If you're in trouble, who you gonna call? That can be a poser for refugees and others with limited English.
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"Sometimes there isn't that awareness," Settlement Services International's Samantha Airs said. "We need to build stronger relationships between the CALD [culturally and linguistically diverse] community and what's available for them in Armidale when they need it."
SSI and other members of the Armidale Community Developmental Team challenged 15 health and safety services to provide potentially life-saving information - all without needing an interpreter.
The public can see their inspirations at Armidale's first diversity fair, at the Town Hall on Wednesday, June 12. They have devised engaging, interactive edutainment to show new arrivals how to stay safe in and out of the home, and where to turn for help.
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Speakers will talk about fire and water safety. Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers will demonstrate how to identify dangerous snakes and spiders, and what to do when they come across them. (Not get bitten, for starters.) Roads and Maritime Services will show how to install car seats properly; no word on crash dummies yet.
Police and ambulance, child and family services, the Benevolent Society, the Armidale Women's Homelessness Support Service, and Fair Trading NSW will also attend. Rapid Relief will provide free food.
"Refugees have to absorb a lot of information when they first come to Australia," Ms Airs said. "Safety is covered in their orientation, but we're looking at more opportunities to help promote awareness of how to keep them and their family safe."
The services will, in turn, learn how to better support the city's growing multicultural population.
"They may not have interacted with CALD community members," Ms Airs said. "Hopefully this will help them feel more comfortable and aware of what extra support is needed."
The fair is open to the whole community, and not exclusively for refugees. All of Armidale could take advantage of the fair, Ms Airs believes, particularly university students.
The event runs from 10am to 1pm at the Armidale Town Hall on Wednesday, June 12. It is organised through the Community Development Team consisting of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Human Services, Armidale Regional Council, STARTTS, NSS, UNE International Students Hub, and SSI.