Community Connections
Building connections that people can relate to, creating opportunities to build social networks.
Family Community
Community is and has always been important to ICSA. We recognise the value of Australia’s vibrant multicultural co
Family life can have a different meaning for migrants. It can be immediate family along with others that cohabit; friendships and connections around us.
‘Aunties and Uncles’ can often be someone who has no blood or kin relationship but hold key influence in place of a parent or elder.
New arrivals can find it challenging to build a surrogate family; it all starts with connecting to community in some way.
We help with Community build Connections through
- Education & Awareness
- Event Activities
- Group Sessions
- Helping people become a ‘Buddy’ for times of need
Information, Education & Awareness
ICSA seeks that communities be better informed to be able to make informed decisions.
ICSA in group sessions educates on specific topics. Video and online sessions were held during COVID-19 and after lockdown.
Raise awareness in times of critical need. Over 2021 and 2022, we conducted workshops to on Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness. This was in response to the bushfire disasters and subsequent flood events, after the emergency services determined that CALD communities were more likely to suffer in terms of safety or failed timely evacuation. These sessions tailored to CALD communities and/or people with a disability are available upon request for groups of 8-12.
Information we receive through the wide array of Government agencies is shared through our newsletter, social media and as needed group sessions (eg Parent visa forum).
Events from across the community can be shared through our Social Calendar on what happening where.
Events & Activities
ICSA events or activities are to encourage the community to come together and usually underpinned by a theme.
2022: We were fortunate to be a charity of choice for the Behind Closed Doors performance. A powerful narration of lived experience of a child in a South Asian family experiencing Domestic & Family Violence.
After a selling out shortly after release of the first performance in May; two further shows were put on in the 16 Days of Activism. The show is now set to performed in Melbourne and Canberra in the near future.
2020: We ran ‘Shame’; a writing competition on the topic of shame in collaboration with Nautanki Theatre Company. Due to lockdown we were unable to showcase these stories, however are looking to bring out the winning entries at a future date.
Annual Events
International Women’s Day (IWD): we participate in multiple engagements for IWD each year. For 2023 ICSA is collaborating with FINACT to deliver a workshop on ‘Embracing Equity as a CALD Woman’ at the Indian High Commission in Canberra.
16 Days of Activism: We collaborate across three Local Government Areas on projects for awareness every year for the prevention of violence against women and children.
Collective Groups
We work with groups by request or sponsor set up in various locations.
Chat n Chai
A women’s group facilitated to create networks, make friends, socialise and take a break.
Chess n Chai
A men’s group facilitated to connect gain information in context of a man’s world and using a version of chess to explore [gender] role models.
Welfare Clinics
Drop-in clinics can be generic to assist in person for issues around language difficulty (eg assist in making calls); explain systems and processes. Help with document reading/drafting, or Justice of the Peace (JP) services. The clinics help to make direct referrals to relevant professional or welfare services.
We have run clinics which emerge for needs; in 2015 we established clinics in Melbourne to assist students after their colleges went into administration.
Buddy Program
The Buddy Program is a network of volunteers. As an unfunded service we rely on people from the community to help us support clients who need a friendly face to be on hand to get them through tough times.
Buddies help with client needs, but nothing too specialised, to ensure there is clarity around the role, we provide training;
- ensuring a safe environment
- understanding boundaries, confidentiality and limits of obligations
- knowledge of local systems and processes
- Free First Responder training (DFV)
Buddies have access to debriefing sessions for ongoing wellbeing and managing any vicarious trauma.
A buddy may assist people of all ages or gender with activities such as:
- shopping
- administrative tasks
- accompanying someone to an appointment
- helping with online activities
- a friendly phone call to check in on welfare
