October's FECCA 2024 Conference showcased the sheer breadth of talent and innovation in our diverse communities.
It was a privilege to attend alongside my fellow Board Directors and ECCV staff and left me with no doubt that multicultural Australia will continue to go from strength to strength.
Particularly heartening to see at the conference was representation from across the political spectrum, with thought-provoking addresses from Labor, Liberal and Greens parliamentarians. As a former MP and Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs, I'm keenly aware that political support for multiculturalism has not always been so forthcoming. It fills me with hope, however, to see multiculturalism front and centre on the agenda with full-throated backing from all sides of the Australian political landscape.
I was humbled to be reappointed to the FECCA Board, and look forward to working closely with newly appointed Chairperson Peter Doukas OAM as well as the other Board Directors to continue advancing the rights and interests of our communities. Congratulations to ECCV Deputy Chair Jill Morgan AM who was appointed FECCA Senior Deputy Chair - Women and SMECC CEO Akesa Kei who was appointed as Regional Chair.
ECCV will host our very own Annual General Meeting in December at Fitzroy Town Hall, where we will also celebrate our 50th anniversary milestone. I am delighted to announce that the event will feature Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs as guest speaker and Hass Dellal AO, executive director of Australian Multicultural Foundation, in conversation with our new CEO Farah Farouque.
I hope you can join us for this very special occasion on 5 December to not only look back on ECCV's vibrant history, but also look ahead at our vision and goals for the future of multicultural Victoria.
Eddie Micallef, Chairperson
Highlights
JOINING | ECCV's special AGM | Thursday 5 December 2024 | 6-8.30pm AEDT
ECCV invites you to our Annual General Meeting at Fitzroy Town Hall on 5 December, when we will also celebrate our 50th anniversary. The event will feature Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt MP as guest speaker as well as a Q&A session between Dr Hass Dellal AO and ECCV's new CEO Farah Farouque. We will also launch our 50th anniversary digital history project on the night.
- Where: Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier St, Fitzroy, Australia
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: Register online via Humanitix.
STRENGTHENING | Regional disaster resilience
In October, ECCV visited Mildura to boost local community engagement in inclusive emergency management as part of our Multicutural Emergency Management Initiative (MEMI). The ECCV team met with Mildura Rural City Council and the Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities' Council to gain a deeper understanding of the region's diverse multicultural communities and their needs in disaster preparedness.
TRAINING | Multicultural youth mental health
Members of ECCV's Multicultural Young Advocacy Group delivered a training session on multicultural youth mental health last month to VicHealth staff. The session, which received excellent feedback, focused on the importance of intersectionality and lived experience in building effective policies and projects to improve mental health outcomes for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
EMPOWERING | Multicultural People With Disability
In a consortium with VALID and Migrant Resource Centre North West Region, ECCV is working closely with people with disability to build their capacity and confidence. By setting up support groups and holding regular information sessions, the project aims to alleviate stigma and improve attitudes towards people with disability.
- To find out more, email Partnership and Engagement Lead Surmeli Yesilyurt.
RAISING | Awareness of Preventing Elder Abuse
Graduates from ECCV's Bicultural Community Education training program have been busy over the past few months delivering information sessions on elder abuse prevention to seniors in their community. Most recently, one bilingual graduate held a session for a Burmese women's group at South East Community Links in Springvale.
ANNOUNCING | Video-podcasts on disability coming soon
Following the recent extension of Speak My Language (Disability), ECCV has begun creating in-language video-podcasts as part of the nationwide project's exciting next phase. The video-podcasts will feature people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds sharing their stories of living well and overcoming barriers to inclusion.
Opportunities and Resources
PUBLISHING | Spring 2024 edition of Golden Years | out now
The latest edition of Golden Years is out now! Golden Years is ECCV's eMagazine for the multicultural aged care sector and seniors from diverse communities. The Spring 2024 edition takes an in-depth look at the rise of digital illiteracy, which has become an emerging disability for older people. You can also read about how to stay safe from scams and new projects supporting diverse seniors with dementia.
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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.