Cultural Diversity

Council, in partnership with The Neighbourhood Centre; Bathurst residents completed a local initiative to celebrate Harmony Week 2023.

The initiative involved community members from diverse backgrounds attending local early childhood services and being asked questions by preschool aged children. The questions related to aspects of their culture which are important to them, including dress, values, traditions, food and music/dance.

The interaction between the children and participants was captured by a professional videographer. The responses and explanations provided by the participants were collated and developed into an educational resource video which is available to all local early childhood services.

The video was launched at Bathurst Library and included members of the multicultural community and the wider community, including the participants in the video.

The video can be viewed below.

The Bathurst Refugee Support Group consists of a group of concerned citizens committed to upholding the rights of individuals to seek asylum in Australia.

Bathurst Refugee Support Group is an incorporated association and a registered charity.

Aims

The aims of Bathurst Refugee Support Group are:

• Raise awareness of refugee and asylum seeker issues within the Bathurst community.
• Offer practical support and hospitality to refugees and asylum seekers who are either within the local community or who visit for short term respite.
• Raise and provide financial support to other organisations that directly assist refugees and asylum seekers.
• Advocate for the humane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees by the Australian Government.

Contact

Bathurst Refugee Support Group Website can be accessed here.

Email:  contact@bathurstrefugeesupportgroup.com

Postal Address

  PO Box 81, BATHURST  NSW  2795

"It takes courage to be a Refugee - it takes courage to work for Refugees too"

The Migrant Support Service is a regional program which provides help and support to migrants moving into the Central West, with emphasis on those who have recently arrived from non-English speaking countries.  Funding is provided by Australian Government Department of Social Services.  Phone 6332 4866. 

What is TIS National?

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides the TIS National interpreting service for people who do not speak English and for the English speakers who need to communicate with them. TIS National has more than 30 years of experience in the interpreting industry, and has access to over 1500 contracted interpreters across Australia, speaking more than 160 languages and dialects. TIS National is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any person or organisation in Australia requiring interpreting services.    Phone 131 450 for assistance.

Why should I use an interpreter?

TIS National recommends that interpreters should be used:

• to ensure accurate communication between people who have different language needs
• because effective professional practice requires both parties to have a clear understanding of each other
• because in times of crisis or stress, a person's second language competency may decrease
• because all Australians have the right to access services freely available to English speaking Australians - irrespective of their ethnic background and first language preference.

Why should I use TIS National's interpreters?

TIS National's resources and depth of experience makes it ideally placed to provide professional interpreting services for all Australians.

TIS National is a leader in the interpreting industry and exclusively uses contracted interpreters who:

• are insured for professional indemnity, public liability and workers compensation
• have been cleared by Australian Federal Police checks
• are bound by the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) Code of Ethics.

Interpreting tasks are assigned to contracted interpreters based on their accreditation standard, geographical location and availability. Priority is given to interpreters with National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) professional accreditation or recognition when allocating assignments.

Requests can also be made for male and female interpreters in sensitive or gender-specific interpreting assignments.

• Migrant Support Services Bathurst
  Phone: (02) 6332 4866
  
  
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  Phone: 131 450
  
  
• Community Relations Commission for Multicultural NSW
  Phone: 1300 651 500
  
  
• Centrelink Multilingual Information Service
  Phone: 131 202
  
  
• Health Care Interpreter Service
  Phone: 1800 674 994