By Michael Scalzo

A manager of migrant settlement in the Wimmera has highlighted how a gap in multicultural engagement with COVID-19 health directives became a catalyst for a public-service reassessment.

Migrant communities met with health and emergency service groups at an event late last month, to put a ‘human face’ to the uniform.

Wimmera Development Association and Horsham Neighbourhood House hosted the event.

WDA settlement services manager Sara Barron said the event also encouraged service organisations to consider barriers to their own multicultural community engagement.

“COVID-19 health restrictions and government directives exposed really obvious ways it could be difficult for migrant communities to access information, especially given public health directions were consistently changing,” she said.

“It illustrated the integral role health and emergency services have as a touch point for communities.

“These ‘meet the services’ events have been about elevating the profile of services among migrant communities, as well as better equipping services with an understanding of the multicultural barriers to their public engagement.”

Mrs Barron said the events, a ‘two-way’ engagement opportunity, had practical benefits for dealing with a similar COVID-style public crisis in the future, as well as benefits that could improve everyday service communication.

“If we were to be in that COVID-19 situation again, multicultural communities could have a more detailed understanding of, as well as a greater trust and relationship with, a variety of different services that operate in the region – where the services are and what each service offers,” she said.

“The events give our service providers a greater understanding of the migrant user experience and their barriers to increased engagement.

“Often migrant communities haven’t accessed public services because they don’t know they are there, or sometimes, because they don’t feel comfortable engaging with certain uniforms – sometimes there is a negative experience attached to emergency services in some counties.”

Exhibitors at the event at Horsham Neighbourhood House included representatives from Federation University, Salvation Army, Centre for Participation, University of the Third Age, Uniting Wimmera, Horsham Library, Jobs Victoria and Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, as well as health and emergency response services including Country Fire Authority, Victorian State Emergency Services, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, The Orange Door and Grampians Community Health.

Mrs Barron said there was scope for a future ‘Meet the Service’ event to host representatives from more service organisations.

“The event in Horsham was very positive. It was a fun day with a great atmosphere. Some attendees spoke about their eagerness to host an event like this in Horsham every year,” she said.

“There is always an opportunity for communities to engage with more services at future meetings. I would encourage organisations such as Wimmera Sports Assembly, headspace and Lister House, which run health checks for refugees, to be involved with our future events.”

A ‘Meet the Services’ event has been planned at Nhill on December 19.

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