ALISON BYRNES MP
Member for Cunningham

The Albanese Labor Government is investing in the Illawarra with over $300,000 awarded to Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI).

MCCI will receive $321,000 (GST exclusive) over 2024−25 and 2025−26, to deliver the Accelerate Them project under the Strong and Resilient Communities Activity – Inclusive Communities (SARC – IC) grants.

The project will support young people aged 14-18 to make positive life choices, pursue their dreams and aspirations, form support networks, and engage with learning and development. This will be achieved through a 12-week strength-based youth-led program.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the successful organisations would deliver targeted services to help build capacity at a local level.

“Our Government is committed to building strong and resilient communities, and to helping Australians who need a little extra support,” Minister Rishworth said.

“To build stronger and more resilient communities we need to invest where there is the most need and the opportunity to make the biggest difference to the future of community members.”

“We know that the successful organisations are well placed to help some of our most vulnerable, including young people, people with disability, unemployed people, First Nations Australians and women.”

The competitive grant round was open to community organisations that work to improve the social and economic participation of disadvantaged people in the community, with a focus on:

• young people aged 12 to 18 years who are, or are at risk of:
  • being disengaged, marginalised;
  • having limited engagement with education/training;
• people with disabilities and/or mental health issues to participate in the community, and work towards becoming or remaining independent and engaged in the economy and/or society;
• women who experience, or are at risk of experiencing isolation or discrimination to participate in the community and/or economy and increase their self-agency; and
• people who are unemployed to increase participation in their community and/or increase their capacity to engage in employment, training, or existing employment services.

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes:
“The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra is an integral part of the Illawarra region, with a proud history of supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and migrant communities for nearly 50 years.

“Now with over 380 staff and volunteers speaking over 40 languages, MCCI delivers a vital range of services across our region including aged-care, youth development, stakeholder engagement, and community volunteering and training services.”

“I have been a proud participant at Accelerate Her, where young women from CALD backgrounds meet with various mentors from across the community, helping them to realise their aspirations. I can’t wait to see this work continue with a broader cohort of students through Accelerate Them.

Quotes attributable to MCCI Chief Executive Officer, Chris Lacey:
“MCCI warmly thanks the Australian Government for supporting the Accelerate Them project.”

“The project will build upon MCCI’s highly successful and award-winning programs that support the Illawarra’s multicultural youth to thrive, to learn new skills, to seek help when they need to, to be active citizens, and to give back to communities.

This funding builds on the Government’s record to help Australians doing it tough when they need it most, including:

• Providing every Australian taxpayer a tax cut;
• Increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance for nearly one million households;
• Boosting funding for emergency and food relief services, along with financial counselling; and
• Extending the freeze on deeming rates for 876,000 income support recipients.

More information about the SARC Activity is available on the Department of Social Services website.