In a blow for the Bega Valley’s expatriates, the Bega Multicultural Centre will permanently close next month.
The centre which has served the shire’s expat community for the last five years will cease operations after 30 June 2024.
A Queanbeyan Multilingual Centre spokesperson said it was an unfortunate announcement.
“Funding and resourcing changes mean we cannot afford to keep the centre open.”
“We are proud of the work the centre has done in that time, especially during the Black Summer Bushfires and Covid-19 pandemic.”
“QMLC would like to thank Cayce Hill for her dedication to the community and the centre.”
Ms Hill is the Centre Manager and the only employee at the centre but also has a team of 12 volunteers.
The Bega Valley local who is a migrant herself, told ARN Bega Bay the closure was a hard pill to swallow.
“It was devastating, I was upset obviously for myself because I love my job but mostly I was upset because we, living regionally, are already under-resourced, and migrants are quite isolated, we don’t have families nearby to connect with or to support us,” Ms Hill said.
“I also came into this role around the start of the (Black Summer) bushfires and covid pandemic so I saw how impactful a role like mine could be on the lives of the people in our community, so really hard for me to swallow the news.”
Casey and her volunteers look after the region from Bermagui to the Victorian Border, helping migrants in the region with everyday tasks such as language, travel, job applications as well as putting on social functions.
“We have been running lots of programs which was important to bring people together,” Ms Hill said.
“Also support services, for instance if you don’t speak English or you’re not confident with your English, it takes a while to learn but imagine you need to go to Centrelink or you’re experiencing a domestic violence situation which some of my clients were, and yet you don’t know how to access these services on top of not being confident in your language, so something as simple as offering translation services to bridge that gap,” she explained.
“Transport in our region can be a big challenge as well, so helping people with transport or to get their drivers licence, as well as helping people get jobs and do job applications is a big part of what we do at the centre.”
“The range of services I’ve had to cover is varied and wide, so it’s unfortunate to think that these services won’t be provided anymore and that’s what some people will be missing out on.”
The Bega Valley community has responded by posting messages of support online.
“If you check our Facebook page, there’s so many beautiful messages not just in regards to the centre closing but also in terms of support for me, as I’ve been the only person working and covering the region from Bermagui to Eden,” Ms Hill said.
“To see those comments and hear about the impact that I’ve had, even if it’s only been for a few years, I’m pretty proud.”
Ms Hill, said while she’s now out of a job, she quickly got to work launching a new program as a volunteer to help migrants in the area.
“In reaction and response to the closure of the Bega Multicultural Centre, we’ve launched a new program in conjunction with TAFE NSW and the Bega Valley Shire Libraries, called ‘Here To Help’,” Hill said.
“It was started in Bega by Carol Holden who runs English as a first language classes (ESL) at TAFE, but with government funding it was not available to everybody, so VISA types change who can access the support and so she launched the program to assist anyone with literacy and numeracy needs in the community.
“When I found out the centre was closing, I reached out to Carol and we extended that program down to the Tura-Marrang Library now.
“We’ve recruited volunteers and will support the migrants we have in the Valley currently as well as workers living here who are working on the Snowy Hydro Scheme.”
Casey and the ‘Here to Help’ team will be at this Saturday’s Volunteer Expo at Oaklands in Pambula between 10am and 2pm as part of National Volunteer Week.
Images: Bega Multicultural Centre
