Christmas wishes from the ECCV team to all those celebrating at this time of the year.
It's been a tough end to 2025, a year already beset by so many overseas conflicts and humanitarian crises.
As the voice of multicultural Victoria, we've been heartbroken by the atrocity that took place on the first day of the Jewish festival of Chanukah on our own shores. As we've said, the deadly shootings in Sydney this month were an attack on our Jewish community as well as the inclusive, multicultural values that bind all our communities together in our diversity.
We know this is not a time to be divided but to come together. ECCV will continue to challenge divisive, anti-migrant narratives that have gained fuel and redouble our efforts to eliminate hate and racism – in all forms.
The public holidays coming up give all of us who are not working a much-needed opportunity to rest and regroup,
Our warmest wishes to you all.
Farah Farouque, CEO
ISSUING | Statement on Attack at Bondi Beach
ECCV extends its deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the antisemitic attack at Bondi earlier this month. Now more than ever we must stand firm against antisemitism and hate in all forms.
PUBLISHING | Annual Report
We are pleased to share ECCV’s Annual Report 2024–25, reflecting on a year of hard work and strong engagement with migrant and refugee communities across the state.
Highlights
ECCV AGM
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual General Meeting. We were pleased to welcome Premier Jacinta Allan as keynote speaker and with more than 200 attendees, it was our strongest turnout in recent years.
We congratulate the newly elected Board for 2025–27. Office bearers, including the new ECCV chairperson, will be confirmed in coming weeks.
REPORTING | ECCV in the Media
ABC Radio National Breakfast – Our CEO Farah Farouque spoke on RN Breakfast in response to the proposed US plans to collect data on so-called 'migrant crime' in Australia, highlighting the dangers of racialised narratives and the importance of evidence-based discussion. She was also asked about Pauline Hanson's Senate stunt.
“These are hateful narratives built to distract from serious issues, and they have no merit.” – Farah Farouque, CEO
- Listen now on ABC (5 mins)
Also: Read media coverage of ECCV's AGM in the Philippine Times and The Greek Herald.
Opportunities and Resources
- Respect Victoria – 16 Days of Activism Campaign: Translated Resources Customisable campaign resources, including translated materials, for the 2025 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.
- Bicultural Work Rights Ambassadors Program (MWC Vic) Applications are now open for BWRAP, run by the Migrant Workers Centre to train and support migrant leaders in Victoria to deliver education sessions on workplace rights and safety to their communities. Applications close 11 January 2026.
- City of Melbourne – Connected Neighbourhood Small Grants Up to $2,000 available for projects that strengthen participation, connection and inclusion at a neighbourhood level.
- Research Participation – Digital Employment Tools for refugees PhD Researcher at Deakin University is seeking participants from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to help co-design more accessible and culturally relevant digital job-search tools.
Christmas Office Hours
Please note that ECCV's office will be closed from Thursday 25 December 2025 reopening Monday 5 January 2026
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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 Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria, and pays respect to their Elders past and present.