Community stories: 22 October 2024
Limestone Coast Multicultural Network (LCMN) is a new community organisation run by local people from various cultural backgrounds in Naracoorte, in regional South Australia. They received a $4,952 grant from the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grant program to develop a five-year Strategic Plan that will draw on their cultural backgrounds.
Naracoorte has experienced significant growth in its multicultural population over the last decade. The demographic shift has been largely driven by the availability of work and affordable living. Naracoorte has the second largest Hazara Afghan community in SA and community members from Laos, Philippines, China, Malaysia and various Pacific nations.
LCMN is a platform that enables multicultural community members to represent themselves and their interests within the wider community, providing effective links between ethnic groups, local services and other community groups.
FRRR funds were used to bring in a local facilitator to deliver capacity development training for the network through two half-day workshops. This process included defining organisational goals and identifying key performance indicators to enhance the group’s effectiveness in supporting and connecting the multicultural community of Naracoorte.
The workshops also prioritised bonding activities designed to build trust within the network, laying a solid foundation for a collaborative approach that promotes diversity and conversation.
The lasting impact of the project can be seen in the creation of LCMN’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which identified three key priorities: building strong community support for the migrant population, creating a thriving migrant community, and establishing LCMN as a valued organisation within Naracoorte.
The project has empowered the committee and provided them with the tools to engage more effectively with and within the wider community. The completion of their banner, an additional component of the grant, also helped promote the organisation at community events such as Refugee Week, strengthening LCMN’s presence in Naracoorte and ensuring their ongoing commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and social cohesion in the region.
