For Matu Community of Queensland president Lawm Cangmah, community has always been about ensuring people do not have to face life’s challenges alone.
Based in Marsden, the Matu Community of Queensland was established by members of the Matu community who began resettling in Queensland from 2007 after leaving Myanmar in south-east Asia.
What started as a grassroots support network has since grown into a community organisation helping families and individuals across Logan access support, build relationships and participate confidently in Australian society while remaining connected to their cultural identity.
“[Our organisation] grew out of that need, to help one another and make sure people didn’t have to navigate settlement alone,” Mr Cangmah said.
Today, the organisation delivers practical support, youth wellbeing initiatives, educational programs and referral services designed to strengthen wellbeing, resilience and community connection.
One of the key issues it encounters is the gap in expectations that can emerge between parents and their children, Mr Cangman said.
While many parents draw on the values and experiences that shaped them before arriving in Australia, their children are growing up in a very different social and cultural environment.
These differences can create tension around education, career choices, friendships, independence and family responsibilities, Mr Cangman said.
“Often, both sides care deeply about each other but struggle to understand one another’s perspective,” Mr Cangmah said.
To address this, the organisation works to create opportunities for meaningful conversations, helping young people feel heard while supporting parents as they navigate changes they may never have experienced themselves.
At the centre of the organisation’s work is a strong belief in the importance of belonging.
For people rebuilding their lives in a new country, finding a sense of place is just as important as securing housing, education or employment, Mr Cangman said.
For young people in particular, that can mean learning how their cultural heritage fits alongside being Australian.
“We want them to know they can be proud of both,” Mr Cangmah said.
This commitment to belonging is reflected in the organisation’s community-building activities, including its Australia Day celebrations, which provide an opportunity for families to recognise Australia as home while celebrating their contribution to local communities.
Much of its work focuses on supporting young people through programs such as the Youth Social Engagement Program, Football Academy, Homework Assistance Program and Toastmasters sessions.
However, Mr Cangmah believes meaningful youth support goes well beyond providing activities.
“Meaningful support starts with relationships. A young person needs someone who listens, takes them seriously and keeps showing up,” he said.
Through mentoring, friendship, learning opportunities and safe spaces, the organisation helps young people build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a greater sense of purpose, he said.
Mr Cangmah also believes social isolation remains one of the most overlooked challenges affecting young people today.
“A young person can be surrounded by people or connected online and still feel they have nobody they can speak honestly with,” he said.
Rather than waiting until young people reach crisis point, he advocates for greater investment in prevention through stronger support for parents, improved communication at home and accessible services that help children thrive from an early age.
The impact of this approach is evident in the organisation’s Youth Social Engagement Program, where participants report feeling more connected, less isolated and more confident about their future, he said.
For Mr Cangmah, those outcomes reinforce a simple but powerful message: having a place to belong, people to rely on and a community that continues to show up can make all the difference.
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