Refugees and Migrants

Since 1962 the Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC) has been at the forefront of the migrant rights movement in Australia. It pioneered the delivery of services to migrant communities and continues to strengthen the capacity and infrastructure of these communities, enabling them to be active participants in advocacy and service development. This work also builds bridges into mainstream services and opportunities.

The EMC has:

• the expertise of a multidisciplinary team working across portfolios in a non ethno-specific way
• strong relationships with new and emerging communities
• the ability to respond promptly to emerging needs
• a balance of activity across casework, demonstration projects, community development, practice-based research and advocacy
• innovative programs.

Migration Action

The EMC publishes Migration Action, an independent journal about refugees, immigration and multicultural issues, three times a year.

Family services

The EMC’s highly qualified family counsellors provide family support and family relationships services in culturally appropriate ways. These services comprise:
• counselling, therapy and advocacy
• mediation and dispute resolution
• support groups for women, men, and families
• community development
• secondary consultancy, training and development for service providers.

Current programs include:
• Stronger Families Program – recognising the impact of the refugee experience and settlement on family relationships
• Family Support Program – providing casework and counselling to newly arrived families.

Community capacity building

Using a systematic approach to leadership development in emerging communities, the EMC facilitates community strengthening and empowerment through:
• building community structures and relationships
• identifying and capitalising on internal resources
• identifying and securing access to external resources
• fostering a sense of cooperation within and between communities.

Current programs include:
• Refugee Brokerage Program – building the capacity of emerging refugee communities
• Women on the Move – working with socially isolated women in the City of Hume
• ‘A New Life’ African Women’s Program – working with recently arrived African refugee women in the City of Yarra.

Employment pathways

Given the Chance is the EMC’s unique employment and education pathways program for refugees. Key features of the program include:
• pre-employment training
• work placement
• training for workplace managers and team leaders
• pathway support
• mentoring.

One of the main strengths of Given the Chance is its whole-of-community approach – business, government and community working together to help refugees find sustainable employment, which is a key pathway for successful settlement in the Australian community.

Find out more about Given the Chance

Youth programs

The EMC delivers integrated strategies and casework to improve opportunities for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to access and participate in the broader Australian community.

Current programs include:

• Community Services Leadership Program – empowering disadvantaged young people to positively engage with their communities through leading small community projects
• Refugee Youth Development Program – strengthening the capacity of young refugee people to participate in the economic, social and cultural life of the Victorian community while supporting their developmental needs during their transition to adulthood.

Influencing public opinion, public policy and program development

The EMC acts as a centre of knowledge, experience, innovation and development, through disseminating information, providing consultation and advice, and undertaking research and advocacy.

In working towards the Brotherhood’s vision of an Australia free of poverty, the EMC advocates for:

• social inclusion and employment participation
• whole-of-community intervention, supporting collaboration between government, community and corporate sectors.
• community capacity building
• culturally responsive models of intervention that enable people to conduct their lives within the law.

EMC
95-97 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy Vic 3065
PO Box 1389 Collingwood 3066
Ph: (03) 9416 0044
Fax: (03) 9416 1827