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Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister
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Media Release H163/2003 - 17 November 2003

Minister Presents $36,000 Grant for Migrant Settlement Services and Confers Citizenship in Bunbury

A $36,000 grant will improve settlement services available to refugees and migrants in the South West of Western Australia the Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Gary Hardgrave said today.

In Bunbury today, Mr Hardgrave presented the cheque to the South West Migrant Service Inc awarded through the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Community Settlement Services Scheme (CSSS).

'The grant will fund projects that will provide information through mainstream service providers and referral services to migrants and refugees in the rural South West of Western Australia,' Mr Hardgrave said.

'Under the CSSS, $12.13m will be offered to 141 community organisations around Australia to deliver a range of settlement services to migrants in metropolitan, regional and remote areas for periods of nine or 21 months,' Mr Hardgrave said.

'These services include information and orientation assistance for newly arrived migrants and refugees, community building for small and emerging communities, and casework and referral services to mainstream and specialist agencies,' Mr Hardgrave said.

'These grants represent an investment in Australia's future. They will provide migrants and refugees with the settlement assistance they need to participate equitably in Australian society,' Mr Hardgrave said.

Mr Hardgrave also acknowledged the important contribution new migrants make to regional communities in Australia at a citizenship ceremony in Bunbury today.

Candidates from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, New Zealand and the Ukraine officially became members of the Australian family, and the Bunbury community, at the ceremony.

Mr Hardgrave congratulated each candidate on the commitment they were making to being part of the Australian community and to the values that united all Australians.

'For each candidate today, their choice to become an Australian citizen is a concrete expression of their pride in being part of Australia's dynamic and diverse society,' Mr Hardgrave said.

Media contact: Amanda Lynch 0419 123 862

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