To better understand what is means to be ‘a local’ our suburb profile seeks to understand the local stories Koora (past) Boordawan (future) and respond to Ngalang Maya (our place) This snapshot identifies the unique character of Mirrabooka’s neighbourhood and helps the City rethink how we deliver services with a local focus Mirrabooka takes its name from the Aboriginal name for the constellation known as the Southern Cross which takes its name from the Aboriginal name for the constellation known as the Southern Cross was planned in the 1960s as a satellite city to accommodate the rapidly increasing post-war population The area was envisaged to contain over 16,000 dwellings in addition to commercial and recreational facilities It was imagined that workers from Perth and the northern industrial areas would be attracted to the development In the following decades the concept was revised several times resulting in changes to suburb boundaries and various residential developments the proposal for a complete satellite city was abandoned and the suburb of Mirrabooka was formally created from an area previously known as Yirrigan Mirrabooka Town Square was the home of a successful Guinness World Record for most nationalities in a drum circle kicking off the City's Harmony Week celebrations A total of 77 nationalities were represented in the drum circle smashing the previous record of 61 nationalities held by a Canadian not-for-profit group These are the top local priorities you've told us about what's important for Mirrabooka:  Trees and greening - “Plant more native species encourage homeowners to get solar panels.” Trees and greening - “Cleanliness in roadsides and should grow more trees to increase greeniness.” Cat and dog management - “More signage in parks for people to pick up after their dogs.” ​The City has created Locally-led Stirling to drive deeper connection at a local suburb level to listen and respond with a local focus At the heart of this Locally-led approach is an understanding that local people know what they need and a vision for everyone to get involved in shaping what it means to be “a local” We want to bring neighbours together, invest in local stories and inspire opportunities to work together. To find out more about Locally-led Stirling, visit Shaping our City.  If you're looking for ways to get involved in your local area, please contact one of the City’s Community Engagement Officers by emailing getinvolved@stirling.wa.gov.au Mirrabooka is largely characterised by single detached dwellings on small to medium sized lots however there are still a small number of vacant lots remaining in the eastern sector of the suburb Houses are predominantly of brick and tile construction and are generally single storey Mirrabooka is well-provided with 22 local open spaces one community open space and three district open spaces Recreational facilities include the Stirling Leisure - Mirrabooka The Mirrabooka Regional Centre, including Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre, provides the region with a wide range of goods and services and also offers a significant number of employment opportunities. The suburb also contains a smaller local shopping centre, called Mirrabooka Village, to supplement the larger retail core. Three primary schools, one high school and a public library are located in Mirrabooka to serve education requirements. Beach Alexander Bushland is a local natural area and Mirrabooka Bushland is a regionally significant natural bush forever area. City of Stirling kaadatj Nyoongar moort Nyoongar boodja-k Wadjak boodja-k Ngalak kaadatj Nyoongar nedingar wer birdiya koora koora wer yeyi malayin wer nakolak baalap yang ngalany-al Ngalak dandjoo barn wer kaaratj bandang boodja-k The City of Stirling acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land and pays respect to the Elders both past and present for they hold the memories the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia With a thriving population of over 219,000 and a total land area of over 100km2 the City of Stirling is one of Western Australia’s major local government areas The City prides itself on its culturally diverse community and on providing a consistently high standard of services Welcome from the MayorOn behalf of the City of Stirling and the local community I would like to welcome all newcomers to the City of Stirling I am very pleased that you have chosen the City of Stirling as your new home I understand it can take some time to settle into a new community the City aims to ensure all newcomers feel welcome facilities and resources available to support you to make the City of Stirling your new home I hope this Newcomer’s Guide will help you to connect thrive and settle in the City of Stirling and I would like to thank you for joining our local community Click the links below to find out more about the City's available services and resources This guide has been developed to assist in meeting the diverse needs of people arriving to make their home in the City of Stirling The guide highlights real peoples stories and provides helpful information to assist newcomers in accessing services View the guide in a number of languages below: get to know the local laws and your rights as a community member The largest provider of legal aid services. For more information, call 1300 650 579 or visit the Legal Aid WA website A legal service that aims to give disadvantaged and low-income earners access to legal services. For more information, call (08) 9440 1663 or visit the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre website Provides advice to help resolve tenancy problems, and legal advice to new migrants. For more information, call (08) 6148 3636 or visit the Circle Green Community Legal website Play videoWelcome videoTo view more Newcomer stories, visit YouTube As of 1 July 2024 Mercycare and Multicultural Services Centre will be providing SETS services for the North Metropolitan area The City of Stirling's Multicultural Framework underpins the City’s vision of achieving an inclusive and harmonious community The framework builds on the City’s achievements by focusing on three key areas – our newcomers Multicultural Framework the Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre (MMC) aims to support newly arrived families in Australia The centre offers a range of education workshops mentoring programs and unique facilities such as: Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre is located at Herb Graham Recreation Centre If you need help to improve your English language skills you may be eligible for assistance from the Adult Migrant English program (AMEP) run by the Australian Government For more information, please visit AMEP Interpreting and translating services are available to our non-English speaking residents via the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) The service provides language interpreting in 160 languages for government agencies not-for-profit organisations and businesses please phone TIS on 13 14 50 within Australia or +613 9268 8332 from overseas The Department of Home Affairs provides free translating services for people settling permanently in Australia and to those enrolled in the adult migrant English program (AMEP) if you wish to contact the Department of Home Affairs with assistance from an interpreter please phone TIS on 131 450 and provide the operator with the Department of Home Affairs phone number There are six libraries and a book nook located within the City of Stirling Stirling Libraries have helped our community through education and entertainment as well as enriching family life and bringing people together irrespective of age Get directions Get directions Get directions Get directions Get directions Get directions Stirling Libraries – Hamersley Book Nook allows you to easily return or borrow library items using your Stirling Libraries membership with our convenient 'click and collect' service Get directions 19 November 2024Turf upgrades and establishment works will start at Mirrabooka Regional Open Space on Monday 25 November 2024 Mirrabooka is set to become the home of Perth Glory Football Club from 2025 fully integrated training and administration headquarters for its staff and players turf upgrades and establishment works will start at Mirrabooka Regional Open Space on Monday 25 November 2024 The reserve will be fenced off and unavailable for use for the duration of the works and the time needed to allow the turf to establish The playground and the area near the outdoor basketball courts on the northwest corner of the reserve will still be open and available for use A map of the fenced area and alternative public open space in your area is included below The works are expected to reach completion by late February 2025 We understand that this may impact users of the space and we apologise for any inconvenience The City is committed to keeping our community informed of works happening in your local area For more information on what’s happening in suburbs across the City, please visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/suburb 05 November 2024The City of Stirling is gearing up for a massive day of basketball excitement on Sunday The City of Stirling is gearing up for a massive day of basketball excitement on Sunday 10 November, at Stirling Leisure – Mirrabooka. Two headline events, the 3x3 Street Hustle tournament and the Perth Rhinos Spring Classic Grand Final proudly supported by the City of Stirling through a community grant are set to bring together sports fans and families from across the region The action kicks off with the family-friendly 3x3 Street Hustle tournament where players of all ages will showcase their skills in high-energy The tournament invites the community to cheer on local talent and get involved in the electric atmosphere The highly anticipated Perth Rhinos Spring Classic Grand Final will see the top teams from Western Australia battle it out after six weeks of fierce competition the game promises to be a thrilling showdown featuring a mix of NBL stars and emerging local talent raffles and other family-friendly activities the first Grand Final game tips off at 12.00 noon with the dunk contest set for 3.30pm Come along and celebrate a day of community spirit City of Stirling kaadatj Nyoongar moort Nyoongar boodja-k Wadjak boodja-k. Ngalak kaadatj Nyoongar nedingar wer birdiya koora koora wer yeyi. Baalabang koondarm, malayin wer nakolak baalap yang ngalany-al. Ngalak dandjoo barn wer kaaratj bandang boodja-k. The City of Stirling acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation, and pays respect to the Elders both past and present for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia. To reduce the threat to personal safety and flood damage in Lake Heights Wollongong City Council has resolved to purchase two flood-affected properties in Mirrabooka Road The properties at 42 and 63 Mirrabooka Road will be purchased the buildings on the land demolished and the land’s classification updated to community land These are the third and fourth properties in the area to be purchased by Council under a program to improve flood management at this location.  The program sees two-thirds of the purchase price the reasonable legal and valuation fees funded by the Department of Climate Change Council covers the remaining one-third of the costs “We don’t make decisions to enter into a Voluntary Purchasing Agreement lightly and there have been a number of properties in this area of Lake Heights that our analysis has shown pose an unacceptable risk to personal safety and flood damage,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “We’ve already purchased two properties in this area at 98 and 99 Werringa Avenue Following ongoing conversations with the owners of number 42 and 63 Mirrabooka Road we have reached a point where we can also seek to buy these properties the land will be classified as community land and Council will be able to investigate scheduling works that will allow for the construction of a detention basin This will help reduce the flood risk on other neighbouring properties.’’ For a property to be eligible to be purchased under the Voluntary Purchasing Agreement the houses need to be specifically identified in the respective Flood Risk Management Study and Plan and assessed against NSW Government guidelines Council currently has more than 50 homes that are listed on the eligibility list in suburbs as diverse as Thirroul We’re also currently updating Flood Risk Management Studies and Plans for areas including Hewitts Creek The review’s research will be informed by the statistical information and data collected by Council’s floodplain experts “The Voluntary Purchase Scheme isn’t a silver bullet for managing flood risk in our city,’’ Cr Brown said “A large proportion of properties in our Local Government Area are identified as at risk of flooding – clearly Council and the State Government can’t purchase them all for both budgetary reasons but also because people want a roof over their head “What this program does do is allow us to target very high-risk properties and remove at-risk individuals from hazardous flood areas thereby reducing the risk to residents and emergency responders by demolishing any housing and by returning that land to open space or using the land to undertake flood mitigation measures we can reduce the risk to neighbouring properties.’’ Council plans to create of a dedicated flow path that will see stormwater flow from Barina Park detention basin to Minnegang Creek Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You can also use the number above for after hours Council-related emergencies Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au Webchat This is probably not the page you’re looking for Busy Bees in Mirrabooka say child was found asleep in cot and was unharmed An investigation is under way and two staff members have been stood down after a sleeping child was left alone inside a Western Australian daycare centre after it had closed Busy Bees in Mirrabooka in Perth said the child was located asleep in their cot and was not harmed following the incident last week “We respect the privacy of the family involved and have been supporting them directly,” the centre said in a statement “The safety and well-being of the children in our care is our top priority and we are taking this matter very seriously.” 7News reported that the mother arrived at the centre before closing time but found the lights off and doors locked She reportedly called the daycare’s emergency number and waited outside for 40 minutes until staff returned and unlocked the building where the 16-month-old was sleeping inside including a full review of its policies and procedures was under way to “understand how this occurred” Two staff members have been stood down until the review is concluded It is also working with the state government’s Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) in relation to the matter and would “implement any measures that are recommended to us” The state’s Department of Communities said all complaints it receives are investigated and appropriate actions taken health and wellbeing of children attending education and care services is the Department of Communities’ primary concern at all times,” it said in a statement noting it is a requirement for service providers to report all serious incidents to its ECRU Western Australian police were contacted but said the incident was not a police matter The same Mirrabooka daycare centre made headlines in April when a three-year-old reportedly pricked themselves with a needle. In 2021, it was fined $14,000 after another three-year-old reportedly left the facility unnoticed. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time the ex-wife of a senior bikie gang member knocked on the door of a home in Mirrabooka That’s the kind of rep Mirrabooka’s been rocking since the time the area was first developed by the State Housing Commission 30 years ago have been the low house prices and high unemployment The residents of Perth's north east are having their say.Credit: Hannah Barry whose name has been changed to protect his privacy has lived in neighbouring Balga for 42 years and remembers these days well But back then it could be very bad," he says Terry says the gang-related incident in the 2000s was when the area was at its worst "I used to be a member," he says You learn from your mistakes as you live your life And Terry's story could almost be a metaphor for how the suburb of about 45,000 people has changed It’s now got a significantly lower crime rate than the suburbs of Mandurah and Midland Local police who live in the district describe it as one of the most multicultural in the country Census data shows high populations of Indigenous Australians as well as immigrants from Sudan And residents say while it certainly has its challenges the Mirrabooka they know isn't like it was in the 1990s it's a question of whether that mud will stick forever or whether Mirrabooka has another story to tell The local shops are the centre of any neighbourhood and remain a reliable spot to take a community’s pulse When WAtoday  goes to The Square and asks for opinions locals are split on whether their hood deserves the reputation as a crime hotspot There’s a lot of stealing so we’ve had to up the security in store and around the centre as well," she says "I’ve had quite a few experiences with crime in the store I’ve seen it happen right in front of me." says its reputation as a crime capital is exaggerated and you hear of some of the crime that has happened there and people just think ‘oh if that happened there then obviously it will happen again’," she says by all the different races and people there; especially if they’re not used to such a multicultural area." "I have been working at the centre for nearly seven years and I think it is one of the most multicultural centres in Perth," she says "People just think because it’s more of a lower demographic area and there are so many different people here that it’s not as safe but I’ve been here for nearly seven years and have never had an issue with crime." has been working since he was 12 years old.Credit: Hannah Barry came to Perth from Italy more than 60 years ago and says he has not experienced much crime you've got to take Australia as a [multicultural] country has lived in neighbouring suburb Westminster for eight years and says her contact with police is rare "I've been quite lucky and not had many issues," she says "I have had some very brief interactions – I live opposite a park so the only thing is sometimes over summer I do have people approach my house "We've had a couple of cars with windows broken and my neighbour did get broken into recently though but we've got good Neighbourhood Watch in our area as well "Any time I've had to ring the police they've been really helpful and really good." Hayley is studying to be a school teacher.Credit: Hannah Barry moved from India just three months ago and says he had only had one experience with the local policing team: when they pulled him over while he was making deliveries for Hello Fresh "I was driving down the driveways and it was about midnight .. it seemed suspicious so they pulled me over and asked 'what are you doing?' I says I was doing my job and they were really nice," he says The statistics support the more positive views suggesting Mirrabooka is far from Perth’s most frightening place to live is studying to be a nurse.Credit: Hannah Barry Mirrabooka experiences about 34 cases of burglary assault and theft per thousand people per year building relationships in a community divided over race religion and income is the biggest challenge When about 70 children gather on the outdoor courts of Herb Graham Recreation Centre just after 4pm Tuesdays it is clear how multicultural the community really is Children from all walks of life are there playing sports from basketball to cricket The children sign off with their mentors after a hard day's work.Credit: Hannah Barry Five-year old Kathy says while her mum isn’t there and Tuesday sport is one of her favourite things he says it is important for Jason to reach out to other children and Mirrabooka is one of the best places he can participate in sport for free Frank says the program has become important to not only his son And it’s the result of a simple idea from local officers in recent weeks pulling in everyone to lend a hand: the City of Stirling Balga Cricket Club and Wungening Aboriginal Corporation Representatives from each of the agencies come along each week to cut fruit supervise the children and run training sessions this is an opportunity to start building bridges as early as possible They are conscious of previous racial tensions between adults in the area and the children building and maintaining friendships is key to not repeating the past And for isolated children who often struggle to make it to school – also a issue in the Mirrabooka district – it's an important period of stability in their week the children are picked up by agency bus drivers in order to encourage their attendance officers and parents believe it's a runaway success It might be a while before Mirrabooka loses its bad reputation for good But with this community working as hard as it can to move forward become an example of how where you start out isn't always where you end up That\\u2019s the kind of rep Mirrabooka\\u2019s been rocking since the time the area was first developed by the State Housing Commission 30 years ago But back then it could be very bad,\\\" he says \\\"I used to be a member,\\\" he says.\\u00A0\\\"You grow out of it And Terry's story could almost be a metaphor for how the suburb of about 45,000 people has changed It\\u2019s now got a significantly lower crime rate than the suburbs of Mandurah and Midland the Mirrabooka they know isn't like it was in the 1990s it's a question of whether that mud will stick forever and remain a reliable spot to take a community\\u2019s pulse When WAtoday\\u00A0 goes to The Square and asks for opinions There\\u2019s a lot of stealing so we\\u2019ve had to up the security in store and around the centre as well,\\\" she says \\\"I\\u2019ve had quite a few experiences with crime in the store I\\u2019ve seen it happen right in front of me.\\\" and you hear of some of the crime that has happened there and people just think \\u2018oh if that happened there then obviously it will happen again\\u2019,\\\" she says by all the different races and people there; especially if they\\u2019re not used to such a multicultural area.\\\" \\\"I have been working at the centre for nearly seven years and I think it is one of the most multicultural centres in Perth,\\\" she says.\\u00A0\\\"People just think because it\\u2019s more of a lower demographic area and there are so many different people here that it\\u2019s not as safe but I\\u2019ve been here for nearly seven years and have never had an issue with crime.\\\" but that's normal,\\\" he says.\\u00A0\\\"Australia's beautiful you've got to take Australia as a [multicultural] country \\\"I've been quite lucky and not had many issues,\\\" she says \\\"I have had some very brief interactions \\u2013 I live opposite a park so the only thing is sometimes over summer I do have people approach my house \\\"We've had a couple of cars with windows broken and my neighbour did get broken into recently though but we've got good Neighbourhood Watch in our area as well \\\"Any time I've had to ring the police they've been really helpful and really good.\\\" \\\"I was driving down the driveways and it was about midnight .. it seemed suspicious so they pulled me over and asked 'what are you doing?' I says I was doing my job and they were really nice,\\\" he says suggesting Mirrabooka is far from Perth\\u2019s most frightening place to live Fremantle\\u2019s 59 and Midland\\u2019s 92 Five-year old Kathy says while her mum isn\\u2019t there And it\\u2019s the result of a simple idea from local officers in recent weeks They are conscious of previous racial tensions\\u00A0between adults in the area And for isolated children who often struggle to make it to school \\u2013 also a issue in the Mirrabooka district \\u2013 it's an important period of stability in their week officers and parents believe it's a runaway success become an example of how where you start out isn't always where you end up Mr Ian Norman Watters came to the attention of the Department of Communities as a result of the Working with Children Screening Unit’s proactive compliance program An investigation by the Department resulted in proceedings being commenced against Mr Watters for breaching the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.  He was convicted of this offence and subsequently sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on 2 June 2023 where he was fined $6,000 and ordered to pay $163.30 in costs Despite being issued with a Negative Notice Mr Watters continued to privately tutor children between the period of 3 June 2021 and 9 October 2021 Mr Watters also conducted online lessons.  Mr Watters told a parent that he had a current Working with Children Card despite having been issued with a Negative Notice in September 2008 prohibiting him from carrying out child-related work Magistrate Young commented that it was self-evident that the protective nature of the working with children act required a culture of compliance and that there was no room for casual approaches to the legislation Department of Communities Executive Director Regulation and Quality said the Working with Children Check is a critical part of keeping children safe “A Negative Notice is issued when a person has been assessed to be an unacceptable risk of harm to children Once a Negative Notice is issued to a person they must not carry on with child-related work.” “The community has a right to expect that their children are safe when engaging with any person or organisation providing child-related work.”  “I encourage parents, guardians and organisations, when engaging a self-employed person to carry out child-related work, especially tutoring, child minding or any one-on-one service, to ask to see their Working with Children Card and check its validity on the Working with Children Check website.” or they are unable to provide a card to verify that they do you should consider looking for another provider.”  Media contact: Chris Abbott – 0466 651 540 Don't include any personal information.If you need a response, send an enquiry instead Don't include any personal information.If you need a response, send an enquiry instead. The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present. ABC News News HomeSyrian refugees tipped to start new life in Mirrabooka one of Perth's most multicultural suburbsShare Syrian refugees tipped to start new life in Mirrabooka one of Perth's most multicultural suburbsRBy Rebecca Turner Owner of Mirrabooka McDonalds Ayman Haydar said his decision to open halal stores had initially attracted criticism. (ABC News: Rebecca Turner) Link copiedShareShare articleOne of the first places in Western Australia that the new wave of Syrian refugees is expected to call home is a suburb with street names seemingly out of a Beatrix Potter book, like Wintersweet Ramble and Threadleaf Way. But the northern Perth suburb of Mirrabooka is anything but an antipodean outpost of quaint English nostalgia. It is in one of the most multicultural local government areas in Australia, where the first halal McDonalds in Western Australia opened last year, and generations of new migrants have learned how to live in Australia. Australis Ave and Threadleaf Way, in Mirrabooka, English street names that belie Mirabooka's multicultural flavour. (ABC News: Rebecca Turner) Some Mirrabooka residents have become so emotionally attached to their adopted home that they say they couldn't live anywhere else — but rising house prices might mean they have to. The City of Stirling has begun a multi-million-dollar revitalisation program and big retail and housing developments are planned for this area, where those born in Australia are in the minority and most households speak at least two languages at home. Mirrabooka McDonalds owner Ayman Haydar can see the change coming, saying Mirrabooka is heading towards middle-class suburbia. "Fifteen years ago, you can tell the calibre of people who came in here by the cars," he said. "There were a lot of oil leaks in the car park. And the oil leaks are not there anymore." While Mirrabooka has the highest unemployment rate in Perth and a reputation for crime and antisocial behaviour, its median house price has grown by 24 per cent in just four years. That has often left migrants struggling to find affordable housing amid high rents and limited rental properties, although a recent softening in the market has offered some relief. The shopping centre was the centre of the community, one of the reasons why people said they couldn't leave Mirrabooka. Meanwhile, just next to the McDonalds, the Mirrabooka Square shopping centre could be any shiny Australian mall, with its chain stores and big-name supermarkets. The mall is a symbol of the new Mirrabooka, a stark contrast to the rundown Mirrabooka Village shopping centre, north of Reid Highway. Hassan Ibrahim, an Iraqi Shiite Muslim who arrived as a refugee, runs a convenience store at Mirrabooka Village, selling everything from hookahs to fake hairpieces and doing a steady trade in the Middle Eastern staples of nuts, beans and rice. He said he had noticed rising house prices were forcing many residents to leave and making others nostalgic for "the old Mirrabooka". But Mr Ibrahim said new migrants, particularly women who could not drive, became dependent on the shopping centre, because they could walk to its cheap supermarket and specialty stores catering for African, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian customers. "The shopping centre was the centre of the community, one of the reasons why people said they couldn't leave Mirrabooka," he said. First developed by the State Housing Commission at the same time as Balga, Nollamara and Westminster, Mirrabooka became an official suburb in 1980 and was named after the Noongar word for the Southern Cross. It became home to people escaping the Balkan conflict in the 1990s, followed by refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan and later from South Sudan and Burma. Paul Rafferty from the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre said many new migrants chose to live in Mirrabooka because of its high concentration of support services. "Within a 500-metre radius of us, there are probably about 40 government or not-for-profit organisations," he said. Mr Rafferty said the recent dip in rental prices was also significant because his clients could not afford to buy property. Principal Lina Bertolini and administrative assistant Jo Boyd are at Majella Catholic Primary School, where nearly 80 per cent of students speak English as a second language. (ABC News: Rebecca Turner) The pattern of migration in Mirrabooka is repeated in the student body of nearby Majella Catholic Primary School in Balga. "If we look at the history of Majella, we will find the history of world unrest," said Jo Boyd, who has worked at the school for 12 years. The student body is dominated by children from South Sudan and Burma, but this is a demographic mix which the school anticipates changing again with the influx of Syrian migrants. We had to teach them what recess and lunch was because where they're from, they only ate once a day. English is a second language for nearly 80 per cent of the school community, which boasts at least 19 different nationalities and, unusually for a Catholic school, at least 12 religions. The language of the Australian school day was also foreign for many of the South Sudanese who arrived after living in big refugee camps. "We had to teach them what recess and lunch was because where they're from, they only ate once a day," Ms Boyd said. School principal Lina Bertolini, whose parents were Italian migrants, said that she saw her school families living out the latest version of the modern Australian migrant story. "A lot of them choose to be settled here because their families have settled here originally and because they are comfortable here. It makes for a nice environment." She, too, has noticed the changing demographics of Balga and Mirrabooka in the past few years, as older public high-rise housing stock is demolished to make way for shinier, new developments. Mr Haydar, who is the son of Lebanese Muslim migrants, sees a lot of Islamophobia in his four McDonalds stores, which employ almost 600 people. Some customers have objected to an employee wearing a hijab, asking him "do you employ terrorists?", while another regular customer has refused to come to his halal restaurants "because you're supporting terrorists". "There was a lot of naive misunderstandings about what halal is," he said. "Do you eat Vegemite? Do you eat Coon? Do you eat bread? Because it's all halal. It's the way an animal is slaughtered." But his sales figures have shown it was a good decision: within a week of serving halal food, sales surged by 10 per cent. Customers have driven from as far away as Albany. Overall, Paul Rafferty said Mirrabooka is a harmonious community and his organisation had been flooded with offers of support for the more than 1,000 Syrian refugees due to arrive next year. "Mirrabooka is a good model for diversity working well," he said. Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Retail investors can get a slice of the real estate empire put together by billionaire Stan Perron after Melbourne-based fund manager Fawkner Property took over The Square Mirrabooka in Perth through a $195 million off-market deal The Rich Lister died three years ago, aged 96, after assembling a $4 billion fortune spanning investments in office blocks SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreShopping centresStan PerronLatest In CommercialFetching latest articles Play Duration: 14 minutes 31 seconds14m Brought to you by Perth is the world's second longest city and it can be tricky to get around if you're relying solely on public transport. The Edmund Rice Centre in Mirrabooka runs a much sought after driver education program for new migrants and refugees arriving in Perth. Coordinator Wahida Aziz has run the program for many years and has more than 100 people on her waiting list. Listen back as Geoff Hutchison chats to Wahida about the joy, independence and connection to community the program brings You'll also hear from students, Diana Oloo from Kenya and Zinar Eli from Syria. Drive host Geoff Hutchison chats with Wahida Aziz from the Edmund Rice Centre and two graduates of her driving program More EpisodesDrivePublished: 6h agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:00am Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio There’s animated conversations and gossip being exchanged of course Along with the nearby areas Girrawheen and Malaga Mirrabooka is one of the most remarkable culinary destinations in Western Australia it’s a world away from Perth’s more rarified western suburbs and shows how the city as a whole is quietly evolving to become a more global and polyglot place The blisteringly good local food scene is best on display at Mirrabooka Village a low-rise shopping centre adjoining the mosque These three neighbouring restaurants – two family-run Vietnamese restaurants and an Afghani-slash-Pakistani diner – offer a perfect taste of the suburb Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today Hu Tieu Thanh Liem specialises in south Vietnamese dishes like com tam (broken rice) served with grilled pork “In northern Vietnam com tam is served to the pigs but in the south it’s a delicacy,” Leong explains a heartwarming porridge that’s loaded with ginger Also recommended: the banh xeo (savoury pancake) and the canh ga don thit (chicken wings stuffed with pork and vegetables) Bubbling lamb curries (“these are very Afghanistan,” he explains) sit alongside Pakistani biryanis and a delicious stuffed Afghan bread known as bolani A particular favourite is the kabuli palaw a fragrant and juicy lamb shank served on a bed of aromatic rice Scoop it up with scrumptious Afghan bread fresh from the clay tandoor oven and finish with a cup of sugary tea Ben Thanh began in 2005 when the couple began selling their Vietnamese fare renting half of a fish’n’chip shop from the existing owners In a sign of Western Australia’s changing culture the chippy is now closed and Ben Thanh uses the entire space to sell its banh mi There’s only a handful of items on the menu: three different banh mi ring in at just $5 each and come with crispy grilled bread all the fixings plus a protein choice of pork chicken or sardine (a firm favourite among local observant Muslims) The pork roll is particularly impressive and Anne will tell you how she lovingly roasts the pork and slathers it in pate There’s also a delightful sugar cane juice hand-pressed on a geriatric roller and topped with fresh cumquat A New App Fights Food Waste With Discounted Goods From Local Bakeries and Restaurants Deadbeat Brings Grunge and a Top Sydney Bartender to Perth’s CBD First Look: Light Years Lands in Perth With Its Most Ambitious Menu Yet Local Knowledge: Teassential Competes for the Caffeine Crown in the Coffee-Obsessed CBD See the latest news from Screenwest and the WA Screen Industry here A specialist police team working in the multicultural community of Mirrabooka is the.. A specialist police team working in the multicultural community of Mirrabooka is the subject of a documentary was screened nationally on Wednesday BEHIND THE BLUE LINE takes viewers into the WA Police’s Multicultural Unit who are tasked with both enforcing the law and breaking down barriers in an area which is home to 70% of Perth’s newest migrants from 62 different nationalities with 102 languages spoken The program shows the full range of police work undertaken in Mirrabooka: executing arrest warrants Domestic violence call-outs are commonplace the Multicultural Unit continues its efforts to earn the trust of the community – which is vital to modern The Multicultural Unit is headed up by Inspector Don Emanuel-Smith and Acting Sergeant Zen Kassim the only WA Police officer to wear a hijab on duty Their task is to balance the delicate relationship between working police and a community where many people come from countries where police are treated with suspicion Acting Sergeant Kassim is forthright about policing in a multicultural community “I personally feel that instead of focusing on my faith the community and the members of the public should respect the uniform that I am wearing and the agency I represent,” Acting Sergeant Kassim said “They should understand that officers from different religious backgrounds cultures and faiths working in this agency are a representation of people from the diverse background that live in WA.” Other Mirrabooka police officers have their own multicultural backgrounds: BEHIND THE BLUE LINE goes on the road Kenyan-born Probationary Constable Jane Smith and Australian-Chilean First Class Constable Barbara Salgado BEHIND THE BLUE LINE is the work of Perth production company Periscope Pictures with producer Alice Wolfe co-director Sam Bohdi Field and writer/director Stuart O’Rourke and was developed and produced in association with Joined Up Films Stuart O’Rourke said BEHIND THE BLUE LINE would give people the opportunity to see how a police force operates in one of the most culturally diverse regions in Australia “Fantastic access was achieved,” Stuart said “The viewer will get to know who the police officers are behind the uniform and they will experience a fresh take on some of the challenges that new arrivals face in their new land “It is always fascinating to access unfamiliar worlds and this film was no exception “Whilst no relationship is perfect it was interesting to witness the proactive nature of the policing and the mostly positive reception from the community BEHIND THE BLUE LINE is part of the Untold Australia documentary series produced for SBS with funding from Screen Australia and Screenwest Screenwest enables the development and production of screen content that is as diverse as its audience It does this by supporting local stories that draw from a range of perspectives and experiences Screenwest Chair Janelle Marr said of the project, “In May last year, Screenwest launched the WA Screen Industry Diversity & Inclusion Roadmap in order to create a more inclusive screen sector by showing diverse people on screen and behind the camera “BEHIND THE BLUE LINE delivers compelling insight into the working lives of police men and woman and the challenges and opportunities they face in Australia’s most diverse postcode “What really appealed to me about this production is the human aspect The story challenges preconceptions and works to break down barriers and it’s inspiring to see these stories told.” Untold Australia sets out to find previously untold stories from Australia’s most culturally diverse communities BEHIND THE BLUE LINE is available to watch on SBS on Demand for a limited time. NGALA KAADITJ WHADJUK NOONGAR MOORT KEYEN KAADAK NIDJA BOODJA We acknowledge Whadjuk Noongar people as the original custodians of the land on which the Screenwest office is located Screenwest acknowledges and pays respect to all Traditional Owners of Country across the State of Western Australia and their Elders We recognise and respect their cultural heritage spiritual beliefs and relationship to land and waters and acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the people living today We extend this respect to all Indigenous language groups We acknowledge Whadjuk Noongar people as the original custodians of the land on which the Screenwest office is located. Screenwest acknowledges and pays respect to all Traditional Owners of Country across the State of Western Australia and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs and relationship to land and waters and acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the people living today. We extend this respect to all Indigenous language groups. It is understood a triple-0 call was made about noon on Saturday regarding a firearm being discharged, sparking a heavy response by police. The house on Dryandra Place was cordoned off as officers investigated. Police on Saturday afternoon confirmed a man had been taken into custody. “There are no reports of anyone being shot or injured, and there are currently no ongoing concerns for public safety,” a spokesman said. Witnesses described seeing an altercation outside of the house, which is understood to be known to police, at the time. One person said there was a group “mouthing off and carrying on”, with a man at one stage hitting an object against the light-post and throwing a bottle onto the roof. Another neighbour described hearing a “loud bang”. Officers were seen climbing a ladder to inspect the roof at one point at the scene. 1/8A long officer pictured on the roof of the home. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times 2/8Officers were seen climbing a ladder to inspect the roof at one point at the scene. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times 3/8Gunshot holes in the back on a car at the property. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times 4/8Officers climbing a ladder to inspect the roof. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times 5/8Officers climb a ladder to inspect the roof. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times 6/8Police cordoned off Dryandra Avenue, Mirrabooka where shots were fired. 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Camera IconChristmas cheer shines at Cott Beach despite chilly morningMorgan de Smidt ChristmasCamera IconThe highlights of the star-studded Christmas Pageant SEE THE PICSCamera IconRacegoers dressed to impress at Ascot’s Fashion in the Field A woman has been charged after a man died at Mirrabooka home on Wednesday morning Police were called to a home in Tinsel Place Mirrabooka about 8.40am where they found a man 38-year-old man with traumatic life-threatening stab wounds to his upper body Neighbours have described hearing a woman's "bloodcurdling screams" from inside the home just before police and ambulance crews arrived Officers are at the scene.Credit: Kate Hedley A St John Ambulance spokesman said the man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital as a priority one patient The circumstances surrounding the man's injuries are not yet known A 25-year-old Mirrabooka woman has been charged with aggravated grievous bodily harm over the man's death and were seen searching the front yard and the driveway of the property Neighbours have described hearing a woman's \\\"bloodcurdling screams\\\" from inside the home just before police and ambulance crews arrived A St John Ambulance spokesman said the man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital as a\\u00A0priority one patient The circumstances surrounding the man's injuries are not yet known A 25-year-old Mirrabooka woman has been charged with aggravated grievous bodily harm over the man's death Where to Find Australia’s Best Inner-City Bakeries By Katya Wachtel By Katya Wachtel By Matheus On a Friday lunchtime after the weekly call to prayer at the adojining Masjid Al-Taqwa mosque this small yet lively diner pulses with neighbourhood charm The diverse offerings at Afghani Kebab House are inspired by the peripatetic life of its owner-chef Mohammed Fayazi Fayazi lived in Pakistan before eventually emigrating to Australia bubbling Afghani lamb curries sit alongside Pakistani biryanis and a delicious stuffed Afghan bread known as bolani Phone: 0470 303 484 Website: facebook.com We do not seek or accept payment from the cafes bars and shops listed in the Directory – inclusion is at our discretion Venue profiles are written by independent freelancers paid by Broadsheet