New Handbook helps newcomers

Media release from Cr Oscar Yildiz JP, Mayor of Moreland
Wednesday 2 November, Moreland City Council

A Handbook containing vital everyday messages is now available and Moreland City Council is happy to see it become a must have addition for new migrants and refugees.

Moreland Mayor Oscar Yildiz and Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the Hon Nicholas Kotsiras MLA launched the new CALDCOM Handbook at the Adult Migrant Education Service (AMES) centre in the city.

“I am proud to see our latest collection of our CALD Storyboards in a Handbook as it demonstrates to newcomers that we welcome them and we are ready to support and assist in their transition to life in Australia", Mayor Oscar Yildiz said.

The CALDCOM Storyboards translate vital civic messages into pictorial stories in a bid to break the language barrier and get new migrants and refugees talking about issues.

 “In Moreland almost half of our population speaks one of 132 different languages at home and it’s almost impossible to translate messages to everyone but this does exactly that.” 

 “Many of us have migrant backgrounds and know the challenges of adapting to a new society. My parents did it and from all accounts life was not easy as a newcomer,” Mayor Oscar Yildiz added. 

Each of Moreland City Council’s CALDCOM Storyboards are carefully crafted to convey messages that inform newcomers about services and life in Australia.

They CALDCOM Handbook covers everything from Settling in, Water Safety, Responsible gambling and school crossing safety.

The CALDCOM Handbook is a free resource that is available for government organisations, not-for-profit groups, educational institutions and anybody interested in engaging with newly arrived migrants.

For more information on the CALDCOM visit moreland.vic.gov.au- ENDS –