The WA Government has granted land to the Chung Wah Association as well as a $5 million grant to build the new Chung Wah community centre in Bentley.
Both funding and land allocation were promised to the Chung Wah Association as the Australian Labor Party’s election commitment to support culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Western Australia.
The initial election promise was first announced by Tangney MLA Sam Lim and MP Patrick Gorman on 15 May 2022.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the new community centre will better service the current and future needs of the large local Chinese community and other multicultural communities.
“Western Australia’s Chinese communities have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of this state.
“The Chung Wah Association has long been the backbone of its community and delivers a range of services such as aged care, community language schools and well-loved cultural events.
“Providing this funding and land delivers on a key election commitment to support multiculturalism in Western Australia and recognises the important work that the Chung Wah Association undertakes to support the community,” said Cook.
The new building will be entirely developed by the association to extend the reach of their services — including aged care, community language programs, bilingual daycare, as well as cultural and sporting activities.
Funding for the centre will be administered through the Office of Multicultural Interests.
Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Tony Buti said the $5 million funding is the government’s response to the growing demands of the not-for-profit organisation.
The Chinese community in Western Australia has grown significantly over the past five years with more than 28,000 residents born in China and over 116,000 claiming to have Chinese ancestry.
“It will enable the Chung Wah Association to extend the reach of its important services across the metropolitan area.
“Multiculturalism is one of Western Australia’s greatest strengths and by continuing to support our vital culturally diverse community associations, the Cook Labor Government is ensuring that this strength is carried into the future for generations to come,” said Buti.
Victoria Park MLA Hannah Beazley added: “Bentley is a dynamic, multicultural suburb, with almost 60 per cent of its residents being born outside of Australia, so it’s the perfect home for the Chung Wah Association’s Community Centre.
“The Community Centre sits in the middle of the Bentley 360 project and is in synergy with the project’s community focus.”
The Chung Wah Association is the oldest culturally and linguistically diverse association and the largest Chinese community non-profit organisation in Western Australia.
