Goulburn has always been a multicultural community, with numbers increasing during post-war settlement, seeing new community centres, churches and cafes each celebrating their cultures and traditions. 

Since its beginning in 2006, GMC has supported migrants to settle in Goulburn, including many refugees who have often fled war zones. GMC is an information centre to inform new arrivals about education, employment and health systems, and to help families quickly find their feet in Goulburn.

In addition, the centre helps celebrate Goulburn’s diversity through the Multicultural Festival in February, Harmony Day Picnic in the Park in March and Refugee Week in June. 

Regular activities at the centre include a Multicultural Women’s Group with life-skills information sessions, as well as English conversation groups, basic computer and IT training. In a recent holiday program activity, the Goulburn community joined refugee communities of Queanbeyan, Canberra and Cooma on a trip to the snowfields, with many seeing snow for the first time.

I arrived in Australia from Indonesia just six years ago. I initially met many people by volunteering at the centre.

Now as the GMC manager, I believe it is important to encourage people to help themselves. From my experience, migrants are very keen to contribute but can be frustrated by communication and language differences.

With the centre’s encouragement, many children have gone from school to university, people have found employment with some setting up their own businesses, and families have delivered the newest residents of Goulburn.