Albury Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau

Project: Cultural Exchange Program
Awarded Amount: $18,000.00 | 2024 Give500 Grant
Impact Areas: Connection & Wellbeing

The Cultural Exchange Program is designed to support newcomers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, their cultural communities, and the wider Albury Wodonga region.

Through a range of activities—including Coffee and Cards, Conversations in English, Homework Help, and Tertiary Tips—the program creates opportunities for connection, learning and belonging. Based at the Albury and Lavington libraries, the program is powered by volunteers who make this work possible.

Social isolation, particularly among older CALD community members, was identified as a pressing issue during community consultations. Many face barriers to engagement, such as limited access to transport and language challenges, which in turn affect confidence, wellbeing, and community participation. The Cultural Exchange Program helps to address these challenges by providing safe, welcoming spaces that foster connection and improve mental health.