Migrant community services

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Office of Multicultural Interests

The Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) coordinates programs to improve services for Western Australians from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

A great way to find your way around a new environment is to join a community group from your country or with your ethnic background. 

Visit the OMI website​ for the contact details of a large number of ethnic community groups and organisations.

Below are some other programs that may help you and your family once you have arrived in Western Australia.

Capacity building

The OMI offers a range of workshops to empower and build the capacity of communities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds.
This includes grants, workshops, public sector forums, funding forums and media training.

Community liaison

The OMI has a community engagement team for people who wish to discuss issues affecting their communities. The OMI can then liaise between communities and the service provider responsible for addressing that issue. 

Community consultations

Roundtable consultations are held with culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities to discuss issues that affect them. This information is then passed on to relevant government departments to help them improve services.

Metropolitan CaLD networks

Metropolitan networks consist of agencies and community groups that meet to share information and resources to better support CaLD communities.

​The Office of Multicultural Interests website​ also lists services available from other organisations that assist people who have recently migrated to Western Australia.

Migrant resource centres

Below are two migrant resource centres that you may wish to approach for assistance.  

City of Stirling Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre

The City of Stirling Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre provides referrals and links to a range of mainstream service providers, assists in building community capacity through education workshops and has established a mentoring program that matches new and emerging communities with individuals and organisations that can provide the relevant support.

Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre (MMC)
​Herb Graham Recreation Centre
38 Ashbury Crescent
Mirrabooka WA 6061 

T: +61 8 9205 7320
(from outside Australia)

F: +61 8 9344 ​6484
(from outside Australia)

​E: HerbGrahamCRC@stirling.wa.gov.au​​

W: stirling.wa.gov.au​

Finding relatives

Australian Red Cross Restoring Family Links Program helps families who are separated by war, disaster and migration. This work includes finding missing loved ones, re-establishing contact, exchanging family news and clarifying the fate of the missing.

​To use the service, contact:

Australian Red Cross
110 Goderich St​​
East Perth WA 6004

Freecall Hotline: 1800 875 1999 (9.00 am – 5.00 pm AEST)

T: +61 8 9225 8887 (from outside Australia)

E: tracing@redcross.org.au​

W: redcross.org.au/tracing​ 

Religion

There are many religions represented in Western Australia and subsequently hundreds of churches, mosques and temples. To find the contact details of your religious group, visit the Yellow Pages​.

Playgroups and kids clubs

A playgroup is made up of a group of parents and their young children who meet together for interaction and play. Children normally attend from birth to kindergarten/school age. Playgroups are run by members and meet in a variety of venues with more than 500 playgroups across the State. 

To find a playgroup, visit the Playgroup WA (Inc) website​.​