At least five Bhutanese resettled in Melbourne shared their experience in new country and life as refugees with Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Nicholas Kotsiras, Tuesday.
Led by Kinapathi Dhimal, the Bhutanese team met the Minister during a volunteer seminar organized by the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) in Victoria.
Minister Kotsiras listened to the settlement experience and community volunteering work of the Bhutanese team and appreciated them for high spirit in volunteerism.
Minister Kotsiras said that about 2.5 million volunteers participate every year in Victoria contributing worth $4.5 billion every year in dollar value and assured the government will continue supporting volunteering programs in Victoria, informed Parsuram Sharma Luital of the AMES.
Luital was one of the panel speakers emphasizing on promoting and recognition of volunteering work of all the different ethnic groups within Victoria and giving them formal volunteer recognition.
The Bhutanese members contributed in planning strategies and direction in developing volunteering with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and the Victorian government through service providers.
The seminar included the panel session of prominent speakers from Victorian government, service providers and CALD communities with extensive experience in volunteering work in the multicultural and mainstream sector.
Contributed by Parsu Budathoki from Melbourne for BNS
