Kyneton is at the forefront of places in the Macedon Ranges likely to soon become home to a family of refugees currently living in a camp overseas.
Two local groups in the area – the Ranges Resettlement Group and KBC-Connect – under the guidance of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, will be supporting the family and need assistance from a number of people to make this successful.
The refugee families have been processed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Australian Government and will arrive with permanent residency visas. They are ready to go and are just waiting on the phone call that will change their lives forever.
The tasks for people wanting to help are many, but include meeting and welcoming the new family at the airport when they arrive, providing temporary accommodation for the families, providing culturally appropriate food, assisting them to find permanent housing, furnishing the house with all items and electrical appliances needed, assisting the family to access Centrelink, Medicare, driving lessons, schooling for their children, employment and English language lessons as they may not speak any English upon arrival.
It does seem very daunting but the groups have already received some offers of support from the local Macedon Ranges community.
The big ticket item on this list is housing.
The Ranges Resettlement Group has already approached various local real estate agencies seeking assistance with housing but if there is anyone from the local community who could help with a house that is clean and in good repair, preferably in the Kyneton township with a minimum of two bedrooms, members of the groups would love to hear from you.
The family will be eligible for the Government Rental Assistance payment, Job Seeker, parenting payment, etc until such time as employment can be found. Rental for the property could therefore be negotiated.
If you would like to assist this family on their journey to a new life, the Ranges Resettlement Group has set up tax deductible donation site via CRSA you can find it at shoutforgood.com/fundraisers/rangesresettlementgroup
Alternatively, donations can be made directly to an ANZ bank account.
Account Name: Ranges Resettlement Group BSB: 013 706 Account: 330 117 455
If you have donated to this account and would like an invoice for tax deduction purposes, contact Roger Barr on 0423 020 669 and an invoice will be mailed to you.
For further information or if you feel you can assist this project, contact (phone or text) Roger Barr – Ranges Resettlement Group on 0423 020 669, or Allan Semmens – KBC-Connect on 0401 614 929.
