With a record-breaking 900-plus attendees, FECCA 2022: Advancing Multicultural Australia was a resounding success.
As conference co-hosts, we were thrilled to see community leaders, policymakers, sector specialists, academics and lived experience advocates come together in Melbourne to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing our migrant and refugee communities, from solidarity with First Nations communities to COVID-19 recovery, from institutional racism to gendered violence, and more. If you weren't able to join us, you can watch a wrap-up of the conference here.We would like to thank the First Nations leaders, both young and old, who shared their knowledge and insights at FECCA 2022. It was a privilege to learn from the team behind The Uluru Statement from the Heart, and reflect on how multicultural communities can walk alongside First Nations communities on the path to Voice, Treaty, Truth.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors. We would not have been able to execute such an ambitious and impactful event without your support. In particular, we would like to thank the Victorian Government, City of Melbourne, VicHealth, SBS, SSI, Polaron Language Services, 2M Language Services, and Cornerstone Alliance.
Those who attended the closing plenary session of the conference would be aware that Carlo Carli has been elected as the new Chairperson of FECCA. We would like to warmly congratulate Carlo, and look forward to working closely with him and the newly elected FECCA Board. Thank you to outgoing FECCA Chairperson, Mary Patetsos, for her years of leadership and dedication to amplifying the voices of multicultural Australia.
Last but not least, we are pleased to welcome Dr Medha Gunawardana as the newest member of the ECCV Board of Directors. Dr Gunawardana has decades of experience in academia and project management, and is passionate about developing culturally tailored strategies to addressing issues such as social isolation and elder abuse while promoting a positive view of ageing.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
ECCV staff support Uluru Statement
One of the many FECCA 2022 highlights was hearing from the team behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart, who not only gave powerful presentations and keynote speeches but also held a stall where they yarned with attendees. We recorded a video of our staff proudly showing their support for the Uluru Statement in their home languages: Arabic, Croation, Hindi, Italian, Punjabi and Turkish.Congratulations, Rosita!
ECCV's Director of Regional Affairs, Rosita Vincent, was inducted into the inaugural Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll last month. Rosita has an long record of community service with more than 25 years' experience in supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees to settle and establish community connections across regional Victoria.New literature review on elder abuse
To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, ECCV published our literature review on elder abuse within migrant and refugee communities, which builds on our Raising Awareness of Elder Abuse project. The review concludes that elders from multicultural backgrounds experience multiple and unique forms of disadvantage with greater risk of abuse.Bystander intervention training for sports clubs
This week, ECCV facilitated an online anti-racism workshop in partnership with Football Victoria as part of our All One Together anti-racism project. In attendance were staff from AFL and Professional Footballers Australia, as well as from non-sporting bodies such as SSI. Workshop attendees took part in bystander intervention training, which builds people's capacity to respond as an ally when they witness racism.Budget Analysis of Victorian State Budget 2022-23
Last month, ECCV released our analysis of the 2022-23 State Budget, which expands upon the themes covered in our initial response. The analysis offers an overview of key spending areas as well as a breakdown of how funding will affect multicultural communities. Read it here. We also look forward to sharing our State Election Platform in the coming months.
- Keep an eye on our platforms for the launch date.
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing webinar
ECCV's Carer Capacity Building Project Coordinator, Hayat Doughan, presented at a webinar hosted by the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (CCDA) last week. The webinar explored the importance of equal and mutually beneficial partnerships between aged care providers and multicultural and ethno-specific community organisations, and how these partnerships can be implemented in policy and practice.Hot off the press: new edition of Golden Years
We are pleased to announce that the new winter edition of Golden Years, ECCV's quarterly eMagazine for and about the multicultural aged care sector, is out now. The latest Golden Years features articles discussing the challenges facing LGBTQIA+ seniors from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, the newly launched Victorian Ageing Well Action Plan, and more.Evidence review on diversity and inclusion
As part of our All One Together (AOT) anti-racism project, ECCV commissioned Victoria University to conduct an evidence review of anti-racism, and diversity and inclusion research. Launched at our Anti-Racism Symposium, the review offers suggestions for how anti-racism, and diversity, equity and inclusion principles can be implemented in organisational settings.MORE:
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: (03) 9354 9555
Email: eccv@eccv.org.au
Website: https://eccv.org.au