Dear friends,
Autumn’s arrival reminds us of the inevitability of change and transformation. It is the perfect season to embrace new opportunities and engage with our communities to enhance our service offerings and make a difference.
There is no doubt that in the past year we have faced unprecedented challenges on a global scale, with economic turmoil, war, global warming, and social division contributing to instability and uncertainty.
Through our daily work here at Cultura, collectively we can make a difference. We are dedicated to serving our multiculturally diverse communities here in Geelong, where these communities face significant barriers to accessing essential services and opportunities. We are committed to making a positive difference in their lives and urge other companies, organisations and individuals to join us in creating a brighter future for all.
Whether you have skills to offer or want to contribute financially, we encourage everyone to get involved in any way they can to help support our efforts in creating a more inclusive and supportive society. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of many and create a better future.
Let us use this season as a reminder that change is possible and commit ourselves to being part of the solution. In these challenging times, it is more critical than ever that we come together and work towards a more supportive and inclusive society.
Kind regards,
Joy Leggo OAM
Our Cultura’s Community Employment Connectors have been hard at work making a positive impact in the community! As part of their efforts to support people from multicultural backgrounds to find work, the Employment Connectors have identified gaps in services that need to be addressed.
One of the barriers they identified was the difficulty for people with limited English literacy in obtaining a Construction (White) Card. But the Employment Connectors didn’t let language stand in the way of providing vital OH&S training. They arranged for bilingual support, pre-training workshops, and worked with trainers to align assessment tasks with subject areas.
As a result, thirty participants are now proud White Card holders! The Employment Connectors have not only helped people to obtain this important certification but also to understand the concepts more clearly. Confused faces when talking about a machinery plant on a building site are a thing of the past!
The Employment Connectors are making a real difference in the lives of people from multicultural backgrounds, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next. By identifying gaps in service and finding creative solutions, they are breaking down barriers and opening up opportunities for all.
There is a buzz brewing in the Hope Garden! The latest and greatest addition to our garden is none other than a sweet honey bee hive! That is right, we are thrilled to announce that our garden is now home to a colony of hardworking honey bees.
Not only will these busy bees provide us with golden, delicious honey, but they will also play a vital role in pollinating our plants and helping them flourish. Plus, our honey bee hive provides fantastic educational and employment opportunities for our Cultura clients and the wider community.
But that is not all, our little buzzing friends are also important ambassadors for raising awareness about the critical role bees play in maintaining a healthy environment. And let’s not forget, our beehive is also an excellent way to bring our community together.
Now for some fun bee facts that will make you want to do a little waggle dance! Did you know that Australia is home to more than 1,500 species of native bees? Or that around two-thirds of the crops we grow in Australia depend on bee pollination? And did you know that a queen bee lays about 800,000 eggs in her lifetime! Or that bees communicate by dancing, and a single bee makes about 1 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime? Talk about being busy bees!
Here are a few tips for creating a bee-friendly garden that will have your little buzzers flitting around happily:
-Select a range of plants to ensure you have flowers for every season
-Select flowers with a variety of colors and shapes.
-Plant flowering plants in clumps so bees can gather nectar more efficiently.
-Avoid insecticides and pesticides in your garden
-Place multiple water sources around your garden to keep thirsty bees hydrated.
Bee happy and join us in welcoming our newest garden guests, the honey bees!
This month, we welcomed Nina Taylor MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Training & Skills, to Cultura Northern Community Hub. During her visit, Ms Taylor gained an understanding of the intricate links between the work of different departments at Cultura. She learned about how the Settlement department works in tandem with ACFE and RTO to provide real employment opportunities to their clients. Cultura’s trainers were excited to share some incredible stories about the holistic approach taken by Cultura to train and skill individuals.
While at Cultura, Ms. Taylor also took the opportunity to congratulate Guldane Sluga, one of the ACFE trainers, on being a finalist for the Learn Local Awards. She was impressed by the quality of the training provided by Cultura and how it is making a positive impact on the lives of our clients. Ms. Taylor also learned more about the unique development paths that ACFE training provides for clients who speak English as a second language and discussed some opportunities that upcoming Commonwealth Games present for local ethnic communities.
We were thrilled to have had the chance to showcase the great work being done at our ACFE and Cultura Training departments. The visit highlighted the importance of providing quality training and skills development opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds and the role that organisations like Cultura play in creating a better future for our communities.
Get ready to travel the world, without even leaving your own town! At Cultura residential, we’ve been bringing our residents and volunteers together for some cultural friendship catch ups, and let’s just say, it’s been a blast! We’ve had Italian, Croatian, and Ukrainian catch ups, and our residents have loved engaging with our awesome volunteers, who have been equally excited to learn about new cultures.
But here’s the best part: we’re not stopping there! We’re planning to have these amazing friendship groups on a regular basis throughout the month to ensure our residents’ cultural needs are met. We’re always on the lookout for more volunteers who speak a second language other than English, and can spare just a few hours per month to make our residents’ day.
So, if you’re a language lover, and want to make a real difference in someone’s life, please get in touch with us. Whether you’re fluent in French or speak Spanish like a pro, we want to hear from you! You can contact us at [email protected] or give us a call at 03 4210 0000. Let’s make new friends and explore new cultures together!
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of Cultura Learning, our brand-new Learning and Development platform powered by the Go1 system. At Cultura, we place great value on our staff’s professional development and are proud to offer a platform that provides them with access to a wealth of resources.
Cultura Learning is a platform that offers a range of content, including materials prepared by Cultura and from various training providers, all designed to help our staff continue to grow and develop professionally. Our staff will have access to a diverse array of training modules, courses, and resources, allowing them to take control of their own learning and career development.
With Cultura Learning, our staff will have the opportunity to learn and grow at their own pace, with content that is tailored to their individual needs.
We cannot wait to launch Cultura Learning and watch our staff take advantage of this amazing resource!
Current Job Opportunities with Cultura
We have some exciting vacancies available at Cultura:
For more information, please visit our ‘Careers’ page https://www.cultura.org.au/careers.
The Healthy Living Centre recently played host to an exciting Tomato and Chilli competition, which brought together gardeners of all levels to showcase their best produce. With seven categories to choose from, including the biggest tomato, the hottest chilli, and the most unique tomato, the competition was fierce and filled with friendly rivalries.
The event attracted an impressive array of entries, each one judged by a panel of experts from the gardening and culinary industries. Participants put their heart and soul into their produce, with a strong emphasis on healthy eating and sustainable living. The competition was not only a celebration of gardening but also a platform to share knowledge, exchange tips, and build community.
The event was a true testament to the power of community and the magic of gardening. From beginner gardeners to seasoned pros, participants from all walks of life came together to share their passion for fresh, healthy produce. While winners were awarded prizes, the competition was a win for everyone involved. The Tomato and Chilli competition was a reminder of the joy and satisfaction that comes with gardening, and the importance of incorporating fresh, healthy produce into our daily lives.
Congratulations to all the winners, and a special thanks to all the participants for making this event a memorable one. We can’t wait to see what the next competition will bring!
Our ACFE students recently took their first shot at woodwork and they totally nailed it! In a hands-on activity, they crafted four bird nest boxes and put their newly acquired knowledge of Biodiversity and Sustainable Environment to practice. From measuring, gluing, to nailing, the students learned the ropes of using woodwork tools such as electric drills, nail punches, and sandpapers. But that’s not all! They also painted their creations, enhancing their artistic skills.
The activity not only honed their woodwork skills but also developed their employability skills. The students showed great initiative in learning, effective communication through teamwork, and expanded their vocabulary in nature protection and construction. Their confidence also got a boost!
A big ‘thank you’ to our partners from Bellarine Catchment Network for enabling such a wonderful learning experience for our students. The feedback we received from the students was overwhelmingly positive, and they were all smiles throughout the activity. Together, the ACFE students showed that with a little bit of creativity, teamwork, and courage, they can achieve great things!
Local Community Radio Station, 94.7 The Pulse, continues to make waves with their exciting broadcasts. Recently, the beloved Loretta’s Front Page program made a special outside broadcast from the picturesque town of Barwon Heads. Joined by a number of special guests and the talented students of the local primary school’s “Crazy Hair Day” choir, the broadcast was a memorable one for all who tuned in. You can catch Loretta’s Front Page every Wednesday from 9-11am on 94.7 The Pulse.
In addition to this, 94.7 The Pulse has also kicked off their live broadcast of the Geelong and District Football League (GDFL) match of the day, which promises to be an exciting addition to the local football scene. Thanks to their long-standing partnership with the GDFL, listeners can tune in every Saturday from 2-5pm for live coverage of the 2023 local football season. Don’t miss out on all the action – tune in to 94.7 The Pulse today!
Last month at Cultura Residential was a blast!
From the lively St Patrick’s Day celebrations to the mouth-watering Greek National Day feast, our taste buds were constantly delighted.
We had a great time on our scenic trip to Daniel’s Donuts, followed by a leisurely drive around the bay with some old-school tunes playing in the background. We even took a trip down memory lane by talking about our favourite deb ball moments and the notorious highlighter park.
Despite the rainy days, we kept our spirits high with weekly mindful moves in the chapel and restarted our beloved Italian, Ukrainian, and Croatian friendship groups.
The delectable autumnal apples, which we transformed into an array of delectable delicacies, merit a notable mention.
Danuta, our staff member and gardening guru, generously shared her plentiful garden harvest, and as a result, we relished a delightful time conversing about various aspects of gardening.
Looking back, it was an unforgettable month filled with laughter, connection, and delicious food. We can not wait to see what the future holds for our Cultura Residential community and the memories we will make together.
Congratulations, Julia Pantic!
Julia entered Cultura’s 1st Birthday Wish Competition recently with the hope of winning two return tickets to travel to Serbia and finally reunite with her family.
Julia had grown up in a large family in Serbia, surrounded by the love and support of her siblings. But at the age of 9, Julia’s family left their homeland and moved to Australia. Over the years, Julia had made a new life for herself in Australia, but the memory of her brother and the love she had for her family had never faded.
As she waited for the results of the competition, Julia hoped that this would be the opportunity she had been waiting for…to be able to embrace her brother once more and to feel the warmth of her family’s love once again.
Cultura would like to thank everyone who participated and congratulate Julia on winning the competition.
On May 11th, Cultura Training will be hosting an Open Day that welcomes everyone to attend and mingle with industry experts and our trainers. This is an opportunity to learn more about our diverse range of training programs and courses and serves as an interactive platform for visitors to experience our training environment and learn about the benefits of pursuing education and training with us.
We are passionate about providing quality education and training that empowers individuals and strengthens communities. Our doors are open to everyone who wants to learn more about what we do and how we can help them achieve their goals. Join us on May 11th and discover the opportunities that lie ahead!
When: 11th of May, 4:00 pm
Where: 68-70 Lt Ryrie Street, Geelong 3220
See you there!
Cultura emerged as the vibrant new organisation from the merger of Diversitat and Multicultural Aged Care Services (MACS) in 2022.Â
ABN: 71 355 229 834
Multicultural Community Services Geelong Inc. trading as Cultura
Cultura acknowledges Aboriginal traditional owners of country throughout Victoria and pays respect to their cultures and elders past, present and emerging.
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