Page 3011 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019
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actions from the ACT multicultural summit held late last year. They form part of the actions under our ACT multicultural framework second action plan that I tabled in the Assembly in May.
They will complement and enhance existing ACT government and ACT community settlement programs and are intended to ensure that services meet the current and evolving needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds arriving in and making Canberra their home. Tenders to deliver this service closed a few weeks ago, and I look forward to the successful tenderer being announced very soon. It is expected that delivery of the program will commence by the end of October this year.
I am excited to know that this new service is so close to commencing. As I am sure members can appreciate, it is practical support like this that can turn around what has the potential to be quite an overwhelming time for newly arrived Canberrans. We want to make sure that their experience in getting access to services is seamless and supportive. This new service will enhance Canberra as a welcoming and inclusive city where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
MR GUPTA: Minister, under this initiative, how will new Canberrans be able to access information about our city and the services available to them?
MR STEEL: I thank Mr Gupta for his supplementary. The integrated welcome to Canberra support service is designed to deliver three key services to help newly arrived Canberrans feel at home in our great city.
A welcome to Canberra pack will be developed that will contain key settlement information about the range of services available across the territory and how to access them, to assist new Canberrans to feel welcome and to positively establish a life in our city. The information provided in the pack will be delivered in both digital and hardcopy formats and include direct links and contacts to get new Canberrans in touch with the people and services that can help them.
The second service in the suite will be a welcoming navigator support service to provide ongoing assistance and advocacy tailored to an individual’s needs. The navigator will help recently arrived migrants and refugees to find housing and rental support; access health services and trauma counselling; gain employment and navigate the ACT’s legal system; and connect with other services, including commonwealth government services like Centrelink, My Aged Care and the NDIS.
Finally, a biannual welcome to Canberra forum will be held to enable new Canberrans to connect and link with other community members, services and organisations.
MRS JONES: Minister, as part of the integrated support service which languages precisely will be available, both the translation information and available interpreters?
MR STEEL: We have gone out to the community to ask them to tender for this program. We will be looking to hear from those organisations that work regularly with people newly arrived in Canberra.
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