It is with deep sadness that Spectrum honors the passing of young client, Arash Yari, drowned off South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, while on summer holiday on 15th January 2019. Arash, with his family, arrived in Australia from Afghanistan 18 months ago, and has launched himself into Australian life with gusto. The team at Spectrum has […]
On a warm summer day, a bus beetled out of the Spectrum driveway, and headed to the hills. On board was 36 excited clients and carers ready to stretch their eyes, and have a little bit of fun. The adventure commenced with a rather entertaining bus trip. The extremely humorous tour guide entertained the lively […]
As Spring was finally springing in Melbourne, a group of families from the Good Shepherd Primary School in Gladstone Park embarked on a special excursion to Melbourne. The adventure marked the final stages of the families’ participation in Spectrum’s ‘Parenting in a New Culture’ program. The program aims to help families who have recently arrived […]
Federation 20th Anniversary Lunch and AGM Late in 2018, the Federation of Northern Ethnic Senior Citizens Clubs (‘Federation’) gathered at the Greek Orthodox Church in Coburg to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. The Federation, by bringing together culturally diverse Senior Citizens clubs to share knowledge, learn together and advocate collectively, has had far-reaching grassroots impact for […]
A growing cohort of Australia’s homeless is women in retirement. This is Susan’s story about how life changes can create housing instability, and how homelessness can be averted. It was 1967 when a teenage Susan, along with her family migrated from Manchester England to Melbourne Australia. It proved to be a difficult move given she […]
Spectrum’s board welcomed the release of its 2017/18 Annual Report at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting. 2017/18 was a significant year for Spectrum and our work with people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Moreno Grison, Chair of the Spectrum board launches this report with the timely reminder “that Australia is a successful multicultural society forged by […]
This week marks a significant event for Muslim communities across Australia, Eid al-Adha. It is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or Festival of Sacrifice as it commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. It is one of the pivotal, and arguably confronting holy stories of history, retold in the Qur’an, […]
The joy and richness of social cohesion is woven into society by the diversity we all bring. For Australia, and for Spectrum, embracing difference, and celebrating it, draws us closer. So much so that we have enshrined this sentiment in one of our core values: Be Different and Be One. Today, 30% of Australia‘s population […]
This week, in recognition of National Homelessness week we chatted with Sharyn Tambo, Spectrum’s Assistance with Care and Housing Officer. “I am involved in assisting older Australians over the age of 50 who find themselves homeless or living in insecure housing situations. Sometimes this is due to unaffordability, complex health issues, the death of a loved […]
In the spirit of NAIDOC Week, Spectrum team member Sharyn Tambo reflects on the experience she and her family had living in Aboriginal community, Mutitjulu. Connection to country is an unfathomably profound and sometimes unpredictable pull. After feeling a ‘calling’, in February 2016, my family and I set off on an amazing adventure to the heart of […]