The Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre Inc (SMRC) is a not-for-profit community-based organisation established in 1993 to provide support services to migrants and refugees residing in the southern region of Melbourne, Australia. Operating for over three decades, the SMRC serves local government areas including the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey, and the Shire of Cardinia, among surrounding suburbs.

History and Mission

Founded by migrants and refugees who experienced challenges accessing mainstream support services, SMRC has grown into a significant agency focused on the settlement and integration needs of new arrivals. Its mission is to ensure sustainable settlement outcomes by empowering clients through social, economic, health, and wellbeing programs. The organisation employs a strengths-based approach that recognises the knowledge, skills, and experience of its clients, aiding them to rebuild their lives and achieve independence in partnership with mainstream service systems.

Services and Programs

SMRC offers a broad range of innovative and inclusive services tailored to meet the diverse needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. These include in-language educational, employment, social, and aged care programs designed to support social inclusion and economic participation. The centre employs a multilingual workforce of over 200 staff and volunteers who speak more than 55 languages collectively, reflecting the rich diversity of the communities they serve.

Some of the key services provided are:

• Settlement support and community integration programs
• Employment assistance and multicultural labour hire services
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Aged care services with cultural sensitivity
• Educational support including tutoring and skills development

The organisation also runs a multicultural labour hire service that offers culturally sensitive and language-accessible care services, particularly in-home care, operating for nearly two decades.

Vision and Values

SMRC’s vision is to enable migrants and refugees to successfully achieve their goals and aspirations. The organisation is guided by values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence. It advocates for human rights and social justice while fostering empowerment, resilience, inclusion, and diversity within its client base and the broader community.

Impact and Community Role

Through its community-based and client-centric model, SMRC plays a pivotal role in the social cohesion and wellbeing of newly arrived migrants and refugees in Melbourne’s south. The organisation actively collaborates with mainstream and multicultural agencies to deliver integrated, impact-oriented programs that respond to the evolving needs of its communities.

SMRC’s approach emphasises long-term, sustainable outcomes for clients, supported by flexible funding structures, advocacy, and the delivery of services that promote self-sufficiency and community participation.

The Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre continues to be a cornerstone for newcomers in Melbourne’s southern region, delivering culturally appropriate and accessible support services that contribute significantly to the settlement and empowerment of migrants and refugees since its inception.

ABN: 44 877 224 580

[1] https://smrc.org.au [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/7ab68c5e-38af-e811-a963-000d3ad244fd/profile [3] https://smrc.org.au/about-smrc/ [4] https://scoa.org.au/members/southern-migrant-and-refugee-centre/ [5] https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/PDFs/multicultural-framework-review-public-anonymous-submissions/q-z/southern-migrant-and-refugee-centre.PDF