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| From left: Mr Lee Kim Hua, Dr Jeff Harmer, Mr
Michael G Gray, Chairman of the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centres
(AMKFSC), Carla Giuca from the Australian High Commission, Bridget
Monica Das (Head, AMKFSC, Sengkang Branch), Suraya Mohd Suppien (Snr
Social Worker, AMKFSC Sengkang Branch) & Roger Barson. |
 CYS
recently had the pleasure of hosting Dr Jeff Harmer, Secretary of
the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS), Australia
when he visited Singapore from 20-23 September. Dr Harmer was accompanied
by Mr Roger Barson, Group Manager Corporate Support, FaCS. Both gentlemen
were warmly received when they paid a courtesy call on Permanent Secretary
Niam Chiang Meng at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and
Sports (MCYS) on 21 September.
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| MCYS
Permanent Secretary Niam Chiang Meng with Dr Jeff Harmer. |
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FaCS and MCYS have a
special relationship, through an MOU signed in August 2002, which
provides for co-operation in social policies and programmes. Some
of the bilateral activities that have taken place under the MOU include
staff attachments and study trips.
This was Dr Harmer’s first visit to MCYS since he assumed his appointment
as Secretary of FaCS, and he took the opportunity to gain a better
understanding of the social challenges facing Singapore and how the
Ministry was working with the community. He came |
away from his visits to the Central Singapore
Community Development Council (CDC) very impressed with the work carried
out to promote community bonding. He was equally impressed with the
range of services and activities at the Ang Mo Kio Family Service
Centre (Seng Kang Branch), and commended the staff on their passion
and dedication in helping distressed families, youth and the elderly.
Dr Harmer capped his visit in typical Singaporean fashion, where friendships
are often sealed through bonding over food, with a visit to the Maxwell
Road Food Centre where he got a very satisfying taste of local flavours.
Said Mr Lee Kim Hua, Director of Family Services, “Both FaCS and MCYS
have benefited from a mutual exchange of experiences and knowledge.
Dr Harmer’s visit was a good opportunity to strengthen these ties
and further cement the already close links we have with them.” 
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