On 11th July MCSCA participated in the Solomon Island 48th Independence Day celebration, which was organised and successfully hosted by Solomon Island aged care workers at ARRCS. The evening was a beautiful display and demonstration of the diversity that exists within Solomon Islands, with a fashion parade and dance perfomances representing the nine provinces that make up the Solomon Islands. The two MCs Romity and Thomy did a great job of hosting the event. The evening consisted of a flag ceremony, national anthem, sermon and official speeches - a wonderful reflection of the journey to independence.

Conducted at the request of local community members, MCSCA brought together youth, parents, and local sports instructors in Mparntwe / Alice Springs for a dedicated South Sudanese community consultation. Structured to foster open communication and practical outcomes in a welcoming and supportive space, the evening was divided into two distinct phases: a listening forum followed by solution-focused round-table activities. Community member Martha provided translation assistance .

Understanding Community Concerns
The first half of the evening focused on identifying key challenges through:

• Youth Consultation with Apajok, in a supportive space to discuss personal and social challenges experienced at school and within their households.
• Parents Consultation with Bridget. Parents voiced pressing concerns regarding neighbourhood safety for children across Alice Springs. They also highlighted ongoing obstacles related to literacy, numeracy, language barriers, and employment navigation.

Round-Table and Action Planning
During the second half of the event, attendees gathered around interactive roundtables to turn shared concerns into plans. This included local sports instructors offering to help establish dedicated training spaces and structured athletic programs to keep young people engaged and mentored.

MCSCA staff connected adult attendees with available resources, such as Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) an initiative funded by the Department of Home Affairs in partnership with STEPS in Alice Springs to support English language development and job readiness.
The third topic was initial suggestions to improve local safety and youth support networks.

Supporting Our Migrant Community
This gathering highlights MCSCA‘s ongoing commitment to delivering dedicated settlement services for new migrants in Central Australia, from education pathways and youth engagement and family support, our team continues to build strong community networks across the region.
Bashitha Samarakoon

On Friday 17th July MCSCA was honoured to host the Peruvian Ambassador Vitalino Gallardo on his first ever visit to Alice Springs. MCSCA welcomed him with a briefing about our region and our organisation, a meeting with MCSCA board members, and facilitated a meeting with the growing Peruvian community who call Mparntwe / Alice Springs home.  

Local performers delivered an energetic lineup of singers and dance performances, bringing rich colour, music, and rhythm to the venue. The event offered a warm, inclusive setting for community members of all ages to enjoy traditional dance, music and cultural heritage together.

MCSCA Board members were in attendance to show their support, with MCSCA Chair Mona Sree delivering a speech. MCSCA staff hosted an information stall and Senior Settlement Worker Jessye Blake provided advice, resources and information regarding MCSCA‘s services. This offered a valuable opportunity for newly arrived Sri Lankan migrants to connect with the established local community and learn more about the settlement support available in Central Australia.

Community Support & Collaboration
The success of the evening was made possible by the dedicated collaboration of partners, sponsors, organisers, and volunteers.  MCSCA was proud to partner with SLAAS, including loan of  equipment and financial support through a grant from the Department of Home Affairs. Generous contributions from local Sri Lankan community members and businesses were also instrumental in making the night a resounding success. Heartfelt appreciation goes to the organising teams, singers, musicians, dancers, caterers, and dedicated volunteers who planned the event, shared their talent on stage, funded and prepared delicious home-cooked meals, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the evening to life.
Bashitha Samarakoon

These extra costs can add thousands of dollars to the total amount. Many people also wait a long time for a decision. Some partner visa applications take more than a year to be processed. This can be stressful for couples who are living apart while waiting for approval.
Applicants should prepare all their documents carefully before applying. This is important because the visa application fee is usually not refunded if the application is refused. If you're planning to apply for a partner visa, check the latest information and processing times on the Department of Home Affairs website before you submit your application. If you need further information, please contact the settlement team at MCSCA.
Liz Jok 

Flynn Drive Oval was buzzing over the weekend as local Indian and Pakistani community members gathered for their annual Independence Day cricket derby. While the action on the pitch brought plenty of friendly rivalry, the real focus of the day was cross-cultural unity and taking a shared stand against domestic violence.

Standing United Against Domestic Violence
Coinciding with Pakistan‘s Independence Day on August 14 and India‘s Independence Day on August 15, the gathering highlighted how local sport can bring people together around shared values. Before the first ball was bowled, players, officials, and spectators linked arms across the pitch to take the "NO MORE" pledge—turning the fixture into a public statement of solidarity to promote safe, respectful relationships across the Northern Territory.

The event was about much more than cricket. After the match, players, families and community members from both sides shared food, spent time together and celebrated in a friendly and harmonious environment. The event showed how sport can bring different communities together and strengthen friendship, respect and multicultural harmony in Alice Springs.
Both the Indian and Pakistani communities greatly appreciated the support provided by MCSCA in making the event possible. The communities also thanked No More, Alice Springs Town Council, Alice Tigers Cricket Club, Alice Springs Cricket Association and Woolworths for supporting the event.

The 2026 Independence Day Cricket Match was a wonderful example of the spirit of “Everyone Belongs” — two communities celebrating their heritage while coming together as one Alice Springs community. Sport can do far more than entertain. It can serve as a powerful engine for social cohesion, safety, and mutual respect.
Bashitha Samarakoon and Gagandeep Ralh

MCSCA, in partnership with NT Parks and Wildlife, has gradually grown attendances to the Welcome to the Wild program over the first five sessions. There is positive verbal feedback from most participants that they really love and enjoy the program, exploring and experiencing the hiking and making social connections. We would love to hear your feedback as it is important to help us plan and improve future events! This survey will take you about 5-8 minutes to complete. It is open for everyone who attended ANY of our events including the information session and any hike. As a thanks for your contribution, we invite you to enter the prize draw.
Please click the survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZWLMVFF
Leakhena Chum

Participants received guidance on resumes, networking, and interviews. The interview roleplay allowed the participants to observe, learn, evaluate, and provide feedback. There was also the opportunity for participants to connect on the day with employers through some job vacancies that MCSCA had received, and how to access employment mentoring and support services where the participants needed. 
- Leakhena Chum

A health and wellbeing consultation was held with international students at Alice Springs College of Australia, in partnership with Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative (AMHC).

MCSCA welcomed members of Chabad of RARA who visited Mparntwe Alice Springs to meet with MCSCA and to connect with the local Jewish community.

Health and wellbeing consultations with PALM workers at ARRCS in Mparntwe Alice Springs.

MCSCA shared a stall at the COTA NT Seniors Expo.  Many conversations took place with multicultural seniors about access to the services they need and also what they love about living in this place.

Bookings are ESSENTIAL.  For the FREE ticket code for MCSCA members and friends, call us 8952 8776.  Click on the link for bookings.
We look forward to seeing you there!

COMING UP IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
 
20 August Visit by Kenyan Ambassador and meeting with Kenyan community members
22 August Red Dirt Poetry Festival - Workshops at MCSCA with Visiting Poets 1.30pm and 3.00pm
23 August Indonesian Independence Day celebration, ASYC
03 September Services Australia Information Session and individual appointments 10:00am - 1:30pm
05 September Women's Health Week - Health and Wellbeing Event - MCSCA training room 11am - 2pm 
13 September Welcome to the Wild - Ormiston Pound Walk - 10km, Ormiston Gorge - All Day
22 September International Students Info Session with MigraNT Hub - MCSCA training room 5:00pm - 6:30pm
23 September individual appointments for community members with MigraNT Hub - MCSCA training room 

REGULAR EVENTS at MCSCA
Monday and Friday SusuMama Multicultural Playgroup - Higgins Hall, ASYC 9.30am-11.30am

Since 1985, Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia Inc (MCSCA) has been the only organisation that solely focuses on supporting migrants, refugees and multicultural communities in Central Australia. MCSCA works with new, emerging and established communities and provides outreach, settlement and support services and programs to help people settle and thrive in Central Australia. MCSCA is an independent, non-religious, non-partisan, community-based, not for profit organisation and registered charity. Multicultural News is produced by MCSCA.