Eid Mubarak to all those who celebrate. We hope that the holy month of Ramadan has brought you peace, clarity and spiritual fulfilment.
This week, we hosted our special multicultural mental health roundtable, where we were joined by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Mental Health Ingrid Stitt MP and the Member for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone MP.
The Minister made an announcement at the event of a $230,000 grant for ECCV to launch the next phase of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Engagement of Diverse Communities project. It was heartening to see such strong support from the state government for our work championing multicultural mental health.
We were inspired by the thought-provoking discussions had at the roundtable, which focused on how we can strengthen the capacity of Victoria's mental health system to provide culturally safe and inclusive care.
Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to this vital dialogue. We look forward to continuing to work with our Multicultural Mental Health Network, the sector and government to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our diverse migrant and refugee communities. Read more in our media release here.
On 28 March 2024, the Federal Parliament's Inquiry into the Recognition of Unpaid Carers handed down its report, and we were pleased to see that the issues raised in our submission were referenced throughout the report. Supporting and advocating for carers in migrant and refugee communities has been a key pillar of ECCV's work in recent years, and we are proud to see the influence our policy and advocacy has had at a national level.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
Highlights
STRENGTHENING | Multicultural mental health
More than 40 people attended ECCV's multicultural mental health roundtable this week, which gathered mental health practitioners, researchers, consumers and lived experience advocates as well as Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt MP and Anthony Cianflone MP. The roundtable was led by Dr Judy Tang, who is a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and chair of ECCV's Multicultural Mental Health Network.
MAKING | Submission to the Inspector-General
ECCV has made a submission to the Inspector-General of Aged Care looking at how recommendations from the Royal Commission have improved access and navigation of aged care. Informed by a survey of sector stakeholders including our members and our Positive Ageing & Aged Care Policy Advisory Committee, the submission notes that the system has not noticeably improved for culturally diverse seniors.
RECOGNISING | Submission referenced in federal report
ECCV welcomes the report handed down by the Australian Parliament’s Inquiry into the Recognition of Unpaid Carers, which references several issues raised in our submission. In ECCV’s submission and appearance before the Inquiry, we highlighted that ideas of 'caring' differ between cultures and communities, and tailored support services are required to address the unique needs of multicultural carers.
EMPOWERING | Seniors to know their rights
Last week, ECCV hosted an information session with the Pilipino Elderly Association of South East Region about the topic of seniors rights' and how older people can advocate for themselves. Held at the Sundowner Community Centre, the session was delivered by Arati Vidyasagar from Elder Rights Advocacy.
- To organise an information session for your group, email Ageing Well Lead Hayat Doughan on hdoughan@eccv.org.au
Opportunities and Resources
HIRING | Programs Support Officer
Apply for exciting new job opportunity at ECCV
Are you our new Programs Support Officer? This is a broad role, where the successful candidate will work across ECCV to ensure our strategic initiatives are successfully delivered. If you have excellent communication skills, proficiency in the Office 365 suite and experience assisting with projects and in supporting events and workshops, then you might just be the right fit.
- Find out more and apply here by 11:59pm 12 April 2024.
JOINING | Our free elder abuse awareness training
ECCV is running a two-day bilingual community educator training workshop on 14 and 21 May, as part of our Elder Abuse Awareness project. Our free training program equips people with the skills and resources to deliver in-language workshops on how to prevent, identify and respond to elder abuse. Educators are paid for the sessions they run.
- Find out more by emailing Ageing Well Lead Hayat Doughan on hdoughan@eccv.org.au.
CONTRIBUTING | to ECCV's aged care magazine
Do you have a story or project you would like to reach the aged care sector? ECCV is currently accepting pitches and submissions for Golden Years, our triennial eMagazine for seniors from migrant and refugee backgrounds and the multicultural aged care sector. Read the latest edition to get a feel for what we cover. For editorial inquiries or to submit a story idea, contact us at media@eccv.org.au.
PARTICIPATING | Mental health workshops
Do you work in the mental health sector and want to learn how to provide culturally safe services? ECCV is holding workshops to help practitioners understand the factors impacting poorer mental health outcomes for multicultural communities. To arrange a workshop, contact Partnerships & Engagement Lead Surmeli Yesilyurt on 0481 589 664 or via email at syesilyurt@eccv.org.au.
Raising voices of diverse people with disability
In partnership with the Migrant Resource Centre North West Region, ECCV is delivering workshops to empower people with disability from migrant and refugee communities. The Raise Our Voices program supports people with disability from multicultural backgrounds to understand what self-advocacy is, why it's important and how they can improve their self-advocacy skills.
MORE:
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: (03) 9354 9555
ECCV acknowledges the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations as the Traditional Owners of the Country on which we work. We pay respect to their Elders past and present, acknowledge their continuing connections to land, sea and community, and extend respect to Traditional Owners throughout Victoria.