Gippsland Multicultural Services Inc

27/10/2026

𝟐𝟕 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐆𝐌𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞

We are not closing down. Our team is still here to support you while we find a new home.
Our buildings at 26 and 28 Tarwin Street, Morwell, remain closed for health and safety reasons. Please do not visit these buildings.

Services and events

• Flexible respite, personal care and domestic assistance: continue without change.
• Case management and assessments: continue as normal. Call 03 5133 7072 and press 1 to speak with our team.
• Tuesday and Thursday Social Support Groups: continue at Fortuna 60 Soccer Club, 126 Crinigan Road, Morwell.
• Wednesday Social Support Group: We are still finding a suitable venue and will let participants know once it is confirmed.
• Community Connections events for November and December: will be at the Maltese Community Centre, 7a Henry Street, Morwell.

Visit us or pay by cash or EFTPOS

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: Fortuna 60 Soccer Club, 126 Crinigan Road, Morwell.
• Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting 9 November: Traralgon Business Centre, Level 1/55 Grey Street Traralgon. Take the lift to Level 1 and press the GMS button at reception.

Please call before visiting to check the location and opening hours.

Having trouble paying because of recent changes? Your October bill will include information about how to pay.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐆𝐌

Thursday 29 October, 5.45 pm
Morwell Innovation Centre, 1 Monash Way, Morwell
Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Questions about your service or where to go?
Call 03 5133 7072 or email [email protected].

Our next update will be available by 1 pm Friday 30 October, or earlier if important information becomes available.

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝑴𝑺 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕.

25/10/2026

What a wonderful October Diversity Lunch! ✨🌸🍀

Thank you to everyone who attended, with special thanks to our hosts the Maltese Community Centre, and our presenters from ECCV and Gippsland Water.

Together, we learned about elder abuse awareness, support services, and financial assistance options available in our community.

Thank you for being part of the conversation.

22/10/2026

**GMS IS CONTINUING TO OPERATE**

We want to reassure our clients, families and community: Gippsland Multicultural Services is not closing down.

Our buildings at 26 and 28 Tarwin Street, Morwell, have closed for health and safety reasons. We are looking for a new home, and our team is continuing to provide support.

Here are the current arrangements:

✅ Flexible respite, personal care and domestic assistance continue without change.

✅ Case management and assessment services continue as normal.

📍 Tuesday and Thursday Social Support Groups are now at Fortuna 60 Soccer Club, 126 Crinigan Road, Morwell.

📍 Reception and cash/EFTPOS payments are available there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call to confirm times before visiting.

• A venue for the Wednesday Social Support Group is still being arranged.

• Community Connections event arrangements are still being confirmed.

• Our AGM on Thursday 29 October will be held at Morwell Innovation Centre, 1 Monash Way, Morwell.

Please do not attend the Tarwin Street buildings.

You can still reach us on:
☎️ 03 5133 7072
✉️ [email protected]

Our next update will be provided by 10 am on Tuesday 27 October 2026, or earlier if significant new information becomes available.

Please share this update to help others know that GMS is continuing to operate and support our community.

Thank you for your patience and support.

15/10/2026

UPDATE – TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF 26–28 TARWIN STREET

Thursday 15 October 2026 9am

GMS has temporarily closed both 26 and 28 Tarwin Street premises to the public, effective immediately and until further notice, while necessary building assessments and works are undertaken.

Our GMS services remain operational through alternative arrangements.

Confirmed venue updates:

Social Support Groups – from Tuesday 20 October, Fortuna 60 Soccer Club, 126 Crinigan Road, Morwell, until further notice.

Gippsland Regional Multicultural Emergency Management Network – Thursday 22 October,
Maltese Community Centre Latrobe Valley Inc., 7a Henry Street, Morwell.

GMS Annual General Meeting – Thursday 29 October, Morwell Innovation Centre, 1 Monash Way, Morwell.

Affected participants and stakeholders will be contacted directly where required.

Next update: By 1pm Friday 23 October 2026.

Questions or further information;

☎️ 5133 7072 – follow the prompts
✉️ [email protected]

For the latest information, please follow our Facebook and Instagram pages or check the notices at 26–28 Tarwin Street.

Thank you to our community, participants, volunteers, staff and partner organisations for your continued understanding and flexibility.

Read the updated signed memo here: https://gmsorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ceo_gms_org_au/IgCydB6BLZx9RqPAxIPlV9e6AXv03SbetsoVHvCsDPHssmw?e=tkR96n

09/10/2026

UPDATE TEMPORARY CLOSURE – 26 TARWIN STREET COMMUNITY ROOM

Update as of 1 pm, Friday 9 October 2026

Our 26 Tarwin Street Community Room remains temporarily closed while required building works are addressed following recent rainfall.

GMS broader services are continuing as normal.

We can now confirm:

Diversity Group Lunch – Wednesday 14 October 2026 has been relocated to the Maltese Community Centre Latrobe Valley Inc., 7a Henry Street, Morwell.

Gippsland Regional Multicultural Emergency Management Network – Thursday 22 October 2026 has also been relocated to the Maltese Community Centre Latrobe Valley Inc., 7a Henry Street, Morwell.

Social Support Groups remain cancelled up to and including Thursday 15 October 2026.

The Community Room remains unavailable for external community group bookings up to and including Tuesday 3 November 2026.

We are currently confirming alternative venues for:

Social Support Groups from 20 October 2026

GMS Annual General Meeting – Thursday 29 October 2026

We will provide our next update by 1 pm Wednesday 14 October 2026.

For questions relating to the closure or affected activities, please call 5133 7072 and follow the prompts, or email [email protected].

For the latest information, please continue to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages or check the notice at 28 Tarwin Street.

Thank you to our community, participants, volunteers, staff and partner organisations for your continued understanding and flexibility during this temporary disruption.

Read the updated signed memo here: https://gmsorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ceo_gms_org_au/IgCydB6BLZx9RqPAxIPlV9e6AXv03SbetsoVHvCsDPHssmw?e=tkR96n

06/10/2026

TEMPORARY CLOSURE – 26 TARWIN STREET COMMUNITY ROOM

Following recent rainfall, Gippsland Multicultural Services has temporarily closed our 26 Tarwin Street Community Room, effective immediately, while required building works are addressed.

This will affect Social Support Groups and community groups that use the Community Room, and may affect several upcoming GMS activities.

Our broader GMS services remain operational unless people are advised otherwise directly.

We are currently working through alternative arrangements and will provide our next update by 1 pm Friday 9 October 2026.

For questions, please call 5133 7072 and ask for Kat or Rupi, or email [email protected].

If Kat or Rupi is unavailable, our staff will take a message and they will respond as soon as practicable.

For the latest information, please continue to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages or check the notice displayed at 26-28 Tarwin Street.

Thank you to our community, participants, volunteers, staff and partner organisations for your understanding and flexibility during this necessary temporary disruption.

Read the full signed memo here: https://gmsorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ceo_gms_org_au/IgCydB6BLZx9RqPAxIPlV9e6AXv03SbetsoVHvCsDPHssmw?e=FRkY5X

30/09/2026

Come and see us at Baw Baw Jobs Expo today!

Great number of employers in the room, lots of giveaways and pathways to work.

27/09/2026

🎉 GMS 2026 AGM | Thursday 29 October
5.45pm for 6pm | 26–28 Tarwin Street, Morwell | Online option

Director nominations close 1 October 2026. Scan the QR code for nomination details, meeting papers and the two proposed Constitution changes, or click this link: https://gmsorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ceo_gms_org_au/IgBDdIP1S-4NRK38Q_5mk8LwAdNjrdEaJcwrtVjpu84l1HM

RSVP by Monday 26 October: [email protected] or 03 5133 7072.

We are thrilled to announce Luz Restrepo OAM as our guest speaker for this year’s Gippsland Multicultural Services Inc (GMS) AGM. Luz is a social entrepreneur recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to multicultural communities.

Luz arrived in Australia in 2010 seeking political asylum, with limited English. Her journey shaped her belief in the potential of migrants and refugees when they have access to the right support, networks and opportunities.

Convinced that people learn by doing, Luz founded SisterWorks Inc. in 2013 as a volunteer-based organisation where migrant and refugee women could build confidence, develop their skills and explore pathways into employment or entrepreneurship. She grew it into a large, recognised charity and social enterprise, building partnerships including with UN Women, whose support helped drive its growth and positioned SisterWorks as a sector leader.

In 2020, building on what she learned through SisterWorks, Luz founded Made by Many Minds Holdings Pty Ltd, focused on entrepreneurship and helping people turn their skills and ideas into sustainable businesses. Through it, she developed two initiatives: Migrant Women in Business and Village Business. Migrant Women in Business is currently paused while Luz explores how migrant women entrepreneurs can connect more strongly with the wider business community.

Today, Luz focuses on Village Business, based on a simple principle: businesses can support businesses. Since 2023, she has developed Business-to-Business Expos across regional Victoria, bringing together businesses of all sizes, farmers, community organisations and government to build connections, create opportunities and strengthen local economies and the communities they are part of.

Ordinary financial members can vote on the special resolutions.

10/09/2026

We’re hiring!

𝐆𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 is recruiting a 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫

💼 Classification: SCHADS Award – Level 1–2, dependent on experience and qualifications
📅 Hours: 0.6 FTE (approximately 22.8 hours per week) – flexible work pattern may be considered
🏢 Work arrangement: Office-based
📋 Term: Ongoing
📍 Morwell

We’re looking for a friendly, organised and people-focused Reception & Administration Officer to be an important first point of contact for GMS and the community we support.

This role will provide welcoming reception services and administrative support across the organisation, helping keep our office running smoothly while ensuring community members, visitors and staff feel respected, supported and connected.
Flexible working arrangements may be considered, including spreading the 0.6 FTE hours across more days to accommodate suitable candidates with school-hour availability.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

A relevant post-secondary qualification and/or experience in business, administration or a related field would be highly regarded.

Examples include:
• Certificate III or IV in Business Administration
• Other relevant qualifications or equivalent experience

Additional skills or experience in the following areas would also be valued:
• Bookkeeping or Accounts Administration
• Marketing, communications or promotional activities
• Canva or similar design platforms

Reality check

This isn’t just a “sit at the front desk” role.
You’ll be the welcoming face of GMS, balancing reception, administration, enquiries and competing priorities while helping create a positive experience for community members, visitors and our team.
We’re looking for someone who is warm, reliable, organised and ready to make a difference.

GMS has a supportive team culture grounded in respect, teamwork, cultural humility and community connection. If you enjoy helping people, keeping things organised and being part of a purpose-driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Full job ad + how to apply: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/GippslandMulticulturalServices/reception-and-administration-officer-morwell?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=noreply%40ethicaljobs.com.au

Application close: Wednesday, 30th September 2026

📩 Applications: Please submit your CV and a cover letter and/or spoken video outlining your response to the Key Selection Criteria using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
You may respond to the KSC in writing or via video.

If you meet most, not all, criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Gippsland Multicultural Services is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from people of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

We're looking for a welcoming, organised and community-minded Reception & Administration Officer to be an important first point of contact for our clients, visitors, staff and community.

29/08/2026

👏

Sorry… a little emotional today 😆💚

Last night we attended the Gippsland Business Awards Gala as finalists. 🥹🏆

We didn’t bring the trophy home, but we definitely didn’t walk away feeling like we lost.

A huge congratulations to Harman Wines very well deserved 👏💚and congratulations to all the incredible finalists and winners.

When Suresh and I started this journey just two years ago, we had no idea where it would take us. We simply had a dream, a passion for Sri Lankan food and hospitality, and the courage to give it a go.

Behind the happy photos and achievements are sacrifices people don’t always see — missed birthdays, family gatherings, school holiday fun, sleepless nights, financial pressure, exhaustion and plenty of tears.

Our children have sacrificed so much with us, and without my mum and sister, none of this would have been possible. 💚

This journey has also taught us a lot about people. We heard the rumours, we saw who supported us and who didn’t, and we learned that sometimes strangers really do clap the loudest.

Some of our biggest supporters started as complete strangers and are now part of The Leaf family. 💚

While people talked, we kept working.
While people doubted us, we kept showing up.
And two years later, here we are.

🏆 Gippsland Business Awards Finalists
❤️ AGFG Readers’ Choice Award Winners

So even without the trophy, we’re allowing ourselves to be proud because WE know what it took to get here.

We know the tears, sacrifices, disappointments, rumours and sleepless nights.

And most importantly, we know we didn’t give up.

To every person who has genuinely supported us — whether you bought a meal, shared a post, left a review, recommended us, sent a message or simply told us to keep going THANK YOU. 💚

You may never realise how much those small acts of kindness meant during some of our hardest days.

But our biggest achievement is being able to share a little piece of Sri Lanka with Gippsland. 🇱🇰🇦🇺

As the first Sri Lankan restaurant in the region, seeing people fall in love with our food, culture and hospitality means more than any trophy.

To our family, our team past and present who genuinely contributed to this journey, and our beautiful community — thank you. 💚

Proud of our family.
Proud of The Leaf.
Proud of how far we’ve come.
And forever grateful to Gippsland. 💚🇦🇺