Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre

What Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre does

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) is a not-for-profit community service organisation founded in 1993 and headquartered at 39 Clow Street, Dandenong, Victoria. It delivers settlement, aged care, family support, and employment services to refugees, humanitarian entrants, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities across Melbourne's South East, covering the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey, and Shire of Cardinia. SMRC operates 28 funded programs and reports more than 100,000 hours of service delivered annually, supported by 160+ volunteers across the STAR Homework Club, social support groups, Learning Space English classes, computer classes, and visiting programs.\n\nSMRC's service portfolio is delivered through a bicultural and multilingual model and includes Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) casework, HIPPY early learning (under licence with Brotherhood of St Laurence), the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), in-home respite, a 12-week hydrotherapy program, social support groups, English for Citizenship and English for Driving classes, a subsidised driving program, youth casework, and family programs such as Chai Khana Men's Group and Sisters' Circle. Diverse Care, a wholly owned social enterprise in operation for over 20 years, provides multicultural in-home care and labour hire, and Employment Xchange places CALD job seekers with inclusive employers.\n\nRevenue is generated through three streams: federal and state government program contracts (Department of Social Services for SETS and HIPPY, Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for Support for Carers), tax-deductible donations (over $2), and fee income from the Diverse Care social enterprise. Services are predominantly free to eligible clients. SMRC is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), employs 51-100 staff, and operates from Dandenong plus satellite sites including The Hive community garden at Braeside Park. Annual financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre

Legal name

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre

Website

https://smrc.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre is a Dandenong-based not-for-profit, founded in 1993, that delivers settlement, aged care, family support, and employment services through 28 funded programs for refugees, humanitarian entrants, and CALD communities across South East Melbourne.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Migrant and Refugee Community Settlement Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Diaspora, Family Reunification & Case Management Services (BPADAHAM)

Keywords

• Migrant settlement services
• Refugee support programs
• Culturally diverse aged care
• Community visitor services
• Bilingual employment support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dandenong

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SMRC receives government funding from multiple sources including Department of Social Services (DSS) for Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for aged care services, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) for Support for Carers program, and various other government grants for specific programs like HIPPY.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and organisational donations support specific programs and initiatives including The Hive community garden, driving program subsidies, and general operational support. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
3. Diverse Care Social Enterprise: SMRC's Diverse Care business provides multicultural labour hire and in-home care services delivered in a culturally sensitive manner. This includes the Employment Xchange program connecting CALD job seekers with employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) delivers 28 government-funded settlement, family support, aged care, training, and community programs to refugees, humanitarian entrants, migrants, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors and carers in Melbourne's South East. It also operates Diverse Care, a social enterprise providing multicultural in-home care and labour hire, and Employment Xchange, connecting CALD job seekers with employers.

Product overview

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) operates as a community service organization offering a portfolio of integrated settlement, family support, aged care, employment, and community programs for migrants and refugees in Melbourne's South and East. The organization functions as both a service provider and social enterprise (Diverse Care), delivering 28 funded programs including HIPPY Early Learning, Aged Care services through ACVVS and Support for Carers, Settlement Casework, English Language Programs, Employment Xchange, and the Community Visitors Scheme. Programs are designed with cultural and linguistic sensitivity, matching bicultural workers with clients to ensure culturally-appropriate support across all service areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intake and Settlement Casework Settlement casework and intake program funded under SETS that helps newly arrived refugees and migrants navigate Australian systems, housing, and services through individual case plans.
• English for Citizenship Classes English language classes preparing migrants and refugees for the Australian citizenship test and everyday civic participation.
• Driving Program Program helping migrants and refugees gain driver's licences through English for Driving classes and subsidised driving lessons, building independence and transport access.
• Learning Space Adult learning space offering English, computer, and work-readiness classes for migrants and refugees, supported by volunteers.
• Youth Casework One-on-one casework support for CALD young people aged 12-25 navigating settlement, education, and wellbeing challenges.
• HIPPY Early Learning Home Interaction for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) early learning program delivered in partnership with Brotherhood of St Laurence, supporting parents of 4-5 year olds to build school readiness.
• Chai Khana Men's Group Culturally specific men's group providing social connection and peer support for CALD men in the community.
• Sisters' Circle Women's social support group for CALD women fostering connection, wellbeing, and cultural community.
• Youth Activity and Learning Space (YALS) Out-of-school learning and activity program for CALD children and youth offering tutoring, creative activities, and mentoring.
• Youth Advisory Group CALD youth advisory group that informs SMRC programming, advocacy, and Youth Arts and Literature Prize activities.
• Access and Support CHSP-funded aged care Access and Support service helping CALD older people connect with My Aged Care and appropriate services.
• Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) Program matching culturally and linguistically diverse volunteers with isolated older people for regular phone, digital, written, and face-to-face visits.
• Exercise Program Group exercise program for CALD older adults focused on strength, balance, mobility, and falls prevention.
• The Hive Community Garden Community garden program at Braeside Park creating space for people from diverse backgrounds to connect, share skills, and enjoy gardening activities.
• Support for Carers DFFH-funded program providing information, peer support, events, and respite pathways for unpaid CALD carers.
• Saturday Centre-Based Respite Centre-based respite program offering CALD seniors supervised activities on Saturdays to give carers a break.
• Social Support Groups Group-based social support activities for CALD older people to reduce isolation and build community connection.
• Social Support Individual One-on-one social support for isolated CALD older people in their homes, including companionship and assistance accessing community activities.
• In-Home Respite Program Free government-funded in-home respite providing short-term, culturally sensitive care for carers' loved ones at home.
• Hydrotherapy Allied Health Program 12-week structured hydrotherapy group program led by a qualified Exercise Physiologist supporting older adults with strength, flexibility, mobility, balance, and pain management.
• SMRC Bicultural Service Bilingual staff placement service providing in-language bicultural workers to organisations and programs serving CALD communities.
• Employment Xchange Employment program connecting CALD job seekers with training, mentoring, and employment pathways with local employers.
• Diverse Care SMRC's multicultural social enterprise providing in-home care and labour hire delivered by workers who speak clients' languages and understand their cultural needs.
• Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) Volunteer visiting program connecting vulnerable and isolated older people from CALD backgrounds with culturally matched visitors through phone, digital, written, and face-to-face contact.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 100,000 hours of service delivered across 28 programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoSalaryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 August 2026Proud supporter of Inclusive by Design Business Networking Event. Event aims to bring together organisations and businesses to explore common challenges and encourage solution-focused discussions on migrant and refugee employment.
• South East WatercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 August 2026Silver Sponsor for Inclusive by Design Business Networking Event. Event focuses on practical hiring alternatives, addressing barriers faced by highly skilled migrants, and building inclusive workplaces.
• 3MDRminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 August 2026Bronze Sponsor for Inclusive by Design Business Networking Event.
• South East WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Partnership for collaboration on community insight, cultural inclusion, and lived experience. South East Water's Executive Team, Board and Community and Customer Advisory Council met with SMRC staff for meaningful discussions on collaboration. South East Water operates within one of the most multicultural water service areas in Australia. Partnership helps both organisations amplify impact and create community-led solutions.
• Dementia AustraliaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 March 2025Service provider partner at Support for Carers mini expo in Hallam, spoke directly with community members and shared information about available programs.
• NDISminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 March 2025Service provider partner at Support for Carers mini expo in Hallam, sharing information about available support programs.
• Alfred Health – Carer ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 March 2025Service provider partner at Support for Carers mini expo in Hallam.
• Services AustraliaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 March 2025Service provider partner at Support for Carers mini expo in Hallam.
• Southeast Anti-Racism Support NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2025SMRC is one of four lead agencies in the Southeast Anti-Racism Support Network, working alongside local organisations to provide safe space for community members to report and discuss experiences of racism. Coordinated by Victoria University associate professor Mario Peucker.
• Centre for Cultural Diversity in AgeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2024Collaboration to host workshop amplifying voices of seniors from CALD backgrounds. Workshop was one of three held with key community organisations to ensure seniors from CALD backgrounds were well represented in engagement process informing future of aged care services in Australia.
• Brotherhood of St LaurencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMRC delivers HIPPY (Home Interaction for Parents and Youngsters) program in partnership with Brotherhood of St Laurence who holds the Australian Government license to operate HIPPY in Australia. Program funded by Department of Social Services.
• LOTE AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient Journey Mapping Initiative conducted in partnership with LOTE Agency, partly funded with generous donation from South East Water. Project captured lived experiences of clients and staff across SETS and Aged Care programs.
• South East Community Links (SECL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in delivery of Refugee Week 2022 event held in Hampton Park, showcasing cultural dance, music, poetry and fashion with 23 local services present.
• City of CaseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in delivery of Refugee Week 2022 event with South East Community Links, supported by Melbourne City Football Club.
• Dandenong MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocation partner for Harmony Day 2026 celebration, providing vibrant and iconic space for community to come together.
• SBS AudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor for Harmony Day 2026 celebration, actively engaging with the community throughout the day.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Multicultural Development Association (MDA): MDA is a Queensland-based settlement and multicultural services organisation with a comparable portfolio of settlement casework, English classes, employment programs and aged care for CALD communities. It is a regional analogue of SMRC in another state.
• Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra: MCCI is a NSW-based migrant and refugee settlement agency providing similar settlement, aged care, youth and family services. It is a regional peer with structural comparability to SMRC but operates in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Multicultural Care: Multicultural Care provides in-home aged care and disability support delivered by bilingual workers in Victoria, directly overlapping with SMRC's Diverse Care social enterprise model and CALD aged care programs.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth: CMY supports young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds across Victoria with advocacy, casework and youth programs, directly comparable to SMRC's Youth Advisory Group, YALS and Youth Casework offerings.
• Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture): Foundation House provides specialist refugee trauma counselling and settlement support in Victoria, overlapping with SMRC's humanitarian entrant casework and family services for refugee-background clients.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: BSL is a Victorian community organisation tackling disadvantage and is SMRC's licensed partner for delivering the HIPPY early learning program. It operates comparable settlement, family support and social inclusion programs targeting vulnerable populations.
• Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre: Spectrum MRC is a Victoria-based migrant resource centre providing settlement, aged care, youth and family services to newly arrived communities. It is structurally comparable to SMRC in mission, funding mix and service portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Red Cross: The Australian Red Cross delivers settlement, asylum seeker support and community programs nationally with overlapping humanitarian entrant services to SMRC's client base. It is a much larger incumbent but competes for similar government settlement and community grants.
• AMES Australia: AMES is Victoria's largest settlement and education provider for migrants and refugees, directly overlapping with SMRC's settlement, English language and employment programs and serving a similar CALD client base. It is broader in scale and geographic reach than SMRC but operates in the same service category.

Others

• Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing: CCDA is a peak body supporting culturally appropriate aged care in Australia and is a SMRC strategic partner. It is an adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct service competitor but addresses the same CALD ageing cohort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/smrcdandenong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smrcdandenong
• Instagraminstagram.com/smrcdandenong
• Xx.com/smrcdandenong

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre