Parks Victoria and AMES Australia are running a successful partnership program – Working Beyond Boundaries – in Melbourne’s culturally diverse western suburbs. It helps refugees gain employment and language skills while connecting with their local park, to the benefit of people and the park.

The program includes a thriving community kitchen garden, a horticultural educational facility and traineeship employment program. It helps reduce isolation, improve food security, wellbeing and enhance employment opportunities for new and emerging communities.

The program was initially aimed at addressing impacts of isolation among women from new and emerging communities. It then expanded to create pathways to employment, improve workplace English and networking opportunities. It quickly became an important community hub and meeting place for socialising and learning, attracting people from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.