Launched a Karen Welcome to Bendigo video: http://bit.ly/WelcomeToBendigo
Sue driven by true passion for helping refugees: http://bit.ly/SueGhalayiniBCHS
Run a Multicultural Futsal Tournament: http://bit.ly/RefugeeFutsal
Created an Interpreter Video to educate the community on how to use such an important service: http://bit.ly/InterpreterVideo
Want to learn more?
To learn more about our settlement team please visit www.bchs.com.au or to support them in their work call 5448 1600.