It has been devastating to watch the COVID-19 case numbers in India climb to unprecedented levels recently.
Message from the Chairperson
I'm just getting in touch again this week to pass on the important message from our Multifaith Advisory Group about the situation in India. I would also like to share some information about the upcoming NAPLAN tests in schools, which this year happen to coincide with Eid.
Our thoughts are with everyone in India during this time of widespread suffering and uncertainty. Our thoughts also go out to Victorians who fear for loved ones affected by the pandemic.
The Faith Communities Council of Victoria, along with members of our own Multifaith Advisory Group, will hold an online vigil in support of our Indian communities next Tuesday (13 May) from 5 pm. You are invited to participate in this reflective and meditative event by joining the Zoom meeting here.
Take care and stay safe.
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson
Helping India from Australia
Greetings of peace,
The Multifaith Advisory Group met on 3 May 2021 and we would like to send a message to the people of India and the Indian diaspora community.
The wonderful Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore writes from his heart about our common humanity: ”I shall ever seek my compatriots all over the world.”
In this time of pandemic crisis, we are drawn to be compatriots of folk in India. The links between India and Australia run deep and are getting deeper.
Our Indian Australian sisters and brothers are a major community in our successful multicultural Australia. We feel with them, and for them, as their relatives and the Indian population face the current COVID crisis. Bonded as we are so deeply, we compatriots offer our prayers and meditations from our unifying ethic of compassion.
With links of friendship, we also are offering what practical support we can through trusted and faith-based Indian NGOs, complementing the aid already being offered by our State and Federal Governments. The needs are huge, as the media reports convey. Our friends in India write asking for our prayers as they succumb to the virus and as they hear of more friends dying.
From our diverse traditions, we offer what we can together. Please make a donation to your preferred charity or consider the organisations below, which are raising funds for India right now.
There will be an online vigil, hosted by the Faith Communities Council of Victoria and supported by members of the Multifaith Advisory Group, on Tuesday 11 May, 5.00pm to 5.45pm via Zoom (register at http://tiny.cc/vigilforindia).
Sincerely,
Multifaith Advisory Group
Multifaith Advisory Council signatories
• The Multifaith Advisory Group
• All Nations Presbyterian Church of Australia Mulgrave
• AMAFHH Federation - Shi'a Organisation
• Australian Intercultural Society
• Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights
• Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
• Baha’i Community of Victoria
• Benevolence Australia
• Board of Imams Victoria
• Rabbinical Council of Victoria
• Buddhist Council of Victoria
• Catholic Social Services Victoria
• Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne
• Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
• Faith Communities Council of Victoria
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
• Hindu Council of Australia (Vic)
• Hindu Society of Victoria
• Islamic Council of Victoria
• Jewish Community Council of Victoria
• Lutheran Church of Australia
• National Council of Churches in Australia
• Presbyterian Church of Victoria
• Rabbinical Council of Victoria
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
• Russian Orthodox Church
• Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria
• The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne
• Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Vic/Tas
• Victorian Council of Churches
• Victorian Multicultural Commission
• UNESCO
Important notice regarding Eid and NAPLAN
The Victorian Multicultural Commission is aware that the upcoming NAPLAN dates coincide with Eid al-Fitr.
While it is important to note that decisions relating to NAPLAN are made at a national level, advice from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (which administers NAPLAN within Victoria) is that the NAPLAN protocols (for both paper and online tests) state that schools can change a test date for reasons outside their control. This includes religious holidays and observations.
Impacted schools should lodge change of date requests through the NAPLAN Help Desk on vcaa.naplan.help@education.vic.gov.au or 1800 648 637.
Individual families can also speak to their child's school to reschedule their assessment.
If schools wish to discuss the timing of Eid and NAPLAN, they are best to call the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) helpdesk. Details are below.
- General enquiries: info@acara.edu.au
- Tel: 1300 895 563 or +61 2 8098 3100
- Information is also published on the ACARA website.
Coronavirus hotline
- Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398 (24 Hours).
- Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
- Testing locations: Find a testing location near you.
- Triple Zero: Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.
- Coronavirus in-language information
MORE:
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
Adress: Level 3, 1 Macarthur Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9651 5901
Email: contact@vmc.vic.gov.au