We are currently providing the following services at the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre:
 

I) Conversation Class for Non English Speaking Background men and Women:

The conversation English class is FREE for everyone who wants to practise their Conversational English regardless of their residency status or visa type; so it’s FREE for Tourist or Visitor, a Temporary Resident, a Permanent Resident, Australian Citizen or anyone with any other kind of visa.
    
In this class the participants learn about Australia, our flowers and plants, our animals, our culture and our language.
Also, they meet new people, make new friends, and have fun while learning English.
 
It’s a very friendly class for people with all levels of English and all ages to practise their spoken English every Tuesday at 10 am until 2:30 pm during school terms.
 

 

II) Listening and Pronunciation English class for Non English speaking background men and women:

The Listening and Pronunciation English Class for non-English speaking background men and women is a free class and designed to help them to practice their English Language while the focus is listening and pronunciation. The class is free for everyone regardless of the visa type and it is also a great opportunity to meet new people, socialise and make new friends. The class run every Wednesday during school terms from 10 am to 2:30 pm.
 

 

III) Multicultural Supported Playgroup

Multicultural supported Playgroup is operating at the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre on each Tuesdays during school terms from 10:00 am till 12:00 midday. The Multicultural Supported Play Group is partnership project between KU Children's Services, Northern Settlement Services, Mission Australia and Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre.

The aims of the playgroup are to enhance parent-child interactions and family functioning and to foster healthy and confident parenting to vulnerable families, especially those families that do not usually attend support services or community activities. This playgroup is for children aged 0-5 years and for those families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including migrant refugee families that live in the Newcastle area.

This project is funded by Department of Family and Community Services – Community Services under the NSW supported playgroup model.
 

IV) Playtime for Children and Parents 

Come join us at the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre, Lambton for fun Playtime activities for children while parents can have a cuppa with conversation to improve and practice English on topics related to parenting and pre-school. The playtime runs every Friday during school terms from 10 am – 12 midday and it is free to join.
 

V) Homework Centre for Primary / High School Students with Multicultural Background Parents:

The aim of the Homework Centre is to assist school students from non-English-speaking-backgrounds with their homework. The service is free of charge.

The sessions are held twice a week for Primary and High School students after school during school terms only – Tuesday and Wednesday 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

Each session has qualified volunteer teachers and a number of volunteers to help the students with homework and assignments. There are a number of computers available to the students, as well as access to the Internet. The students may use them to help with their homework, assignments, research or to practise on various educational programs.

We try to provide a relaxed, safe environment. The students take a break, at which time they play, talk or just relax. The social life between the students is very important as it encourages mutual support, self-esteem and understanding.
 

VI) Multicultural Youth Project:

The Multicultural Youth Project provides advice, referral and practical skills groups to young people aged 12-18 years from Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

The project employs a youth worker to engage with CALD young people in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and supports them in areas such as education, employment and training as well as helping to enhance their independence, safety, self-esteem and quality of life within the community.

We work in partnership with a variety of services, both government and non-government, to enable them to access services, express themselves creatively and improve their health & well-being.


 

VII) Computer Classes And General Computer Help

At the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre we provide computer classes FREE of charge and it’s available for everyone. The computer classes we provide are for beginners and / or intermediate level delivered at the centre by our qualified volunteers.

VIII) The Multicultural Social Group

The Multicultural Social group aims to:

- Connect people together
- Allow you to meet new people and make new friends
- Exchange knowledge and information
- Learn new skills
- Enjoy the friendly atmosphere while learning
- Exercise / enhance your English

The activities will include:
- Cooking different recipes from different countries around the world
- Learn and exchange information and knowledge about different cultures
- Socialise with other people
- Exercise your computer skills or learn how to use the computer and internet
- Arts and crafts
- and many other things.

To Join the Multicultural Social Group please call the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre on 49655291 -
it’s FREE and everyone welcome to join, men and women 18 years and above from any background.

IX) Multicultural Gardening Group

The Multicultural Community Garden focus on one of the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre, Inc objectives that is to promote social and educational interaction among people of diverse backgrounds by providing a pleasant, informal, non-sectarian, non-political atmosphere at the Centre.
The Multicultural Community Garden involves volunteers from the CALD background together with Anglo Saxon background from around the area. The project helps the community to get together and develop tolerance and acceptance between people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Objectives of the project are:
1. To allow people from CALD and Anglo Saxon backgrounds to grow their own vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.
2. Foster community engagement and to develop tolerance and acceptances between CALD background and mainstream background.
3. Allow people to get fresh air and exercise with no gym fees.
4. Learn about gardening and share local and traditional knowledge.
5. Encourage people to recycle and use organic sprays and gardening practices.
6. Develop innovative ways of sustainable living in the city.
7. To encourage cultural exchange, learning, sharing and community enterprises.

The community garden is the space for community members of diverse cultural backgrounds to practise and share traditional and contemporary expressions of their culture. This provides a unique opportunity for learning and exchange of knowledge. The community garden provides a critical link to culture through seeds that have been passed down for generations, and through the cultivation and preparation of traditional foods that are not available in local stores. It may also become venues for elders to explore their cultural traditions and celebrate their lives.