MCCI is a non-profit charity that provides a leadership voice for people and communities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven and ACT/Queanbeyan regions.

With around 380 staff and volunteers and more than 40 languages spoken, MCCI delivers a range of services including aged care, youth development programs, stakeholder engagement, community capacity building, and training services.

The safety and personal security sessions, initiated by NHW ACT Vice President (North) Clare McGrath in consultation with MCCI’s Social Groups team leader Jacque Kim, Le Hoa, and ACT Policing’s Talia Cattuzzo, has created a valuable opportunity to connect with community groups. This initiative which is hoped to become a regular event, fosters ongoing engagement and support for local safety.

The sessions are sometimes held with the assistance of an interpreter for seniors in the Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Serbian, Italian and Korean community groups who meet socially each week as part of the MCCI program.

The combined input of Neighbourhood Watch, ACT Policing and MCCI have provided for some lively and positive interaction.

Seven sessions ranging from 30 to 60 minutes – depending on the size of the group and the questions raised – were conducted between July and September, and the groups have averaged some 30 to 40 participants with varying degrees of English proficiency.

NHW ACT’s Board Secretary, Angela Di Pauli, and Membership Secretary, Jude Bowman, have also attended selected sessions to support Clare, Talia and Le Hoa.

Jacque introduced the NHW and ACT Policing representatives, who promptly made their presentations and fielded questions from their Italian-Australian audience.

Booklets and pamphlets from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NHW on personal and community safety were distributed, along with UV pens for marking personal property, a small plastic package, and information on how to become a NHW member.

Noticing that many in the audience were unsure about the small packages being handed out, Membership Secretary Jude Bowman playfully opened one and modelled the ‘NHW poncho’ inside, much to the delight of everyone present!