About Us

Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council (BRMC) is the peak multicultural agency in the Central Highlands Grampians Region (CHGR).

Members include 24 Cultural Associations/Groups and numerous Individual and Associate members affiliated with BRMC.

Our mission is to work in partnership with other community organisations, cultural associations and members to actively promote multiculturalism, cultural diversity and the well-being of all migrant communities throughout the region.

Our purpose is to actively promote and develop goodwill, understanding and harmony in our culturally diverse community.

BRMC provides opportunities for all people of all cultural backgrounds to come together to celebrate multiculturalism and cultural diversity, and provides advisory services, support and advocacy for the particular needs of both older established migrant groups, plus new arrivals.

Objectives

To provide opportunities for people of all cultural backgrounds to come together.
To provide advisory services, support and advocacy for the particular needs of people of various cultural backgrounds.
To advocate on relevant government policy and practice at the local, state and federal level to ensure appropriate service provision.
To provide government and other bodies or agencies in the Ballarat region with an open channel of communication with cultural groups and organisations.
To promote a greater awareness of multicultural values, the contributions and the specific needs of community groups within the region.
To advise relevant agencies in the region on the social, legal, cultural, educational, health and welfare needs of residents of culturally diverse backgrounds with an emphasis on equitable access to services.

Our Staff

Position	Name	Contact Number	Email
Executive Officer	Ann Foley	03 5383 0613	a.foley@brmc.org.au
Executive Assistant	Elisabeth Bridson	03 5383 0613	events@brmc.org.au
Welcome Centre	Fiona Marshall	03 5383 0613	welcome@brmc.org.au
Communications	Janelle Swainston	03 5383 0613	media@brmc.org.au
Senior Services	Teresa Azzopardi	03 5383 0613	teresa@brmc.org.au
Senior Services Support	Natalie Athayde	03 5383 0613	natalie@brmc.org.au
Settlement Services	Deruka Dekuek	03 5383 0613	d.dekuek@brmc.org.au
Migrant English Support	Sarabjit Kaur	03 5383 0613	mep@brmc.org.au
Strategic Engagement	Annie Dunn	03 5383 0613	sec@brmc.org.au
Finance and Compliance	Helen Bennetts	03 5383 0613	admin@brmc.org.au
Financial Assistant	Toni Wilson	03 5383 0613	t.wilson@brmc.org.au

Executive Committee Members for 2018/2019

Position	Name
Chairperson	Chez Dichiera
Deputy Chair	Isaac Moses
Secretary	Sid Tegally
Assistant Secretary	Carmel Kavanagh
Treasurer	Paul Tant
Assistant Treasurer	Xavier Mani
Interfaith Officer	Margaret Lenan-Ellis
Publicity Officer	Tennille McLauchlan
Women’s Officer	Vacant
Youth Officer	Lamourette Folly
Community Representative	Alma Lapina
Community Representative	Andrew Battistella
Community Representative	Ugo Lo Iacono
Immediate Past Chair	Constantine Osuchukwu

General and Associate Members

View List of General and Associate Members

Our Story

Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, also known as BRMC, is a registered charity and a not-for-profit community service organisation. Established in 1999 BRMC is an incorporated association accountable to members through the BRMC Executive Committee.

BRMC is also accredited under the Aged Care Quality Standards.

BRMC offers a core set of services that support engagement and advocacy for new and emerging migrant communities and multicultural communities in the region, including multicultural sector coordination, settlement, community development, aged support, training and education, as well as arts and events.

BRMC manages the Ballarat Welcome Centre and a team of staff, volunteers and partners with government, community and business to promote our objectives.

Partnerships

Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia

Ballarat Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network