Strategic partnerships help Multicultural communities out of COVID-19

Multicultural organisations can continue supporting vulnerable communities with the help of additional COVID-19 funding from the NSW Government.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the NSW Government will be providing an extra $15 million to grassroots organisations and NGOs to make sure they have the resources needed to help their communities recover from the pandemic.

“For the past two years, local organisations and specialist support services have been working tirelessly to help our most vulnerable multicultural communities,” Mr Coure said.

“This funding is on top of the $54.7 million our Government has already invested in community-run programs, which are helping NSW bounce back from the pandemic.”

Mr Coure added that through the partnership with grassroots organisations, the NSW Government had also distributed 150,000 Rapid Antigen Tests to vulnerable community members.

“These COVID-19 support measures have helped community groups to take the pressure off vulnerable people in multicultural communities,” Mr Coure said.

Thanks to the partnership, Western Sydney Multicultural Resource Centre will receive an additional 800 Rapid Antigen Tests.

“Individuals from vulnerable and isolated communities have been able to get a test, so they can make informed decisions to keep themselves and others safe,” Centre Chief Executive Kamalle Dabboussy said.

“We welcome the distribution plan for free tests, and this complements the support we already provide to many of the at-risk groups who may not be able to access them."

The additional $15 million will support community-run programs and local service delivery. As part of that $15 million, groups and organisations can now apply for a share in $4 million through the 2022 COVID-19 Empowering and Supporting Local Communities Grants program.

For more information, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au.