MCMC played a central role in the development of Victoria’s first Bilingual Parks Guides course, a 10-week program accredited by the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT).

The enthusiastic graduates of the course represent eleven different cultural groups and speak more than seven languages. Ranging in age from early 20’s to 70’s with an almost even gender balance, the graduates are keen to continue learning about Victoria’s environment and to conduct their own programs for community groups from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Most of the course participants were from the community sector, with two from natural resource management areas. Linking these two sectors proved a very effective way to conduct community engagement programs about the parks and waterways of Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

The success of the project was due to MCMC’s partnership with the City of Whittlesea, NMIT, Parks Victoria and the Go for Your Life program, the Office of Women at the Department for Victorian Communities, with support also from the Department of Sustainability & Environment.

For more information about the course and the group, contact Dimi Bouzalas at MCMC, phone: 9380 8199.