Spreading the message

These are some examples of how the CALD COM storyboards have been used to communicate important messages to our community.

Water Safety

In 2009 more than 300 people drowned in Australia, raising the death toll for the 7th year in a row.

With State and Federal organisations primarily focusing their efforts on reaching children and the elderly, the water safety message has been difficult to communicate to tourists and newly-arrived migrants, who may struggle with the English language.

The Water Safety Storyboard was created to educate tourists, new migrants and refugees, who are particularly vulnerable to water hazards. Everyone should learn these safety precautions, which many Australians take for granted.

Responsible Gambling

In Moreland the average problem gambler will spend the equivalent of a year’s rent for a 2 bedroom flat estimated at $12,500, which cumulatively adds up to $70 million or almost as much as Moreland’s entire rate bill 2009–10.

The Moreland Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) density of 6.43 EGMs per 1,000 adults is higher than both the Metropolitan Melbourne (6.29) and State (6.41) averages.

While there is no distinct profile of a problem gambler, unemployed people, young men and CALDS are vulnerable to problem gambling.

The Responsible Gambling Storyboard was designed with this in mind as a way to educate people about the dangers of getting caught up in problem gambling and understanding the difference between gambling for fun and social gambling.

As a leader in the push to create a pro-active approach to problem gambling Moreland launched the Storyboard alongside a video version and is working with a number of community organisations to help spread the message.

Becoming a citizen

The topics of citizenship and settling in are topics which fall under federal and state government departments but it is actually councils which must deal with the practical challenges on the ground. Therefore it is important for Council to reach newly arrived migrants and CALDs in general with messages that will assist them in their transition into life in Australia.

The Storyboards on Becoming a Citizen and Settling in do exactly this and give people a vision of what they can do to settle in to Australian society and encourage the progression to becoming a citizen and accepting the values, rules and customs of our society.

In launching these resources Senator Kate Lundy, the Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Cultural Affairs, visited the Brunswick Neighbourhood House where members of the English classes introduced the Senator to the idea of communicating using Storyboards.