Interpreting services are available for non-English speaking residents. This service is free for residents and ratepayers who do not speak English when accessing the City's services.
Interpreting and translating services are available to our non-English speaking residents via the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). The service provides language interpreting in 160 languages for government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and businesses.
To use this service, please phone TIS on 13 14 50 within Australia or +613 9268 8332 from overseas.
You can also visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website.
The City can also translate relevant documents into other languages upon resident’s request.
Learning English will help you to participate more fully in Australian life. You will learn new skills to help you work and make friends in Australia.
If you need help with learning English, Cockburn libraries offer several language programs for young children, teenagers and adults. Improve and practice your speaking skills in a fun, informal way.
Visit the Cockburn Libraries website to find out about:
The Department of Home Affairs offers the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) – a free service to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English levels to improve their English language skills and settle into Australia. To find out more, including eligibility, visit Department of Home Affairs - AMEP.
MyAus App
MyAus is a mobile app designed to help migrants in Australia navigate their new life. It offers essential information on various topics such as healthcare, employment, education, and housing. Additionally, it provides guidance on language support, legal rights, and understanding Australian culture.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid WA offers legal services to migrants and multicultural individuals in Western Australia. They provide information, advice, and representation in various legal areas, including family, criminal, and civil law. Their services cater to diverse communities by offering interpreter services and access to legal resources in multiple languages.
Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre
The Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC) settlement programs aim to provide client specific, individualised and tailored pathways that assist refugee and humanitarian entrants to settle into the Western Australian community, become self-sufficient and participate fully in all aspects of Australian life.
Multicultural Service Centre
The Multicultural Service Centre (MSC) provides comprehensive support to migrants and multicultural individuals in Western Australia. Their services include settlement assistance, welfare support, education, and training. They also offer cultural and legal guidance, emergency relief, and advocacy against racial discrimination. With a focus on inclusivity and diversity, MSC helps people from various backgrounds thrive in their new community.
Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) and Service Directory
The Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) provides information, advice, funding, training and support to communities and community organisations, to help build strong communities that maintain and share their diverse cultures and participate actively in all aspects of Western Australian life.
A detailed
Service Directory is available on the OMI website. The directory includes contacts for essential services, crisis support, housing, family support, health and more.
You may also be interested in the following documents:
Cultural diversity is an important aspect of community development, and as such is part of the City's Community Development Strategy 2021-2025. Available to view below.
The Strategy identifies four focus areas:
- Connecting neighbourhoods
- Working together
- Strengthening resilience
- Building relationships.
If you come from a different country than Australia or have a diverse cultural background, or if English is not your first language, the Job and Skills Centre can help you turn your life experience into a career.
Jobs and Skills Centres are located throughout Perth, providing specialist services to people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds to access education, training, and employment-related services, enabling them to live independently in the community.
The friendly staff at these centres understand your situation and can provide information, services, and support to help you with training, finding a job, or developing a career.
Visit the Jobs and Skills Centre website to learn more.
The
Australian Human Rights Commission is a place where people can go to report when their rights are not being respected in Australia. They work hard to listen to these complaints and try to fix the problems, so that everyone's rights are protected and respected.
For more information about the multicultural support services, please contact the City of Cockburn's Community Development team at [email protected] or on (08) 9411 3444.