History

Advance Diversity Services commenced operations in 1981 as the St George Migrant Resource Centre following the Galbally Report (Migrant Services and Programs, 1978) which recommended establishing migrant resource centres to meet the needs of migrant communities. These migrant resource centres were intended to support ethnic and community organisations; help them play a greater role in the provision of migrant welfare; serve as a base for ethnic groups; and encourage self-managed services at the local level.

We changed our name to Advance Diversity Services in 2015. Since our establishment we have worked with different waves of migrant and refugee settlers living in St George and the Sutherland Shire. Our focus is to assist and advocate for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities to ensure they can build and use their skills and capacities, access social and economic opportunities, become self-reliant, and participate equitably in Australian society.