Minister visits youth service

MINISTER for youth Natalie Suleyman has visited the Centre for Multicultural Youth in Ballarat, or CMY, to chat with staff and local young people.

The organisation aims to empower young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds through youth-led social and recreational activities, in-school student support sessions and training programs.

“It’s responding for the need for support for 12-to-25-year-olds from multicultural backgrounds,” said CMY Ballarat team leader Shiree Pilkinton.

“Mostly we are working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and their families, also those who are seeking protection and asylum.

“We operate very much on an intercultural model where it’s about also bringing in young people who are not from refugee or migrant backgrounds, but they are strong allies.”

Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Julianna Addison also attended the meeting last week and Ms Suleyman said the organisation is an integral part of the community.

“In regional Victoria they provide important programs that support young multicultural people, and we are very proud of the work that they do,” she said.

“I personally have firsthand seen the work that they do in not only supporting but also delivering important programs.”

The organisation’s funding from the Regional Presence Program is up for review at the next state budget and Ms Suleyman said State Government will follow the normal process for funding allocation.

“We will go through the normal process but let me very clear about the work the CMY does and the opportunities that they are providing,” she said.

“We are very much proud of the work that they do and the work they will continue to do.”

Ms Pilkinton said she felt positive following the meeting and thanked the Minister for her support.

“We remain very positive after our meeting with Minister Suleyman and our local MPs,” she said.

“The Minister spoke very highly of the work we do in the Ballarat region to support culturally diverse young people and their families.”