Intro
Construction of the new Chung Wah Association Community Centre in Bentley is officially underway.
The WA Government has provided the association with a parcel of land and $10 million funding as part of an election commitment to support the design and building of the multi-functional community centre.
Once complete, the community centre will include a multipurpose function space, youth space, daycare/playgroup space and an office space as well as meeting rooms and toilet facilities.
The facility will also house Chung Wah Community Care, providing aged care services to elderly from Chinese and Southeast Asian communities.
Located on the corner of Hedley Street and Nyamup Way in Bentley, the new facility will allow the Chung Wah Association to expand its current initiatives and meet the future needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.
It will be a home for community services and respite care for older people, a bilingual day care/play group, and community and cultural activities and events.
Established in 1909, the Chung Wah Association is Western Australia’s largest and oldest not-for-profit CaLD association.
Its current services include Chung Wah Community Care, cultural and interest groups and Chinese language classes which are held at six school campuses, including Geraldton.
According to 2021 ABC Census data there are more than 28,000 people living in Western Australia that were born in China, an increase of 5% since 2016. More than 116,000 Western Australians have Chinese ancestry.