Standing in solidarity with Victoria’s Afghan community at this difficult time, and believing Australia has a moral obligation to respond appropriately.
Message from the Chairperson
We call on the Australian Government to take urgent steps to support the Afghan people through additional intake under our humanitarian program, grant permanent protection to people in Australia on temporary protection visas and prioritise family reunification visas.
With international borders closed for more than 18 months, and the continued uncertainty over the roadmap ahead, ECCV is concerned about the wellbeing of our communities.
For Australians with family abroad, the inability to leave Australia without the fear of being barred from returning, or being forced to pay thousands of dollars to quarantine in hotels, is adding to the hopelessness many members in migrant communities are expressing and it is having a detrimental impact on social connection and mental health.
ECCV urges the Federal Government to use the incentive of national and international travel as a stimulus for vaccination, and implement a system of vaccine passports, which are already being used in other parts of the world.
ECCV is playing an important role in vaccine engagement with hard-to-reach groups through community consultations and our COVID-19 Multicultural Outreach Program. We commend member organisations leading in support of the vaccination program in their communities by working alongside public health authorities on pop-up clinics in churches, schools and community centres. The multicultural sector is a critical component in ensuring our communities are not left behind in the vaccine rollout.
The last month has been a very challenging period for everyone in Australia. Next year’s national FECCA Conference in Melbourne will be an opportunity to discuss many issues that have emerged throughout this pandemic and the systemic gaps exposed for people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. We encourage you to submit abstracts now to help shape the discussion at this important national conference.
ECCV acknowledges the recent passing of Emeritus Professor Gary Bouma AM, a long-time champion of interfaith and intercultural approaches to building a socially just and cohesive society. He will be missed.
Finally, we are saddened by the impending departure of our Executive Officer, Chris Christoforou. Chris has steered ECCV through a significant period of growth and change, and we thank him and wish him well in his new role. This vacancy creates a unique leadership opportunity for a new Chief Executive Officer to take ECCV through into an exciting next phase.
Warm regards,
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
Mental Health: Voices from the Community
Thank you to the more than 100 people who joined our forum last night, which centred people's experiences of the mental health system. We heard from Shehani de Silva, Victorian Transcultural Mental Health consultant, Jaya Manchikanti, IndianCare President, Hala Nur, The Venny youth worker and counsellor Tigist Kebede, plus a live performance by performance poet Thabani Tshuma.
Welcoming new VMC Commissioners
ECCV Board Member Abiola Akinbiyi has been appointed to the Victorian Multicultural Commission alongside Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria President, Bill Papastergiadis OAM, former Jewish Community Council of Victoria President, Jennifer Huppert, and former Islamic Council of Victoria President, Mohamed Mohideen OAM. We also acknowledge the work of outgoing Commissioner and ECCV Director, Mohammed Yassin.
Multicultural Emergency Management Project
ECCV is partnering with the Department of Health and the Victorian Council of Social Service to deliver the Multicultural Emergency Management Project. The Project supports emergency preparedness and resilience among migrant and refugee communities, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, by strengthening the work of community leaders through training and partnerships.
NECPAC Community Consultation Workshop
Thank you to everyone who attended the first workshop to establish ECCV's New and Emerging Communities Policy Advisory Committee (NECPAC). More than 30 people from new and emerging communities shared their ideas on how to tackle challenges and advocate for change.
FECCA 2022: Applications to present now open | abstract submissions close 1 October 2021
Do you have a vision to help shape multicultural Australia? Applications are open for presentations at the FECCA 2022 conference, co-hosted by ECCV, in Melbourne in March 2022. We would like to hear your ideas, innovative and strengths-based solutions, and new and emerging issues faced by migrant and refugee communities.
Join the call to demand Action on Afghanistan
Victoria is home to the largest Afghan population in Australia. ECCV has joined more than 300 organisations and 9000 people in signing an open letter calling on the Federal Government to commit to 20,000 humanitarian visas, grant permanent protection to Afghan refugees in Australia, and prioritise family reunification visas.
New Statewide CALD Disability Network
National Ethnic Disability Alliance President, Margherita Coppolino, will chair a new state-wide disability network established by ECCV to capture the voices of people with disability from CALD communities. We encourage people with lived experience, their carers and families and multicultural and ethno-specific organisations to join.
- Contact Nimo Hersi, ECCV Disability Advocacy Coordinator for more information.
Carer Info session | Tuesday 31 August 2021 | from 10am
Two new Carers Respite & Employment Support Grants aim to support unpaid carers to take a break and to assist those looking to re-enter the workforce. The Victorian Government is looking for innovative and non-traditional ways to deliver respite services and small ethno-specific/multicultural organisations are encouraged to apply. ECCV is holding an online information session for organisations interested in these grants on.
ECCV/Hume City Council COVID-19 Information Session | Tuesday 31 August 2021 | from 6pm
Our Multicultural Outreach program is delivering community education on COVID-19 to CALD communities in Victoria. An information session is being held in partnership with Hume City Council on Tuesday, 31 August. Bicultural workers will be present to support people with translations in Turkish, Arabic, Hindi and Punjabi.
Submission on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act
Focusing on the need for human rights, cultural safety and intersectional approaches. The rights of migrants and refugees to access interpreters and culturally safe services must be reflected in law. Our submission also recommends creating mechanisms for decision-making and oversight to better reflect the needs of CALD communities.
Submission to the Ministerial Taskforce on Workplace Sexual Harassment
Highlighting the impact of workplace sexual harassment on women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, with a focus on women on temporary visas, in precarious work and low-paid sectors. A comprehensive approach is needed, plus more responsive support options for workers who experience sexual harassment at work.
Submission to the Inquiry into Economic Equity for Victorian Women
During the pandemic, inequalities have worsened for migrant and refugee women, who are one of the most economically marginalised groups. This submission, produced in partnership with Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, emphasises the need for systemic change that effectively increases meaningful economic opportunities and inclusion for Victoria’s migrant and refugee women.
VACANCY | Leadership Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer
ECCV is seeking an experienced and inspirational CEO to build on our legacy and history in multicultural affairs. Over-seeing all aspects of the organisation, the CEO will ensure ECCV continues to be a leading voice shaping multicultural policy across the state and supporting members, community, business and government to build an inclusive and diverse society.
WATCH | WEBINAR | Multicultural Mental Health: The Road Ahead | 27 July 2021
Keynote Speaker: Steve Dimopoulos MP Panel Discussion: Paris Aristotle AO, Dr Francis Acquah, Dr Judy Tang.
WATCH | WEBINAR | Multicultural Mental Health: Voices from the Community | 24 August 2021
Speakers: Shehani de Silva, Hala Nur, Jaya Manchikanti, Tigist Kebede Performance: Thabani Tshuma
READ | Multicultural Social Services research project
ECCV is proud to be a partner organisation in Deakin University's Mapping Social Services in Multicultural Societies research project. This week, the project, which aims to look at the shift in service delivery from community-specific to mainstream organisations, has released a paper on the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery to CALD communities.
WATCH | WEBINAR | The Ageing Mosaic | Tuesday 10 August 2021
A video recording of the Older Persons' Advocacy Network's webinar, The Ageing Mosaic, is now available online. This informative webinar featured a panel of experts including ECCV's Ageing Well Lead, Tonina Gucciardo-Masci, discussing the importance of supporting cultural diversity in ageing and empowering older people from diverse life experiences to better exercise their rights.
Protecting Preston Market's Cultural Significance
Preston Market is a unique example of Victoria’s multicultural heritage and it remains a thriving social and cultural hub. But the Market is earmarked for redevelopment, and ECCV shares Darebin City Council’s concerns that plans to demolish and relocate the Market will destroy this special part of Victoria’s rich migrant history and the communities it has built.
Staff Transitions
Thank You & Farewell- Yuli Liang, Disability Advocacy Project Officer
- Batool Mousa, Policy Officer
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Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: (03) 9354 9555
Email: eccv@eccv.org.au
Website: https://eccv.org.au