Current Programs
Bridge to Belonging
Bridge to Belonging is a community participation program aimed at connecting participants with their local communities, building relationships, and promoting personal independence. It supports multicultural community members with psychosocial and other disabilities by providing peer-led support to help reduce isolation, increase capacity, and foster greater social integration. Additionally, the program works to build the capacity of mainstream community, arts, and recreation services to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for people from CALD backgrounds living with disabilities.
The program’s activities are developed based on feedback from stakeholders and are tailored to address the needs and interests of participants. Through these activities, Bridge to Belonging strengthens social connections and community integration, providing opportunities for participants to engage in arts, sports, mental health support, and recreational programs. This initiative is delivered in collaboration with Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania (NHT), Reclink, the City of Clarence, Lifeline, and Contemporary Arts Tasmania.
This program is available to migrants and refugees on any visa who are facing challenges related to well-being, emotional concerns, mental health, or living with a disability.
Bridge to Belonging is a statewide program, available in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie.
For more information, please contact:
South Region: Phoebe Trang – 0438 739 911 / ptrang@mrctas.org.au
North and North-West Regions: Alexis Faye Villegas – 0447 029 258 / afvillegas@mrctas.org.au
Migrant Employment Energiser Program (MEEP) in Hospitality
Are you passionate about hospitality and eager to enhance your skills for a future career in the industry? Our MEEP in Hospitality program provides valuable training and employment support to migrants and refugees with working rights.
This 12-week non-accredited training program is designed to help multicultural individuals develop essential hospitality skills and secure long-term employment in the sector. The program combines both theoretical and practical training, covering key hospitality roles and providing hands-on experience with commercial equipment and setups. Additionally, participants will receive industry-specific language support to enhance their English skills and job readiness.
MEEP in Hospitality is open to all Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals with working rights. Please note that previous participants are not eligible to reapply.
This program is only available in the South of Tasmania with the first round of training curr ently in progress and will conclude in May, with the second round starting soon after.
For more information, contact our Employment Officer, Phoebe Trang, at 0438 739 911 or via email at ptrang@mrctas.org.au.
This program is supported by the Tasmanian Government.
Migrant Employment Energiser Program (MEEP) in Building and Construction
The Migrant Employment Energizer Program (MEEP) is designed to support individuals from multicultural backgrounds in accessing training and employment pathways, helping them secure long-term careers. This initiative aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and opportunities to thrive in the building and construction industry.
Through MEEP, participants will receive essential industry tickets, training in industry-specific language and concepts, career pathways planning, and work readiness support. Additionally, the program offers traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities to help individuals gain hands-on experience and further develop their skills.
MEEP is open to all Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals with working rights.
The program includes partnerships with building and construction companies, providing participants with White Card training, site tours, and informative industry talks.
The first group of participants is currently in the program and will complete their training in May. A new intake for the second group will be conducted soon after.
For more information, please contact Employment Officer Kim Chi at 03 6221 0999 or email tkcdinh@mrctas.org.au.
This program is funded by the Tasmanian Government.
ExpressAbility
ExpressAbility is a statewide initiative aimed at supporting individuals from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are living with mental health challenges, such as difficulties with communication, social interaction, learning, and self-care. The program is delivered by trained CALD mentors with lived experience of psychosocial disabilities or caregiving, who have successfully navigated their own mental health recovery.
The program focuses on empowering CALD individuals and their families to better understand their healthcare rights and to build the skills necessary to self-advocate. By using a peer-led approach, the program ensures that participants receive culturally appropriate guidance from mentors who share similar experiences and can offer valuable insights into overcoming challenges in accessing healthcare and social support services.
Key features of the program include peer-led support, where mentors with lived experience provide guidance tailored to the specific needs of participants, as well as community information sessions that deliver healthcare rights information in multiple community languages. Additionally, the program offers 8-week group sessions designed for CALD individuals and carers to develop self-advocacy skills, helping them feel more confident and capable when navigating healthcare systems.
This program is available to migrants and refugees on any visa who face mental health challenges related to communication, social interaction, learning, and self-care.
For more information, please contact your local program officer:
- South Region: phoenix@mrctas.org.au
- North Region: Andrew Kelly, 0477 285 217 or akelly@mrctas.org.au
This program is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services
Play Our Way
Women United program, under the Play Our Way initiative, is a game-changing initiative aimed at increasing sports participation among women and girls from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The Women United program is designed to remove obstacles by offering practical support, such as pre-season clinics, assistance with registration and equipment, scholarships, and opportunities for leadership and community involvement.
The program is not just about playing sports—it’s about building confidence, leadership skills, and social connections that extend beyond the field or court.
Through the program, we have provided 10 soccer scholarships (5 for Hobart, 5 for Launceston) and 10 basketball scholarships (exclusive to Northern Tasmania) to support participants in continuing their sporting journey.
The Women United program will be delivered in partnership with the Launceston Basketball Association (LBA), Launceston United, Hobart United and other local sports clubs to create sustainable pathways for CALD women and girls in sport.
For more information, contact 03 6221 0999/settlements@mrctas.org.au
This program is funded by the Australian Government under the Play Our Way initiative.
Mothers Circle
Mothers Circle program supports mothers from a refugee, asylum seeker, or humanitarian background living in Southern Tasmania with a child aged 10 to 18 to better understand and connect with their children.
This eight-week empowerment program is designed to provide mothers with the tools and knowledge to navigate parenting in Australia. The program covers essential topics such as identity, culture, building healthy relationships, parenting skills, addressing at-risk behaviors, cyber safety, and conflict resolution. It’s an opportunity for mothers to come together, share experiences, and empower one another in their parenting journey.
The program will run from May 5 to June 23. Upon completion, mothers will graduate and celebrate their achievements together.
For more information, please contact Chu at 0447 120 445/cvhang@mrctas.org.au
This program is proudly funded by the Tasmanian Government, Department of Premier and Cabinet under the National Family and Sexual Violence Agreement.