Earlier in February, ECCV released our 2023-24 Pre-Budget Submission, which made recommendations for targeted investments across 16 key areas in the upcoming State budget.
The submission also reiterates our call for a co-designed Multicultural Strategy, which takes a whole-of-government approach to engaging with and supporting our multicultural communities to ensure they are no longer an afterthought in service design and delivery.
Co-design and consultation with migrant and refugee communities, as well as the multicultural sector organisations that support them, is key to taking everyone’s concerns, perspectives, experiences and interests into account. It is promising to see increasing interest in engagement and partnerships with multicultural groups and organisations, and recognition that the one-size-fits all approach is not equipped to provide the culturally safe and inclusive care our communities need and deserve.
Co-design and consultation with migrant and refugee communities, as well as the multicultural sector organisations that support them, is key to taking everyone’s concerns, perspectives, experiences and interests into account. It is promising to see increasing interest in engagement and partnerships with multicultural groups and organisations, and recognition that the one-size-fits all approach is not equipped to provide the culturally safe and inclusive care our communities need and deserve.
Our Joint Statement with the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, released this week, brings this point home by highlighting the barriers people from migrant and refugee backgrounds face in accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment. Research shows that migrant and refugee communities significantly under-utilise AOD support. This is not because our communities are not in need, but because the mainstream system is not set up to engage safely and meaningfully with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
We are looking forward to holding a multicultural community consultation on climate change next month, as part of a national project led by FECCA and the Multicultural Leadership Initiative.
We are also currently conducting two surveys exploring the experiences and insights of Victoria's migrant and refugee communities. Our survey on racism conducted in partnership with Victoria University and the Islamic Council of Victoria, and it aims to improve reporting pathways and support services for people who experience racism.
The results of the Victorian mental health system survey will inform a paper on how to boost access to culturally safe mental health support. The paper is part of the advocacy work of the newly established Victorian Multicultural Mental Health Network, which will be a tremendous asset to the current reform process, ensuring our mental health system is safe, equitable and inclusive for all.
We are proud to be part of these research projects, and we invite you to take part and share them with your networks. Multicultural communities must be part of the conversation about the big picture issues we are facing, so no one is left out of the decision-making process when it comes to building a richer and fairer Victoria.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
We are looking forward to holding a multicultural community consultation on climate change next month, as part of a national project led by FECCA and the Multicultural Leadership Initiative.
We are also currently conducting two surveys exploring the experiences and insights of Victoria's migrant and refugee communities. Our survey on racism conducted in partnership with Victoria University and the Islamic Council of Victoria, and it aims to improve reporting pathways and support services for people who experience racism.
The results of the Victorian mental health system survey will inform a paper on how to boost access to culturally safe mental health support. The paper is part of the advocacy work of the newly established Victorian Multicultural Mental Health Network, which will be a tremendous asset to the current reform process, ensuring our mental health system is safe, equitable and inclusive for all.
We are proud to be part of these research projects, and we invite you to take part and share them with your networks. Multicultural communities must be part of the conversation about the big picture issues we are facing, so no one is left out of the decision-making process when it comes to building a richer and fairer Victoria.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
PREVENTING | AOD harm in diverse communities
ECCV has partnered with the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) on a joint statement highlighting the barriers migrant and refugee communities face in accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) support. The paper points to the importance of strengthening partnerships between AOD services and the multicultural sector to build a coordinated and culturally inclusive service model.HEARING | Your say: making the mental health system culturally safe
ECCV is inviting mental health service providers, policy-makers and people with lived experience from migrant and refugee backgrounds to take part in an online survey. The survey results will inform a discussion paper for the newly founded Victorian Multicultural Mental Health Network, examining how access to culturally responsive services for diverse communities can be improved.SHAPING | Victoria's anti-racism support services
ECCV is partnering with the Islamic Council of Victoria and Victoria University on a research project, funded by VicHealth, to inform recommendations on how to improve reporting pathways and supports for people who experience racism.- As part of the project, Victorians aged 18 or older from a multicultural or multifaith community are invited to complete a short, anonymous survey here.
UNDERSTANDING | Multicultural carer needs | 4 April 2023
ECCV is partnering with Carers Victoria to host an online forum to discuss how to meaningfully engage with and support carers in multicultural communities. This free forum, aimed at community organisations and people working to support culturally diverse carers and their loved ones, is part of our Recognising and Respecting Carers project.HOSTING | Multicultural climate change consultation | 9 March 2023
ECCV is hosting a community consultation workshop at the Greek Centre for a national research project on climate change and how to best empower multicultural communities to take part in climate action. All participants will receive $50 for their time. The project is led by FECCA and the Multicultural Leadership Initiative.WELCOMING | New All One Together anti-racism ambassador
ECCV welcomes Royal Melbourne Hospital as the latest ambassador for our All One Together anti-racism project, which supports workplaces across Victoria to improve their diversity and inclusion policies and practices. The Royal Melbourne Hospital joins 25 other ambassadors that have committed to ending racism in the workplace.ANNOUNCING | ECCV Pre-Budget Submission is out now
ECCV's Pre-Budget Submission 2023-24 calls on the state government to implement a long-term vision for Victoria that is creative and resilient, capable of responding to the needs and challenges of the state's growing diverse communities. The submission puts forward recommendations across 16 key areas, with a focus on strengthening the multicultural sector and investing in a co-designed Multicultural Strategy.HIRING | Are you our new Policy Officer?
We are currently seeking an experienced and driven Policy Officer with a passion for multiculturalism and social justice to join our team. Working with the Director of Partnerships & Projects, the successful candidate will coordinate ECCV's Policy Advisory Committees, and produce publications and reports that demonstrate high-level research and analysis skills.- Find out more and apply by Monday 6 March 2023.
SUPPORTING | Power Saving Bonus program
ECCV's Multicultural Outreach team will be assisting people from migrant and refugee communities to apply for the next round of the state government's $250 Power Saving Bonus, due to commence in March. Our team can assist in Arabic, English, Hindi, Italian, Punjabi, Somali, and Turkish as well as additional languages by engaging TIS National.- Find out more about how ECCV can help.