We had one of the most special days of the year during the Twilight Multicultural Mixer 2025 last week. We hosted around 200 guests from our multicultural communities, service providers, and government. It was fantastic to see the spirit of community and collaboration that everyone brought to the event. We invited our guests into our Southport office, where we welcomed them to share and connect through an Open House Tour. For our teams, this was a great opportunity to showcase our services, highlights of the year, and what we do every day to support our communities. Showcasing our achievements and impact during the year reminded us of our why and created a space for reflection and future planning. At the end of the House Tour, our guests were surprised with a beautiful set-up where everybody enjoyed the sunset accompanied by lovely music and delicious Mexican food while preparing for the magical moments ahead, starting with the Welcome to Country by Uncle John Graham, from YRACA, followed by our CEO, Shane Klintworth, to officially welcome everybody to this special celebration of community connection and togetherness. One of MCCGC’s core goals is to ensure multicultural communities feel heard, seen, and valued. That’s why we opened the microphone for communities to share the remarkable work they are doing. Oyunaa, from the Mongolian Community Association in Queensland, with the project Harmony Bridge – Community Connection & Wellbeing Program Annick Sadhoo Courington, presenting her film Code Noir. Waddah Weld Ali with his project Our Diversity, Our Strength. One of the highlights of the night was the special painting reveal from Tamara, a Chilean artist who created an art piece and generously donated it to MCCGC. We are truly grateful and honoured to have this perfect symbol of cultural diversity and unity. Finally, we had the Mission Cards Networking Activity, an exciting opportunity to build meaningful connections and spark potential collaborations between service providers and community leaders. A big thank you to Maimai and Mariya from our Youth Advisory Group for being such great MCs for the night, to our event committee for bringing this event together, to our wonderful volunteers, staff members, and everyone who made the Mixer the success it was. Check the album's photos here

Our Settlement team recently participated in the SCOA National Settlement Conference 2025, which aimed to bring together settlement leaders, service providers, and policymakers to strengthen Australia’s settlement system under the theme “We Share a Dream.” It focused on creating inclusive communities where migrants and refugees can thrive, addressing key issues such as housing, employment, financial security, and reconciliation with First Nations peoples. At the event, we had the privilege of presenting a poster highlighting our Generations Group initiative, which is designed to connect boys and men of all ages and cultural backgrounds. This program promotes cultural exchange, mutual learning, and emotional wellbeing within a safe and inclusive environment, while fostering the development of meaningful, long-term relationships. This was an excellent opportunity for our team to showcase our initiative to different stakeholders, helping us build stronger community connections and encouraging others to join us in making a meaningful difference. It was an incredible experience with over 400 participants and 121 speakers joining forces to share knowledge and establish partnerships aimed at improving programs and advocacy. The conference highlighted the importance of reconciliation, showcasing real-life experiences and the voices of young people, while also exploring practical solutions for housing, employment, and social inclusion. Some of the highlights included discussions on how sports can create a sense of belonging, which is especially powerful for newcomers. There were also sessions dedicated to empowering young people and making sure inclusive practices are part of our settlement services. Participation in events like this is crucial for staying informed about national priorities, learning best practices, and building networks that enhance local impact. It ensures our Settlement team can advocate effectively, apply innovative solutions, and contribute to a unified approach to supporting migrant and refugee communities.

We had a very special session with our Multicultural Peer Support Workers (MPSW) from the Culture in Mind program. This program is co-delivered with our peer workers, who bring invaluable lived experience to everything we do. The session focused on strengthening our support for our communities and deepening our understanding of the supervision framework. It was a space to reconnect with the MPSW role, reflect on our practice, and ensure we continue working in a culturally safe, grounded, and sustainable way, while also taking care of ourselves. At MCCGC, we genuinely value the peer support role and believe it’s essential to create safe spaces where peer workers can learn, share, and be heard. Sessions like this keep us aligned, connected, and ready to walk alongside community members with empathy and cultural humility. One key insight from the session was the power of lived experience when shared in a safe space, a reminder of our “why.” We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort.