This program aims to increase the social and support networks of isolated older people and younger people with a disability and their carers. The program achieves this by establishing an ongoing relationship with a volunteer through a friendly visiting program. The program is also able to link clients to council service or local community group. The Multicultural Friendly Visiting Program relies on volunteers to provide one or two hours of companionship a week to the elderly or disabled clients or their carers. The volunteers are matched with clients on the basis of similar interests, hobbies and personalities and may engage in a variety of activities with the clients including shopping, walking, cinema, or simply chatting. The service does not provide home help but rather encourages and provides the opportunity for socially isolated people to participate in community life by providing companionship, friendship and assistance.
The MRC NW was established in 1989 in St Albans. It began as a shop front in Alfrieda St and moved to its current site in Main Rd West in 2002. It was originally established to work with new arrivals to the Cities of Brimbank and Melton but has expanded to the Western Metropolitan Region particularly for Aged and Disability programs, and to the City of Hume for settlement. The centre provides support, information, advice, advocacy and referral for individuals and groups. This includes Casework and referral, immigration advice, advocacy, support groups, social support programs, community capacity building work with groups and a range of short and long term community projects. The branch office was established in 2003 to provide support to the culturally diverse communities in the City of Hume. The centre is staffed by a committed team of workers who provide support to new arrivals in relation to their settlement in Australia, This includes Casework and referral, immigration advice and assistance, community capacity building work with groups and a range of short and long term community projects.