Costs and issues specific to South Brisbane

9.3 Costs and issues specific to South Brisbane

Lack of infrastructure adversely affects both the migrant and the host community. As already noted a range of settlement Programmes and services in language tuition, interpreting services, accommodation and health checks are provided by the Commonwealth, State and Local governments. Participants spoke highly of the range of Programmes and services available, particularly those delivered through the Brisbane City Council, under the Multicultural Communities Strategy. Under this strategy the Council co- ordinates ad Community Relations Group, a Cultural Diversity Group and an anti-racism project (Brisbane City Council, 2005:11). It provides a range of services including: the translation of local government documents into a range of new and emerging languages; the provision of neighbourhood guides and resources; tangible support for refugee settlement; an on-line welcome kit for refugees and migrants and a number of facts sheets. Brisbane City Council also funds a community development grants scheme that assists a range of

new and established migrant groups to build community capacity (social capital); and has funded 83 grants worth more than $1 million over 4 years to celebrate cultural diversity (Brisbane City Council, 2005:11). The City Council employs bilingual consultants and facilitates a community jobs programme aimed at finding employment for refugees (Brisbane City Council, 2005:11).

However, the rapid growth in Brisbane’s new and emerging migrant populations, couple with their dispersal across the city places an extra strain on the demand and provision of such services. In addition to this the gentrification of South Brisbane has significantly eroded the informal social supports offered to new migrants during their crucial integration phrase into Australian life. Contracted services have largely taken over and filled the gap in informal supports. Some participants felt this promoted community division.

Given the gentrification of South Brisbane new and emerging migrant communities are settling further out in the South Western suburbs of Marooka and Stones Corner. As noted in the literature review one aspect of migration that host communities sometimes have trouble coming to terms with is the changes to local neighbourhood. While many of these are superficial some residents find new smells and food outlets and the visual appearance of people from ethnic minorities unsettling. The reaction of several long-term residents to this sudden change was expressed in the following edited exchange:

The ‘clumping’ of new migrants in suburbs with a long history of being mono- cultural raised a raft of concerns among long term residents. The risk of new social divisions and racial tensions opening up in response to these neighbourhood changes could present a challenge if forms of bridging capital fail to emerge between the new and established communities.