Catering to its large multicultural community, Maribyrnong City Council, Victoria, has partnered with the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health to offer free bilingual information sessions to help local families learn more about healthy eating for young children.
Four online Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Children sessions will be delivered between April and June in Arabic, Burmese Hindi and Vietnamese with English translation.
Specifically for young families with children aged between three and five, there will be information on Australian Dietary Guidelines for healthy eating and how to make culturally informed, healthy food choices for kindergarten and school lunches.
Participants will also learn about practical ideas to involve children in choosing and preparing healthy packed lunches and snacks.
Council also offers weekly bilingual story time for young families in Hindi and Vietnamese; as well as
bilingual information sessions for parents on children’s car seats delivered in both Burmese and Hindi.
Maribyrnong has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Victoria, with 40 percent of residents born outside Australia. Residents come from more than 135 different countries and speak more than 80 languages.
Mayor, Michael Clarke, said, “We are proud of our cultural diversity and Indigenous heritage and pleased to welcome people of all backgrounds and faiths to Maribyrnong.
“Our bilingual services, like this nutrition and health eating session, for families and children are just some of the ways Council feeds inclusion.”
