GEIFN: ECCV | UPDATING | New projects, events and initiatives to support communities

[Edited extract from public address]

Promoting culturally responsive ways to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting health messages made available in a range of community languages: it is critical to have a trained and resourced bi-cultural workforce to engage with and support multicultural Victorians.

Chair's Message

ECCV is currently updating its previous policy work on health literacy and language services for multicultural communities, by reviewing the public health response to COVID-19 as part of informing future approaches that effectively ensure the safety, wellness and connection of Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

ECCV was pleased to be invited to appear before the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee for the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s Response to the COVID 19 Pandemic. While we have congratulated the Victorian Government for its leadership, financial investment, and unshakable commitment to the safety and health of the community, a lack of strategic coordination with the multicultural sector has led to negative consequences in terms of the effectiveness of the overall response.

The Victorian Government has been prepared to listen to feedback and as such we commend it on its recent announcement of an additional $14.3 million in funding to support multicultural communities. This funding to support the front line role that many multicultural organisations are playing in supporting migrant and refugee communities during this time is significant, as is the establishment of a CALD Communities Taskforce. ECCV looks forward to the Taskforce finding ways to provide a seat at the table for multicultural communities, so that the same mistakes are not repeated.

Over the past month, ECCV has partnered with WorkSafe Victoria to help develop communications materials to keep migrant workers safe under the challenges imposed by the pandemic, particularly for people in insecure and high-risk employment. We thank those organisations from across the legal, union, community and business sector that helped inform the development of these resources and we look forward to seeing WorkSafe implement this work.

ECCV has partnered with Local Government Victoria-appointed communications agency Ellis Jones for the It’s Our Time campaign to encourage and support more women, including women of colour, to nominate for upcoming local council elections. We also partnered with Victoria University and Centre for Multicultural Youth to present online forums throughout August that focused on many of the issues currently being faced by international students who continue to be denied social and economic safety nets by the Commonwealth Government in the midst of this unprecedented crisis.

We are very pleased to announce that ECCV, with the support of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Forum, will host a Gambling Harm Forum (online) in September. This will feature Dr Charles Livingstone as a keynote speaker along with a range of other professional and community voices. I highly encourage our members and stakeholders to attend this event and be part of the dialogue on how we can prevent gambling harm within multicultural Victoria.

These are just some of the many activities, events and initiatives that ECCV has been participating in over the past month, and I thank our team for their ongoing and tireless efforts in advocating for and supporting culturally diverse communities at this difficult time.

Warm regards,
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson

It’s Our Time: Backing Women To Stand For Council

‘It’s Our Time’ is a campaign for reaching, motivating and supporting potential female candidates for local council election in 2020.

By connecting women to their peers through online networks, mentoring and webinars, and by providing practical guides to nominating, campaigning and representing communities as a Councillor, It’s Our Time supports any woman, of any age, from all across Victoria to gain the know-how, skills and confidence to take her place at the table of some of the biggest decisions of our generation.

Candidates must nominate from 17-22 September 2020. The elections will be held on Saturday 24 October, 2020.

The campaign is being delivered by Ellis Jones, in partnership with ECCV and others, through a grant from Local Government Victoria under the Victorian Government’s Safe and Strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy.
Read more

New Project Developing Culturally Responsive After Hours Primary Care

The project aims to improve the responsiveness and accessibility of the primary health system in collaboration with the NWMPHN.

ECCV has been funded by the North West Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) to develop a culturally responsive best practice framework for its commissioned primary health providers.

ECCV is working in partnership with Community Owned Primary Health Enterprises to undertake this work. Our team will be looking specifically at positive examples across the primary health system, including from mental health, alcohol & other drug and general practice, as well as the experiences of CALD communities of using after-hours health services in the central, western and northern parts of Melbourne.

ECCV will start recruiting participants living in central, western or northern parts of Melbourne for online focus groups in September and October.

If you would like to participate in these forums, including being a engaged as a community voice on the project Steering Committee please contact ECCV Project Lead, Martin Plowman at mplowman@eccv.org.au.

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)

ECCV is currently working with Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) to support ethno-specific organisations in Victoria, in their promotion of The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line (OPCSL) within their communities.

Some older people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 but less connected to the internet and in need of ways to access information for their circumstances. The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line provides information and support.

Please find more information about OPCSL, translated into 51 different languages on OPAN’s webpage and share with seniors in your communities.

Visit the website for more information

Gambling Harm Forum | Wednesday 16 September 2020 | 10am-1pm

A forum for migrant and refugee community members and people seeking to engage with them

Hear from experts, practitioners and community voices from the gambling harm reduction sector who will speak about the new challenges and effects of gambling in multicultural communities during the coronavirus pandemic and lock down.

Key note speaker is Dr Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Find out more and register now

ECCV Self Advocacy Workshop in Bendigo | Tuesday 15 September 2020 | 10am-12noon

Self advocacy online training
Delivering a Self Advocacy online training program for people with disability from ethnic communities living in the Greater Bendigo region.

Where: online through Zoom. Check-in details issued upon registration.

Cost: Free

Bookings: To register contact Disability Advocate Youssif Assafiri yassafiri@eccv.org.au; Tel: 0423 272 886

Global Youth Mental Health Awareness | Saturday 19-Sunday 20 September 2020 | 8am

Stress Management Revolutions Summit 2020

Global youth mental health awareness (GYMHA) not-for-profit in collaboration with various local and international reputable organizations presents A 2-day Stress Management Revolutions Virtual summit 2020.

This is a FREE virtual summit to give you the techniques you need to control the stress you experience in all areas of your life! The summit will help the participants to focus on how to manage stress and adversity, build an unshakable core of inner strength, and thrive in a challenging world.

Where: online through Zoom. Check-in details issued upon registration.

Cost: Free

Bookings: register online through Eventbrite.com.au

Policy Issues Briefs: Impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, employment, social cohesion and ethnic seniors' clubs

The latest ECCV Issue Brief is informed by inputs from CALD seniors’ clubs and ethnic seniors’ federations and highlights the protective role they play in supporting communication and providing emotional and physical health support to their members. ECCV found that while ethnic seniors’ associations are effective community connectors that are sustained by the dedication and commitment of their members, the pandemic has heightened the threats to the organisational survival of many.

Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg VIC 3058
Tel: 9354 9555

Email: eccv@eccv.org.au

Website: https://www.eccv.org.au

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