For over forty years, it’s been a key point of reference for the communities of Melbourne and Geelong.
The Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS), a historic non-profit organisation, continues to provide support services offering culturally appropriate programs for citizens born outside Australia, especially those for whom English is a second language.
The foundation employs 290 people who collectively speak more than 50 languages and come from over 40 different countries.
“This rich lived experience gives us a profound understanding of Victoria’s multicultural sphere, where we aim to provide complete support as well as sector leadership,” said Heather Rogers, Marketing Manager of AMCS.
The organisation’s mission, after nearly half a century of activity, is to create “a more cohesive and inclusive society where all cultures are genuinely celebrated”.
Following an extraordinary $7 million investment, AMCS recently inaugurated its new building in Seddon, the Millennium House Community Centre, which has been completely refurbished with a cutting-edge, multifunctional design.
The event was attended by hundreds of representatives from local and multicultural communities, including the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt; the Member of Parliament for the Footscray seat, Katie Hall; Viv Nguyen from the Victorian Multicultural Commission; and the centre’s CEO, Maryanne Tadic.
Generously donated to AMCS by its previous owners, the Polish Association of Kingsville and Ladies Auxiliary (PAKLA), the building was originally constructed in the 1960s as a community centre.
Construction of the centre in 1960
To this day, it remains a significant symbol of the migration history of Melbourne’s western suburbs.
“Thousands of people, over the years, have used the main hall of this facility to organise events or celebrate special occasions,” continued Rogers.
“We are honoured to have been chosen as the custodians of this legacy and, of course, we are committed to fulfilling this mission.”
The financial support for the refurbishment came from the Victorian Government, through the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund, the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund and the Department of Employment, as well as from the Gandel Foundation.
The entire community is invited to make use of the new facilities at the Millennium House Community Centre, which include state-of-the-art features such as a catering kitchen and a bar that can also be used as a café, a lounge, a large hall equipped with multimedia capabilities and several meeting rooms.
“Our goal is to harness our experience and the networks we’ve developed over time to support the thousands of citizens from different multicultural backgrounds, including seniors, newly arrived migrants, refugees, women and children,” said Rogers.
“For years, many Italian social groups have relied on our foundation, and we are thrilled to begin a new chapter for the community, working to make our multicultural society even more cohesive.”
