Australia is two weeks away from an historic opportunity to create practical, meaningful change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples.
ECCV has been hard at work with our campaign to engage migrant and refugee communities about the upcoming referendum, and raise awareness about why a First Nations Voice matters.
On Monday, we were proud to host a forum at Coburg Town Hall, where we heard from a panel of distinguished guests, including Aunty Esme Bamblett, Professor Mark Rose, Dr Shireen Morris, Sheena Watt MP and Carlo Carli, about what a First Nations Voice means to them and why achieving a successful referendum is vital to shaping a fairer, more inclusive Australia. The event was a testament to the strength of support for a 'Yes' vote within our diverse multicultural communities.
We are looking forward to co-hosting another forum next Sunday, 8 October to help local multicultural communities in Melbourne's south-east engage more deeply with the upcoming referendum. ECCV is partnering with the City of Greater Dandenong and Bunurong Land Council on the event, which will begin in Harmony Square with a Smoking Ceremony, followed by a panel discussion in the Civic Centre. Joining us on the panel, which will be moderated by Hana Assafiri OAM, are Jillian West, Aunty Irene Fisher, Rabecca Mphande and Dr Shireen Morris.
Submissions to the federal government's Multicultural Framework Review close tomorrow. The Review is a re-evaluation of how governments can better work with communities to ensure Australia's future remains diverse and vibrant. We have been busy preparing our submission, which we look forward to sharing with you soon.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
Highlights
REPORTING | Why Yes? Why now? Multicultural Voice forum
ECCV hosted our forum 'Why Yes? Why now? Multicultural communities and the Voice' this week at Coburg Town Hall. The event involved a panel discussion about the meaning and significance of the referendum, with a focus on why a First Nations Voice would be a positive step forward for the country and how multicultural communities have a vital role to play in the referendum's success.
GATHERING | Our Voice forum next Sunday in Dandenong | Sunday 8 October 2023 | 12.30–2.30pm AEDT
In partnership with Bunurong Land Council and the City of Greater Dandenong, ECCV is hosting a forum at Harmony Square to discuss the referendum. Local migrant and refugee communities are invited to attend to learn more about the Voice to Parliament and hear from Aboriginal and multicultural leaders about why voting 'Yes' will benefit all Australians.
PUBLISHING | Elder abuse in care relationships: new research
ECCV has released a paper examining the issue of elder abuse in care relationships where the carer and/or the carer recipient are from a migrant and refugee background. The paper outlines findings from our Recognising & Respecting Carers project, which include the importance of preventing elder abuse by ensuring carers, especially 'hidden' carers in multicultural communities, are supported.
REPORTING | Multicultural experiences of flood
This month, ECCV published our joint report with Regional Victorians of Colour and Neighbourhood Collective Australia about the experiences of multicultural communities during last year's devastating floods. The report highlights the key issues migrant and refugee communities faced as a result of the 2022 floods and makes a suite of recommendations for improving disaster management.
Opportunities and Resources
HIRING | Community Engagement Officer and Administration Support Officer | Expressions of Interest now open
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of Victorians from migrant and refugee backgrounds? ECCV is currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from talented, proactive people to fill two roles: Community Engagement Officer and Administration Support Officer. Both roles require relevant prior experience and the ability to work as part of a team.
HEARING | Your say: Improving reporting pathways for racism
Have your say on how to better support Victorians who experience racism. We invite you to take a short survey for a research project led by Victoria University in partnership with ECCV and the Islamic Council of Victoria, with funding from VicHealth. The project will inform recommendations on how to improve reporting pathways and support services for people who experience racism.