MDA is an independent organisation and leading settlement agency in Queensland providing the best settlement support for around 2,500 clients each year across Brisbane, Rockhampton and Toowoomba. 

MDA Rockhampton also offers programs such as ParentsNext which is a free specialised support service that helps parents with children under 6 to plan and prepare for their future employment, and Skilling Queenslanders for Work which helps eligible Queenslanders develop skills, gain qualifications and provide direct assistance to enter and stay in the workforce.

MDA has been dedicated to building a better future for all by promoting the benefits of a welcoming, inclusive and multicultural Queensland and Australia. Today, as Australia’s longest-serving contracted settlement provider, we work with refugees, migrants, people seeking asylum, international students and the wider community to provide essential services and build belonging, independence and welcome. Our settlement approach is underpinned by deliberate location planning, highly skilled and professionally qualified staff, and strong relationships with partners and sub-contractors through the State and Commonwealth Settlement Planning mechanisms. We know that to achieve prosperity for all Queenslanders we need to create opportunities for skills development, education, business and employment. Our services are delivered through various strategies including case management, community engagement and advocacy. The work of MDA focuses on building the confidence and capacity of new arrivals to participate in Australian society both socially and economically.

Our Social Inclusion team plans and hosts events and workshops for our clients, focusing on building new skills, making new friends and connecting with local and cultural communities. These programs include activities such as  ‘City Orientation’, ‘Chai Time’, ‘Healthy Start’ and ‘Have A Go’, all of which contribute to making sense of one’s own personal journey through sharing difficult experiences in a supportive environment.