AMCS

Australian Polish Community Services (APCS) was established in 1983 to respond to the welfare needs of the newly arriving Polish migrants (as a result of the Solidarity movement in Poland) and the ageing Polish population, particularly in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Since its establishment APCS has developed and delivered a range of services, projects and initiatives to respond to the needs of the Polish community in Victoria.

Over the years, APCS has received government funding for a range of programs and services to meet the needs of the Polish community. In particular, services delivered have focussed on the needs of newly arriving Polish migrants (until 2004) and the ageing Polish community.

Many aged care services provided by the organisation received their initial funding in 1993 and we currently receive funding for ten ongoing programs delivered regionally, cross-regionally and statewide. In the early 2000s we expanded the Community Aged Care Packages Program to respond to the needs of a number of Eastern European communities.

In the last five to six years we have been increasingly taking on projects and activities that seek to explore and respond to the needs of a more diverse range of communities and to work with various communities. APCS has been exploring the possibility of diversifying its services through a name change and review of our Mission and objectives.

As a result, we have made the decision in 2011 to rename the organisation Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS). Whilst many of our existing services will continue to target the Polish community for as long as they need them, new services will be sought to target the broader multicultural communities we work alongside. We look forward to this expansion of our services and the opportunity to work with many new groups and communities whilst continuing to serve the Polish community in Victoria.

For nearly 28 years, Australian Polish Community Services has been delivering a range of aged care and other services to the Polish and related communities in Victoria. As we look toward the future we recognise the need to expand who we offer services and support to. As a result we will be changing our name to Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS).

Whilst many of our existing services will continue to target the Polish community for as long as they need them, new services will be sought to target the broader multicultural communities we work alongside. We look forward to this expansion of our services and the opportunity to work with many new groups and communities whilst continuing to serve the Polish community in Victoria.