Organization connects with diverse communities at Springvale festival, celebrating cultural traditions across Asia

SPRINGVALE, Melbourne — AMES Australia joined communities across Victoria in welcoming the Year of the Horse over the weekend, participating in a lively Lunar New Year festival in Springvale that brought together thousands celebrating one of the most significant cultural occasions on the Asian calendar.

The event, marked by vibrant decorations, traditional performances, and community gatherings, saw AMES Australia team members engaging directly with local community members, sharing information about services and celebrating alongside families from diverse cultural backgrounds.

A Celebration of Many Names and Traditions

Lunar New Year is known by different names across the many cultures that observe it—Chinese New Year, Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea, and various other designations across Asia and among diaspora communities worldwide. Each tradition brings its own customs, foods, and rituals, while sharing common themes of family reunion, renewal, and hope for prosperity in the year ahead.

The Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year zodiac cycle, symbolizes energy, strength, and perseverance. Those born in Horse years are traditionally associated with traits including independence, intelligence, and a free-spirited nature. The horse’s symbolism of forward movement and progress resonates across cultures celebrating the new year.

AMES Australia’s Community Engagement

AMES Australia’s participation in the Springvale festival reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to connecting with and supporting culturally diverse communities across Victoria. The festival provided an opportunity for AMES staff to meet community members in a celebratory setting, building relationships and sharing information about the organization’s services.

“We loved being part of such a joyful event,” an AMES Australia representative shared following the festival. The organization extended a warm thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with their team during the celebrations.

Springvale: A Hub of Cultural Diversity

Springvale, located in Melbourne’s southeast, is one of Victoria’s most culturally diverse suburbs, with significant populations of Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and other Asian communities. The suburb’s Lunar New Year festival has grown into one of Melbourne’s premier multicultural events, drawing visitors from across the city to experience traditional performances, food stalls, and community activities.

The festival’s location in Springvale reflects the broader demographic landscape of Victoria, where Asian communities have become an integral part of the state’s multicultural identity. For many families, events like the Springvale festival provide an opportunity to maintain cultural traditions while sharing them with the broader Australian community.

AMES Australia’s Role in Multicultural Victoria

AMES Australia has long played a vital role in supporting migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers as they build new lives in Victoria. The organization provides a range of services including settlement support, English language education, employment assistance, and pathways to further education and training.

Participation in community events like the Lunar New Year festival represents an extension of AMES Australia’s mission—meeting people where they are, building trust within communities, and ensuring that newcomers and established communities alike can access the support they need to thrive in their new homeland.

The Symbolism of the Horse

The Year of the Horse arrives with particular resonance for many in attendance. In Chinese astrology, the horse represents freedom, enthusiasm, and determination—qualities that resonate with the journeys of migrants and refugees who have traveled great distances to build new lives in Australia.

For AMES Australia clients and staff alike, the horse’s symbolism of forward movement and progress aligns with the organization’s work supporting people as they move forward in their Australian journeys—learning language, finding employment, building connections, and creating futures.

Gratitude and Connection

The festival provided not only celebration but genuine connection between AMES Australia and the communities they serve. Conversations at the AMES stall ranged from inquiries about services to shared wishes for prosperity in the new year—each interaction strengthening the bonds between organization and community.

“Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us,” AMES Australia expressed following the event, capturing the spirit of mutual appreciation that characterized the day.

Looking Forward

As the Year of the Horse begins, AMES Australia looks forward to continuing its work supporting Victoria’s culturally diverse communities. The organization’s presence at community celebrations like the Springvale Lunar New Year festival demonstrates a commitment to being present, accessible, and engaged with the people they serve.

For the thousands who attended the festival, the event marked both celebration of tradition and hope for the year ahead. For AMES Australia, it represented another opportunity to demonstrate that the organization stands with Victoria’s diverse communities—not only in times of need, but in times of joy and celebration as well.

Happy Year of the Horse! 🐎🧧✨