[Edited extract from public address]
June was a busy month for ECCV
We have been energised by the illuminating discussions that were had at our special member forum at Box Hill Town Hall on 15 June. It was fantastic to see so many of our members and stakeholders engage passionately with the subject of anti-racism and share their insights on how all of us have a role to play in combatting racism and discrimination.
Nathan Lambert, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and co-chair of the Anti-Racism Taskforce, provided an update at the forum on the progress of the state government's Anti-Racism Strategy. This was a unique opportunity for members of our diverse communities to ask questions and give feedback on how the Strategy can effectively meet their needs.
Last week, ECCV hosted our annual regional leadership gathering in Bendigo, where I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders from the state's regional ethnic communities' councils and multicultural organisations alongside our Deputy Chair Jill Morgan AM, CEO Mo Elrafihi and members of ECCV staff. The gathering was a productive avenue to discuss learnings from the past year and plan a coordinated way forward to support Victoria's multicultural communities for the year ahead.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
Highlights
Strong community dialogue at member forum
The importance of community-led responses to racism was a key point of discussion at ECCV’s member forum on 15 June. More than 60 attendees came to Box Hill Town Hall to take part in the important and timely dialogue on how we can work together to tackle racism, and to hear from guest speakers Nathan Lambert MP, Nor Shanino, Mario Peucker, Farhat Firdous and Rana Ebrahimi. Enhancing collaboration with regional ECCs
Leaders from regional ethnic communities’ councils (ECCs) and key multicultural organisations from across Victoria got together in Bendigo for ECCV's regional leadership meeting last week. Discussion centred on the urgent issues affecting migrant and refugee communities in the regions, as well as what our main advocacy priorities should be over the next 12 months.
Celebrating multicultural disaster resilience
Earlier this month, ECCV was delighted to join emergency management representatives and community leaders to celebrate the award-winning Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership. The night featured a panel discussion with Emergency Management Victoria Deputy Commissioner Amanda Leck and Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner Michelle Young.
Recognising culturally diverse carers
ECCV was pleased to co-host an event with Carers Victoria on 17 June to celebrate the outcomes of our Recognising and Respecting CALD Carers project. In attendance were members from multicultural carers groups we worked with on the project. The event featured performances from the Australian Chinese Musical Band, United Pasifika Council of Victoria and more. New joint submission on flood preparedness
ECCV has made a joint submission with Neighbourhood Collective Australia and Regional Victorians of Colour to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria. The submission is based on interviews and focus groups with community members in flood-affected regions, and makes recommendations for the planning, preparedness and response to future flood events.
ECCV supports review of compulsory treatment
ECCV made a submission this month to the Independent Review of Compulsory Treatment and Decision-Making Laws commissioned by the Victorian Department of Health. Our submission supports the Review's aims to reduce the use of compulsory treatment, so it is no longer central to mental health treatment, and advocates for the adoption of a human rights and equity perspective.
Opportunities and Resources
Help improve racism reporting pathways
Have your say on how to better support Victorians who experience racism.
We invite you to take a short survey we are conducting as part of a research project led by Victoria University in partnership with ECCV and the Islamic Council of Victoria, with funding from VicHealth. The project will help inform recommendations for improving racism reporting pathways and support services.
Read the latest in multicultural disability news
The June edition of ECCV's Multicultural Disability Bulletin is out now. This month's edition features the latest news, resources and events for people with disability from migrant and refugee communities as well as stories on changes to NDIS eligibility and a new podcast series exploring the NDIS Review.
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Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: (03) 9354 9555
