Mapping present-day 'ecosystem' of support for people who identify as multicultural/multi-faith and LGBTIQ (especially for those who are seeking asylum, have a refugee background, or are newly arrived migrants).
A forum to meet community organisations and service providers, all were welcome who wished to be part of the conversation.Where: Red Cross, DOS Rooms, 23-47 Villiers Street, North Melbourne 3051
Organisers
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement helps tens of millions of people around the world each year. Australian Red Cross cares for local communities in Australia and further afield.With millions of volunteers worldwide and thousands of members, volunteers and supporters across Australia reaches people and places like nobody else.
Offices located in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC) Inc aims to represent the interests of Australian GLBTIQ individual/groups from a multicultural background. It does this primarily by recognising the interests of GLBTIQ multicultural individuals/groups and raising their profile within the wider GLBTIQ and multicultural communities. AGMC encourages participation and contribution of GLBTIQ from a Multicultural background within GLBTIQ and multicultural communities. Aims include promotion, enabling and dissemination of knowledge on issues relevant to GLBTIQ multicultural individuals/groups through discussion, research, publishing and other means. AGMC encourages and supports the formation and growth of GLBTIQ multicultural groups.
Some key conclusions:
1. Online Directory: listing Victoria-wide services, service providers and supports available and development of Culturally-Specific Training Information/Trainers/Packages
2. Visibility:
Beginning difficult conversations. Raising visibility of individuals within families, organisations, cultural groups and general community of positive role modellers. One participant described her coming out as a journey for her Orthodox religious mother from initially slapping her Lesbian daughter in the face, spitting on her to more recently voting "yes" on the Marriage Equality Postal Survey.
3. Affirmative Actions:
Making available information (i.e., gender questioning, sexual health, reproductive etc) adapted to specific Cultural characteristics, traditions and language and compatible with Australian Law, customs and norms. Understanding that for migrant groups, members may not identify with terminology like 'same sex attracted', that stages of self-acceptance for individuals is generally later in their 20s, and often while still living within their family, migrant or religious group.
In Closing:
A full assembly of different individuals, organisations, service providers and allies to the LGBTI community assembled to share experience, expertise and close the gaps between awareness, services delivered and services needed.
On behalf of Buddhist Council Victoria Interfaith (bINTER) and Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN), thankyou to Organisers and Participants working tirelessly to redress historical, and presenting inequalities. Received with gratitude.
MORE:
Red Cross Victoria
23-47 Villiers Street, North Melbourne 3051
Post: GPO Box 9949, Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: 03 8327 7700
Website: http://www.redcross.org.au
Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc
C/- VAC, 6 Claremont Street, South Yarra Vic 3141
Email: contact@agmc.org.au
Website: http://www.agmc.org.au
A collaboration between Red Cross Victoria and Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc
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| Mapping Exercise |