Our Drop-In centre currently operates in the Melbourne CBD and is open to all refugees and asylum seekers. It is opened 5 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. There are few places in Melbourne which offer a safe haven for asylum seekers and refugees to build a social network while gaining confidence and support. The RISE Drop-In Centre is a welcoming place that promotes inclusion, growth and on-going support.
The Drop-In Centre offers a range of resources including:
- Computer lab (with Internet facilities) and weekly computer literacy workshops
- RISE Resource Library (books, magazines, news articles, on multiculturalism and settlement support)
- Food Bank
- Free refreshments and snacks
- Community, welfare forums and media connections
- Resume Clinic
- Settlement support advice
- University and TAFE Information Open Days
- Music and poetry workshops
- Creative writing and drawing workshops
- Social networking space and community message board (including information on festivals, upcoming events and news pertaining to relevant creative industries, including visual arts, performing arts, music, theatre, writing and publishing and exhibitions)
The RISE Drop-In Centre welcomes community members of all ages. It is a space for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers to meet and create social support networks by participating in our many events.
The social network created in the Drop-In Centre are a key aspect of the space. The Drop-In Centre aims to increase awareness and provide opportunities for social interaction between and among our members, who hail from various cultural and religious backgrounds. The Drop-In Centre provides food and a place to play games and meet people but more importantly it serves as a safe-haven for our community members to be themselves and to interact with a diverse cross-section of the refugee and asylum seeker communities. The social and familial element here is as important as the arts and educational activities we aim to provide. It creates a sense of belonging and participation in a larger community, reducing isolation.