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GEIFN | CONSOLIDATED | Community Information | Tuesday 1 September 2026

[Edited extract from public address]

Fast Facts: Community News

Topics List

  1. Highlighting
  2. Granting
  3. Employment. Training & Contributing
  4. Engaging
  5. Collectivising
  6. Announcing
  7. Supporting
  8. Acknowledging

 1. HIGHLIGHTING 

  1. CoPP | S2b | EXHIBITING | Saints And Sinners – A Portrait Of St Kilda | 1 September-3 October 2026
  2. VIC | VMC | TOURING | Multicultural Film Festival 2026
  3. AUST | CITC | WEBINAR | Sharing 100 Days of Meditation, 100 Voices of Peace | Nightly, Saturday 13 June-Monday 21 September 2026 | 9-9.15pm AEST
  4. AUST | GOV | TRANSLATING | Practical ways to reduce household energy costs
  5. AUST | AUPR | SHARING | New Resource: Messaging Guide to Counter Far-Right Narratives
  6. AUST | GEIFN | CALLING | LGTBIQA+ Story Tellers for AUSSIE Stories: Downunder the Rainbow

 1.1  CoPP | S2b | EXHIBITING | Saints And Sinners – A Portrait Of St Kilda | 1 September-3 October 2026

Long celebrated as a suburb of contrasts, St Kilda has been home to artists, migrants, activists, beachgoers and dreamers. 
Space2b Social Design (S2b) invited eleven artists to share their own interpretations of St Kilda.

Come & experience their homage to this loved suburb.
  • Opening: 4 September 2026 | 6-7.30pm
  • Where: Space2b Social Design, 144 Chapel St, St Kilda VIC 3182
  • Cost: Free Entry
 

 1.2  VIC | VMC | TOURING | Multicultural Film Festival 2026

The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) is proud to present Multicultural Film Festival on Tour — bringing powerful, diverse storytelling to regional and metropolitan communities across the state.

This is your chance to:
  • Experience a wide range of perspectives on the big screen
  • Discover incredible films from emerging and established creators from multicultural backgrounds
  • Attend screenings at multiple venues across the state
  • Connect with filmmakers and fellow film lovers
Presented by the VMC in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology and SBS.

 1.3  AUST | CITC | WEBINAR | Sharing 100 Days of Meditation, 100 Voices of Peace | Nightly, Saturday 13 June-Monday 21 September 2026 | 9-9.15pm AEST

As we enter this final stretch in the run up to the UN International Day of Peace on 21 September, Calm in the City (CitC) wanted to take a moment to share a few words to convey a little about what this journey has meant for us – and what lies ahead.
“Peace held together, night after night, travels further than we know."

RECEIVING | A Message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Calm in the City (CitC) is deeply honoured to announce that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has sent a personal message in support of Australia's 100 Days of Peace.

Sunday 16 August 2026 evening, the message was shared with the community by Mr Karma Singey, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia — joining us at 9pm AEST as our Voice of Peace for the evening.

The message will also be read aloud at the culminating gathering of the 100 Days of Peace — A Peaceful Morning Tea — hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at Parliament House, Canberra, on Thursday 17 September 2026, UN International Day of Peace.

We do not typically announce our contributors in advance. This one is different.

That a message from His Holiness has found its way to an initiative born of quiet, daily collective silence — offered freely each evening by Australians from every walk of life — is something we could not have imagined when this began. We are grateful beyond words.


SHARING | A Story of Hope

There is so much that is deeply moving about these 100 days. In addition to hearing the sincere and personal reflections from the contributing voices, what touches the heart deeply is the fact that each evening, people put their lives to one side to come together at 9.00pm. We do not see each other, or speak — and perhaps some of us may never know who the other is — but one pure intention, held in shared silence, on behalf of each other and our world, draws us together. And in those ten minutes, we connect — not through the language of words — but through the authentic language of the heart.

What also moved us this week was the response from the community. When the devastating floods struck Nepal, we put the word out just a couple of hours before the evening meditation and many joined in vigil that night. From Bosnia, Dr Mustafa Cerić, Grand Mufti Emeritus and one of our (upcoming) one hundred voices, wrote that same evening on receiving that last-minute call:
"Dear Friends,
My heart joins yours tonight in peace, prayer, and solidarity with the people of Nepal — with the local residents, pilgrims, and visitors whose lives have been touched by this devastating tragedy, and especially with all those who are anxiously searching for their loved ones.

May our shared silence become a language of compassion beyond all borders, religions, and nations. May it bring comfort to the grieving, strength to the rescuers, hope to those who wait, and mercy to all who have suffered.

In moments such as this, we are reminded that humanity is one family: another person's pain is our pain, and another person's hope is our sacred responsibility."
These are such meaningful words - which cultivate hope, peace and compassion - transcending all borders.

SHARING | A Peaceful Morning Tea — Parliament House, Canberra

On Thursday 17 September 2026 — the final sitting day of Parliament before UN International Day of Peace — a culminating gathering for the 100 Days of Peace will be at Parliament House, Canberra.

A Peaceful Morning Tea will be hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Ms Nicolette Boele MP, in the Speaker's Courtyard, from 10.30-11.30am.

The programme will include brief addresses, a message from the UN Secretary-General, the personal message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama – written in support of the 100 Days of Peace – and ten minutes of shared meditation with gentle music. 

However, for those who would like to sit in a collective meditation at the same time (10.30 - 11.30am) and ‘tune in’ with your good wishes for the event, that would be so wonderful - and we will provide details of an online meditation nearer the date.


LAUNCHING | Voices of Unity — a new podcast series

The second piece of news is also wonderful in its own way.

Our contributor Dr Mujib Abid, Initiative for Peacebuilding, University of Melbourne, has launched Voices of Unity, a grassroots podcast series emerging from Melbourne, created in direct support of the 100 Days of Peace.

The series amplifies the often-unheard, everyday practices of peace, care and solidarity shaping community life — through short, intimate conversations, including a distinctive walk-and-talk format across neighbourhood spaces.

As the series unfolds in the lead-up to UN International Day of Peace, it reflects a simple but powerful idea: that peace is practised daily — in relationships, in communities, and in the shared spaces of everyday life.

Four episodes have already been released, with new episodes arriving weekly through to 21 September. 

Find it here:

FOSTERING | A Time for Stillness

At the Parliament House gathering, we will also present A Time for Stillness — a proposal to the Australian Parliament.

The proposal is simple: that three times each year, at the opening of the February, May and August sitting periods, Parliament House be the home of a voluntary gathering of gentle music and shared silence — open to all Members of Parliament, Senators, staff and guests, free of charge, and distinct from existing parliamentary practice.

It is motivated by the reflections on peace from our contributing voices and by our shared experience of these evenings — that stillness, held together,  is important in the cultivation and sustenance of peace.

Join us for the final three weeks
Each evening at 9pm AEST. 
This initiative is offered in partnership with Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.

You are always welcome.

In peace and with gratitude,
The 100 Days of Peace team


 1.4  AUST | GOV | TRANSLATING | Practical ways to reduce household energy costs

The Australian Government has updated a suite of free translated energy guides to help households better manage their energy use, save money and access support when needed.

Available in 40 languages, the guides cover bright ideas for saving energy and money in your home, a renter’s guide to saving energy and water and guidelines on what to do if you are having trouble paying your electricity and water bills.
  • Languages include:
    • Arabic
    • Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
    • Filipino
    • Greek
    • Hindi
    • Punjabi
    • Spanish
    • Ukrainian
    • Vietnamese
    • and many more.
  • Learn more
 

 1.5  AUST | AUPR | SHARING | New Resource: Messaging Guide to Counter Far-Right Narratives

As far-right, populist movements gain ground, Australian Progress (AUPR) has released a new guide to help progressive advocates cut through.

Produced with Anat Shenker-Osorio of ASO Communications (ASOC), it gives you a practical framework to pick your own fight, build belonging around shared values, and show what’s at stake in opposition policies.  

 1.6  AUST | GEIFN | CALLING | LGTBIQA+ Story Tellers for AUSSIE Stories: Downunder the Rainbow

AussieStory – collecting Video Stories of Identity, Connection and Belonging by First Nations, Settlers and Migrants Downunder the Rainbow.
Global Engagement in Friendlier Neighbourhoods (GEIFN) and I’m From Driftwood (IFD) aim to showcase diverse Australian views by sourcing and producing 1st-Person Video Stories of LGTBIQA+ Folk from around Australia. 

Seeking Storytellers who have demonstrated reconciliation(s) in their own life. Recordings will be done remotely through Zoom or if Melbourne based optionally in a studio. Storytellers will have opportunity to review final edit. Final edit recordings will be hosted individually on IFD website for global audience and bundled in a group of 3 for GEIFN website and local audience. 

Please feel welcome to share with your networks interested in inclusion, reconciliation and equitable coexistence.

 2. GRANTING 

  1. SYDNEY | CoS | GRANTING | Social and Community Grants | applications close Tuesday 1 September 2026
  2. VIC | TRVI | OFFERING | Half price and contactless travel
  3. AUST | PFA | GRANTING | Regional and Rural Communities | applications close Monday 16 November 2026
 

 2.1  SYDNEY | CoS | GRANTING | Social and Community Grants | applications close Tuesday 1 September 2026

This City of Sydney (CoS) opportunity supports local communities leading projects that tackle local challenges, including strengthening social cohesion and wellbeing, supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and improving access to healthy food and services. Grants favour creative solutions, projects that build future skills and First Nations-led work.  

 2.2  VIC | TRVI | OFFERING | Half price and contactless travel

Public transport in Victoria is half price for everyone until 1 January 2027.
Half price fares apply automatically to all public transport services statewide and to all passengers, including concession holders.

In addition, Transport Victoria (TRVI) has recently rolled out contactless payment options across the tram network and at train stations where myki is accepted.

Contactless payment is currently available for full fare customers only. Concession card holders should keep using their concession myki to ensure they are charged the correct fare.

If you are a concession card holder and accidentally tap on with a phone or bank card, wait 30 seconds and tap off with the same device so you are not charged. Any customers who make a mistake and are incorrectly charged should contact the Transport Victoria Contact Centre on 1800 800 007 to discuss reimbursement options.  

 2.3  AUST | PFA | GRANTING | Regional and Rural Communities | applications close Monday 16 November 2026

Pride Foundation Australia (PFA) Small grants of up to $1,000 are available for projects from individuals, organisations and communities who'd otherwise miss out. Projects must assist, involve or benefit LGBTQIA+ people, and promote positive social outcomes and mental health. 

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 3. EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING & CONTRIBUTING 

  1. AUST | RGA | CALLING | Applicants for our next CEO | applications close 11.59pm AEST Wednesday 2 September 2026
  2. CoPP | PPLS | RECOMMENDING | Epic reads with The Odyssey
  3. CoPP | PPLS | RECOMMENDING | Reading suggestions from Booker Prize, Women in Translation and Before You Watch The Film
  4. CoPP | PPLS | HEARING | Your say: Library Action Plan | feedback closes 11.59pm Sunday 13 September 2026
  5. VIC | VCCI | CREATING | Safer, more respectful workplaces – Lead the Change Program
  6. VIC | WOY | SUPPORTING | What's on Youth
  7. AUST | OSECI | HEARING | Your say: from Australian Muslims
  8. AUST | UTAS | HEARING | Your say: from Migrant Women Entrepreneurs
  9. AUST | RGA | CALLING | GiveOUT Day registrations | now open
  10. AUST | TAFESA | OFFERING | Online Diploma of Interpreting with TAFE South Australia
  11. WORLD | UNHCR | HEARING | Your say: Refugee Law Guidance | submissions close 23.59 CEST Tuesday 15 September 2026

 3.1  AUST | RGA | CALLING | Applicants for our next CEO | applications close 11.59pm AEST Wednesday 2 September 2026

Rainbow Giving Australia (RGA) are looking for an ambitious, collaborative and values-led leader who can help RGA grow its funding, partnerships and impact while remaining deeply accountable to LGBTQIA+ communities.  

 3.2  CoPP | PPLS | RECOMMENDING | Epic reads with The Odyssey

More than 2,000 years after it was written, The Odyssey still speaks to us because it explores timeless experiences like facing uncertainty, overcoming obstacles, searching for belonging and finding our way home.
At its heart Odysseus' journey is a story about resilience, identity and the challenges that shape us along the way.

Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)'s Odyssey-inspired reading list brings together Homer’s original epic, modern retellings and novels influenced by its themes.

From fresh perspectives in The Penelopiad, Circe, A Thousand Ships and Lavinia to enduring classics such as The Iliad and Ulysses, these books show why this ancient tale continues to inspire readers and writers today.  

 3.3  CoPP | PPLS | RECOMMENDING | Reading suggestions from Booker Prize, Women in Translation and Before You Watch The Film

Booker Prize longlist

Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)'s reading lists just got a little longer! The 2026 Booker Prize longlist has dropped, highlighting outstanding fiction from across the globe.

The Shadow of the Object and The Things We Never Say are just two of the books on the 2026 Booker Prize longlist

Thirteen novels spanning genres including literary fiction, satire, dystopian sci-fi, historical fiction and surrealism. Authors representing seven countries, including former winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, alongside three debut novelists.

Will your choice be the judges' favourite? Reserve your next read today to decide for yourself.  

Women in Translation Month

And that’s a wrap on Women in Translation Month. If you missed our in-branch displays check out our list of recommended fiction and non-fiction right here. Because reading translated women’s writing shouldn’t end with August  

Read Before You Watch

We don’t believe the book is always better but there’s only one way to be sure. Be ahead of the curve with our list of recently or very soon to be adapted fiction.


 3.4  CoPP | PPLS | HEARING | Your say: Library Action Plan | feedback closes 11.59pm Sunday 13 September 2026

Let’s make sure we’re on the same page. Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) is refreshing our Library Action Plan to better meet the needs of our community.
Your feedback will help shape the future of our library services, guiding our priorities over the next five years, ensuring our branches continue to thrive as welcoming hubs for learning, creativity and connection.

Have your say on the services our libraries currently provide by visiting the link below.  

 3.5  VIC | VCCI | CREATING | Safer, more respectful workplaces – Lead the Change Program

Lead the Change is a Victorian Government‑funded program designed to help leaders and decision-makers in small to medium enterprises create respectful, inclusive environments across the hospitality, retail, manufacturing and construction industries.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) program provides practical tools, training and expert support to prevent gender‑based violence, meet legal obligations and build inclusive, positive workplace cultures. Sessions are free and delivered across metro, suburban and regional Victoria from February 2026 to May 2027.  

 3.6  VIC | WOY | SUPPORTING | What's on Youth

Got an event, job, grant, program or wellbeing service for young people? What's On Youth (WOY) helps organisations, councils and schools get their opportunities in front of young Victorians across the state – for free.

What's On Youth is a Victorian-built platform, developed with support from the Victorian Government, to help young people discover opportunities,  

 3.7  AUST | OSECI | HEARING | Your say: from Australian Muslims

Australia's Office of the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia (OSECI) has launched the Australian Muslim Poll, a national initiative delivered in partnership with Deakin University that will capture the diverse experiences, perspectives and wellbeing of Muslims across Australia.

The Australian Muslim Poll is Australia’s first nationally representative, annual study of its kind. It will build a robust evidence base to better understand Muslim communities and inform policy, community programs and public discourse with high-quality, data-driven insights.

The Australian Muslim Poll will run across 2026–2027, with the first findings expected in September 2027, to be shared through reports, events and briefings.  

 3.8  AUST | UTAS | HEARING | Your say: from Migrant Women Entrepreneurs

Are you a migrant woman running a business in Australia? A University of Tasmania PhD study is seeking participants to share their experiences as migrant women entrepreneurs. If you were born overseas and have operated a business in Australia for at least three years, your insights could help inform future research and support.  

 3.9  AUST | RGA | CALLING | GiveOUT Day registrations | now open

It’s that time of year again: GiveOUT Day is back on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Registrations are now open for organisations and projects looking to take part.
GiveOUT Day is Australia’s national giving day for LGBTQIA+ causes, proudly presented by Rainbow Giving Australia (RGA).

Each year, GiveOUT Day brings together over 100 not-for-profits in a single campaign, making it easier to support and celebrate rainbow communities.

In 2025, we collectively raised over $635,000.

This year, we’re inviting everyone to make their move for a cause they love. From mid-September, supporters can Give, Gather or Gush… but more on that to come!

Book for Online Information Workshops

 

Get ready to multiply the love this GiveOUT Day.

As always, participation is free and eligible donations will be doubled thanks to our generous partners. (Limits apply.)

So if you’re leading a not-for-profit organisation or project that specifically benefits LGBTQIA+ communities, your first move is to sign up!

P.S. Register your cause for GiveOUT Day now, so you’re ready when early donations open in mid-September. 

With love, 
Lee Crockford (he/him), Head of Operations and Impact


 3.10  AUST | TAFESA | OFFERING | Online Diploma of Interpreting with TAFE South Australia

Applications for TAFE South Australia's Diploma of Interpreting 2027 and the Interpreting and Translating Skill Sets 2027 open soon. Delivered online and open to students across Australia, this 12 months Part Time course will provide you with the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to effectively interpret in a range of settings.  

 3.11  WORLD | UNHCR | HEARING | Your say: Refugee Law Guidance | submissions close 23.59 CEST Tuesday 15 September 2026

UNHCR has launched a call for inputs to inform the development of a new Handbook on Refugee Law, Volume I: Criteria for Determining Refugee Status.

The Handbook is one of the most influential interpretative resources in international refugee law, and this consultation is an important opportunity to help shape its next edition.


 4. ENGAGING 

  1. CoPP | PPLS | AGING | With the Community Connector Service
  2. CoPP | PPLS | LENDING | iPads with Free Internet for Older People
  3. CoPP | VPC | OFFERING | Witnessed Document Signing | weekly, every Saturday (excluding public holiday weekends) | 12noon-4pm
  4. CoPP | PPLS | WOMINJEKA | With James from Killara: 2 locations | Weekly, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
  5. CoPP | PPLS | COACHING | Finding a Job | Weekly, Tuesdays | 5-8pm
  6. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Practise English | Weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays | 1.30-2.30pm
  7. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | For Twilight Tuesdays at Port Melbourne
  8. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Stretch and Mobility Classes | Fortnightly on Tuesdays | arrive 10.55am for 11am-12noon
  9. CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Writers' Club | Fortnightly, Second and Fourth Friday | 1.30-3pm
  10. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | First Nations Women’s Group | Fortnightly on Tuesdays | 10am-1pm
  11. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Book Chat | Monthly, First Tuesday, next session: Tuesday 1 September 2026 | 3-4pm
  12. CoPP | PPLS | SCREENING | Local music legends on screen | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | 6-7.30pm
  13. CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Family History Club | Monthly, First Thursday, next session 3 September 2026 | 1-2pm
  14. VIC | VTMH | WEBINAR | Integrating spiritual care in mental health assessment and recovery. How do we do it? | Tuesday 8 September 2026 | 10.30am-12noon
  15. CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Understanding dementia | Tuesday 8 September 2026 | 11am-12pm (Hearing tests after)
  16. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Queer Social Club: We're Here, We're Queer | Monthly, second Tuesday, Next session: 8 September 2026 | 6-7.30pm
  17. CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Scan and Save – Digitise Your Photos, Negatives and Slides | Thursday 10 September 2026 | 1-2pm
  18. CoPP | PHAAA | CALLING | Artists for ‘Healing with Compassion’ Art Exhibition | Saturday 12-Tuesday 29 September 2026 | 1-6pm
  19. CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Growing mushrooms | Sunday 13 September 2026 | 2-4pm
  20. CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Understanding dementia | Monday 14 September 2026 | 2-3pm (Hearing tests after)
  21. CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Young Adult Neurodivergent Craft Club | Monthly, Third Saturday, next session: Saturday 19 September 2026 | 1-3pm
  22. CoPP | PPLS | WALKING | With Tobias Nash to Ghost Signs of South Melbourne | Saturday 19 September 2026 | 2-4pm
  23. BLUE MOUNTAINS | RACS | TREKKING | For Refugees | Saturday 19-Sunday 20 September 2026
  24. VIC | VTMH | WORKSHOPPING | Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings | Monday 21 September 2026 | 9.30am-4pm
  25. SURRY HILLS | RACS | TALKING | Who gets to belong? Culture, rights and a fairer Australia | Monday 21 September 2026 | arrive 5.30pm for 6.30pm-8pm AEST
  26. CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Researching your Middle Park home | Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 6-7pm
  27. CoPP | PPLS | SCREENING | Film Club | monthly, fourth Tuesday, next session Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 6-8pm
  28. CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Southside Death Cafe | Monthly, Fourth Wednesday, next session Wednesday 23 September 2026 | Alternates between afternoons and evenings
  29. CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Bike Maintenance for Beginners | Monthly, Fourth Saturday, next session Saturday 26 September 2026 | 1-2pm
  30. MELBOURNE | AELA | GATHERING | Many Faiths, One Planet – Together, Caring for our Common Home | Saturday 3 October 2026 | 8.30am-5pm
  31. VIC | VTMH | WEBINAR | Balancing personal spirituality with mental health care. Is there a tension? | Tuesday 6 October 2026 | 10.30am-12noon
  32. AUST | EQPR | GATHERING | The Rainbow Leaders Summit Early Bird access is open | Thursday 19 November 2026 | 9am-4.30pm
  33. AUST | EQPR | GATHERING | Adaptive Leadership Program | 3 intensive days, Wednesday 2-Friday 4 December 2026
 

 4.1  CoPP | PPLS | AGING | With the Community Connector Service

Looking for support, services, or social connections as you age? The Community Connector Service (CCS) is here to help!
They can assist with: 
  • Finding aged care and carer support services
  • Connecting you with local services to help you stay independent
  • Discovering social groups, programs, and activities
  • Accessing council services like delivered meals and community transport
Meet the CCS team at your local Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) library – use the link below for session times and more information.

Tel: 03 9209 6882 or email communityconnector@portphillip.vic.gov.au  

 4.2  CoPP | PPLS | LENDING | iPads with Free Internet for Older People

Did you know that if you're over 60, you can borrow an iPad from Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)?
We have 10 iPads available for lending at St Kilda Library. Patrons 60 years and over will be able to borrow an iPad with free internet for one month.

All you need is a Port Phillip Library membership and a Victorian Senior's Card (or other proof of age).  

 4.3  CoPP | VPC | OFFERING | Witnessed Document Signing | weekly, every Saturday (excluding public holiday weekends) | 12noon-4pm

The Victorian Pride Centre (VPC) has a Document Signing Centre (DSC) service in St Kilda where legal documents can be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace.
This is the only community-based DSC within a 10 km radius of Melbourne's CBD that's not a police station or law court. The DSC@VPC provides a space where everyone, regardless of their background or identity, can feel secure and supported in having their legal documents witnessed.

This is a free service managed by the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices.
  • Learn more
  • Where: The Forum, Victorian Pride Centre, 19-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: Appointments aren't necessary
 

 4.4  CoPP | PPLS | WOMINJEKA | With James from Killara: 2 locations | Weekly, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

James Williams, Community Engagement Officer for the Inner Metro region, is available in our libraries each week to support First Nations community members. 
James can assist with resume writing, job searching, mentoring and coaching, as well as referrals to services including NDIS, Foodbank, Workforce Australia and accommodation support. He can also help with accessing birth certificates, proof of age cards and connecting people with community.

Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) are proud to partner with the Killara Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with employment, housing, cultural connection and access to key services.

Where to find James:
  • Port Melbourne Library | Monday and Wednesday, 10am-12noon
  • St Kilda Library | Wednesday and Friday | 1-3pm
James is here to help build pathways, provide support and strengthen connections within our community.  

 4.5  CoPP | PPLS | COACHING | Finding a Job | Weekly, Tuesdays | 5-8pm

Need help finding a job? Book a free 45-minute one-on-one appointment with our volunteer job coach.
Whether you’re new to the workforce, changing careers, or just feeling stuck, Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) is here to help:
  • Build confidence and motivation
  • Improve your digital skills
  • Write a résumé and prepare for interviews
  • Get career advice based on your strengths
  • Learn where to look for jobs and how to apply
Please note the new time and day for this program. 
  • Where: St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.6  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Practise English | Weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays | 1.30-2.30pm

Are you interested in improving your English-language skills and connecting with new people and Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)? 
Each session includes a variety of fun, informal activities such as group discussions, reading aloud, language games, and topic-based conversation. 

Please note: These sessions now require booking, please use the link below to secure your spot
  • Where: St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.7  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | For Twilight Tuesdays at Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne Library is open late on Tuesday evenings, and Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) are inviting our local community to drop in, discover something new and enjoy our regular programs.
Alongside our established Port Melbourne Book Clubs, which meet on the earlier Tuesdays of each month, we are excited to introduce two new evening programs as part of Twilight Tuesdays:
  • Book Chat on the third Tuesday of each month | 6-7pm
  • Film Club on the fourth Tuesday | 6-8pm
These sessions are already favourites at our other branches, and we are pleased to offer them locally. Visit our website for more information and offer your suggestions for other activities you might like us to include.
  • Where: Port Melbourne Library, 333 Bay St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
  • Cost: Free 
  • Bookings: online via PPLS
 

 4.8  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Stretch and Mobility Classes | Fortnightly on Tuesdays | arrive 10.55am for 11am-12noon

Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) for a fortnightly stretch and mobility class including a range of exercises designed to increase your range-of-motion and help you move more freely. 
There is a therapeutic focus on stretching deeply and releasing tension in the body. The class can be done seated on a chair.

Lea Singer is a certified Yoga instructor and specialises in promoting positive aging. She speaks Russian and English.

These sessions are wheel-chair accessible. Please contact us if you have any additional accessibility requirements.
  • Where: St Kilda Library Community Room, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: available week by week, online via Trybooking.
 

 4.9  CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Writers' Club | Fortnightly, Second and Fourth Friday | 1.30-3pm

Are you a writer looking for a supportive and inspiring space to share your work? 
Whether you’re working on short stories, poetry, essays, or even the next big novel, Port Phillip Library Service(PPLS) Writers' Club is the perfect place to connect, create, and grow!    

 4.10  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | First Nations Women’s Group | Fortnightly on Tuesdays | 10am-1pm

Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) at St Kilda Library for our fortnightly women’s yarning circle, facilitated by Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation. 
This is a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to share stories, create, connect, and celebrate culture together.
  • Where: St Kilda Library Community Room, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Find out more
 

 4.11  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Book Chat | Monthly, First Tuesday, next session: Tuesday 1 September 2026 | 3-4pm

Enjoy a relaxed chat about books with Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) staff and other book lovers. 
There are no set titles. Bring your current book or a favourite to discuss or just come along to hear about what others are enjoying.
  • Where: Albert Park Library, 319 Montague Street, Albert Park Victoria 3206
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.12  CoPP | PPLS | SCREENING | Local music legends on screen | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | 6-7.30pm

Experience the stories, songs and personalities that have helped define Port Phillip's vibrant music scene. This special Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) encore screening features two acclaimed short films from the 2026 St Kilda Film Festival.

The MEMO Music Hall Rokumentary shines a spotlight on the iconic St Kilda venue through live performances and interviews with the artists who helped make it what it is today. The second screening, Music & Poetry in the City of Port Phillip (2006-2026), celebrates two decades of music, creativity and community connection. 

For music fans and local history buffs, it's a night not to miss. The screening is rated 15+ and is suitable for patrons aged 15 years and over.
  • Where: Emerald Hill Library, 195 Bank Street, South Melbourne Victoria 3205
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.13  CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Family History Club | Monthly, First Thursday, next session 3 September 2026 | 1-2pm

Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)'s monthly Family History Club and connect with others passionate about family and local history. 
In each session, we’ll introduce the fantastic research resources available at our Heritage Centre and take time to share our own stories.
  • Where: Emerald Hill Library & Heritage Centre, 195 Bank St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
  • Cost: Free
  • Find out more
 

 4.14  VIC | VTMH | WEBINAR | Integrating spiritual care in mental health assessment and recovery. How do we do it? | Tuesday 8 September 2026 | 10.30am-12noon

Identifying and exploring challenges when spirituality or religion comes up during encounters with consumers.
While person-centred care models include these domains, workers often feel ill-equipped to support people in these aspects of their lives. This Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) reflective peer group allows mental health practitioners to deepen their understanding about spiritual diversity, which can include beliefs, values, traditions and practices.

Eligibility criteria
Sessions in this series are for practitioners working in publicly funded mental health programs across Victoria. This includes staff based in clinical mental health services, community-managed services, as well as people working within mental health programs in community health and human social services. Unfortunately, these discussions are not open to students on clinical placement.
  • Where: Online — details to be sent to registrants in advance
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: essential as spaces are limited. To secure a place, please register online via VTMH. 
 

 4.15  CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Understanding dementia | Tuesday 8 September 2026 | 11am-12pm (Hearing tests after)

Almost 1 in 12 Australians over 65 have dementia. As we get older, this number increases. Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) and Bolton Clarke's free Understanding Dementia sessions explain what dementia is; its causes, signs and symptoms; and ways to support brain health through healthy habits.

Following each session, Hearing Australia will provide a limited number of free 15-minute hearing checks. Recent research has shown that untreated hearing loss may be linked to cognitive decline and dementia.   

 4.16  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Queer Social Club: We're Here, We're Queer | Monthly, second Tuesday, next session 8 September 2026 | 6-7.30pm

Looking for a safe, vibrant space to be yourself and connect with fellow LGBTIQA+ adults?
Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)  for Queer Social Club, a monthly gathering created by and for the Queer community. Come as you are, bring a friend (or make a new one!) and enjoy an evening of fun, laughter, and connection in a welcoming space full of colour, joy, and pride.

We also wanted to say a special and heartfelt thank you to all our current and past guests. It has been amazing to meet you and share stories since starting this new club. We look forward to seeing you again in January!
  • Where: Community Room, St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.17  CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Scan and Save – Digitise Your Photos, Negatives and Slides | Thursday 10 September 2026 | 1-2pm

Do you have precious family memories you would like to preserve and share?
In this Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) hands-on workshop, learn how to digitise your photographs, slides and negatives to keep them safe and accessible for a new generation.

These induction sessions introduce you to the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner at the Port Phillip Heritage Centre. After completing the induction, you can return to use the equipment at your convenience. Our staff will also share tips on long-term preservation and basic file management.
  • Where: Emerald Hill Library, 195 Bank Street, South Melbourne Victoria 3205
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.18  CoPP | PHAAA | CALLING | Artists for ‘Healing with Compassion’ Art Exhibition | Saturday 12-Tuesday 29 September 2026 | 1-6pm

Inviting artists, volunteers, and community members to be part of our community celebrating creativity, connection, and peace. 
This has been another exciting year for Planetary Healing Artists Association of Australia (PHAAA). 

Don't miss our upcoming Peace Festival celebration and join our Art Exhibition 'Healing with Compassion' if you have not already done so.

Whether you'd like to exhibit your artwork, volunteer, or simply join the celebration, we'd love to have you involved. Together, we can create an inspiring event that brings our community together through the power of art. We look forward to celebrating with you!
 
Proudly supported by City of Port Phillip and the Baptist Church, St Kilda

CALLING | Artists – Sharing Your Creativity. Inspiring Connection. Celebrating Peace.

Welcoming artists from all cultures, backgrounds and creative disciplines to be part of our International Day of Peace 2026 celebration.

We welcome submissions on the theme Healing with Compassion from:
  • Painters
  • Sculptors
  • Photographers
  • Ceramic artists
  • Textile and fibre artists
  • Mixed media artists
  • Indigenous and First Nations artists
  • Digital artists
  • Installation artists
  • Emerging and established artists 
This exhibition is an opportunity to:
  • Exhibit your work in a welcoming community setting.
  • Connect with fellow artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Engage with new audiences.
  • Celebrate the power of art to bring people together Simply email your enquiry to: exhibit@planetaryhealingartists.org 
 

CALLING | Volunteers – Being Part of Something Meaningful

Would you like to make a difference in your community while gaining valuable experience and meeting wonderful people?

Planetary Healing Artists Association Australia is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help deliver our International Day of Peace Saturday 19 September 2026 celebration.

Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for people who enjoy working as part of a supportive team and would like to contribute to a welcoming, inclusive community event.

Volunteer opportunities include:
  • Event support on day
  • Artist liaison
  • Exhibition setup and pack down
  • Visitor welcome and information
  • Registration and administration
  • Photography and videography
  • Marketing and social media
  • Logistics and general event assistance
No previous experience is necessary. What matters most is a positive attitude, reliability, a willingness to learn, and a desire to contribute.

Volunteering with PHAAA is an opportunity to:
  • Meet new people and build lasting friendships.
  • Develop practical skills and experience.
  • Contribute to an intercultural community event.
  • Support artists and creativity.
  • Make a meaningful difference while being part of something inspiring.
We believe that great events are created by people who care.

If you'd like to join our volunteer team, we'd love to hear from you.
All welcome. All cultures. One humanity.
  
Together, we can create an event that celebrates creativity, culture, compassion and community. 
Whether you're an artist, volunteer, sponsor or visitor, there's a place for you at the International Day of Peace 2026. Join us as we come together through the universal language of the arts to build understanding, foster connection, and celebrate our shared humanity. Email us


 4.19  CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Growing mushrooms | Sunday 13 September 2026 | 2-4pm

Ever wanted to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home?
Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) and Buttons Mira from The Mushroomery for a hands-on introduction to mushroom growing and cultivation. In this engaging workshop, you'll learn about the fascinating world of fungi and gain practical skills to start growing mushrooms yourself, such as:
  • Mushroom basics and the steps involved in cultivation
  • How to start a culture, and suitable containers and environments
  • Safe and sustainable mushroom-growing practices
  • Where: St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking


 4.20  CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Understanding dementia | Monday 14 September 2026 | 2-3pm (Hearing tests after)

Almost 1 in 12 Australians over 65 have dementia. As we get older, this number increases. Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) with Bolton Clarke's free Understanding Dementia sessions explain what dementia is; its causes, signs and symptoms; and ways to support brain health through healthy habits.


Following each session, Hearing Australia will provide a limited number of free 15-minute hearing checks. Recent research has shown that untreated hearing loss may be linked to cognitive decline and dementia.  

 4.21  CoPP | PPLS | GATHERING | Young Adult Neurodivergent Craft Club | Monthly, Third Saturday, next session Saturday 19 September 2026 | 1-3pm

A monthly inclusive crafting session designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals aged 18 to 25. February's theme is Photo keychain making.
Whether you prefer to bring your own project and supplies or take part in our monthly themed activity, there’s space for you.

Supplies and inspiration are provided for the monthly theme. Book in early so that we can ensure there are supplies for you if you'd like to participate in the monthly theme!
  • Where: St Kilda Library Community Room, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda Victoria 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.22  CoPP | PPLS | WALKING | With Tobias Nash to Ghost Signs of South Melbourne | Saturday 19 September 2026 | 2-4pm

Travel streets, back lanes and industrial walls with Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) seeking ancient advertising typography, signage and hand-painted stencils known as ‘Ghost Signs’.
  • Where: Start and finish: Emerald Hill Heritage Centre, 195 Bank Street, South Melbourne
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.23  BLUE MOUNTAINS | RACS | TREKKING | For Refugees | Saturday 19-Sunday 20 September 2026

Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) is partnering with Emu Trekkers once again for a two-day hike along the Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains. Accommodation and meals, including wine tasting and lunch at a local vineyard, are included!

What is included?
  • A spectacular out and back hike along the Six Foot Track 
  • Accommodation and welcome drink at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge
  • All meals (2 x lunch, 1 x breakfast, 1 x dinner; vegetarian options available)
  • Wine tasting and lunch at a local vineyard on Day 2
  • Experienced volunteer guides
  • Proceeds go to RACS
 

 4.24  VIC | VTMH | WORKSHOPPING | Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings | Monday 21 September 2026 | 9.30am-4pm

A Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) advanced skills workshop delivered face to face explores advanced skills for practitioners working with interpreters in mental health setting 
Using a variety of facilitation modes, grounded in a reflective practice approach, the workshop provides learners with the opportunity to explore challenges and realities in the interpreting environment and to understand these within broader cultural responsiveness frameworks, including an intersectional lens. The workshop also invites and promotes strategies for adapting practice for working with interpreters in a variety of mental health settings. 

The workshop is designed around the materials created as part of the Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings project (VTMH, 2019). The resources developed through the project used a co-design process, involving a variety of stakeholders including consumers, carers, interpreters, clinicians and academics, across the project lifespan. 

Participants will receive hard copies of resources developed in the project Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings (VTMH, 2019), including a Practice Tips Poster, Tri-Fold Booklet and Report after completion of the workshop. 
Catering will also be provided.
 
VTMH workshops are open to and provided free to staff working in Victoria’s state-funded mental health workforce. This includes public clinical and community mental health services, as well as state-funded mental health programs within community health and social services.

This workshop will interest staff working with interpreters in a range of roles within these workforces, including but not limited to community rehabilitation and recovery workers, lived experience workers, mental health nursing, social work, case management, occupational therapy, psychiatry, program leaders/project workers and administration roles, are invited to register.  

 4.25  SURRY HILLS | RACS | TALKING | Who gets to belong? Culture, rights and a fairer Australia | Monday 21 September 2026 | arrive 5.30pm for 6.30pm-8pm AEST

Join Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) with writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law, Rohingya human rights advocate Noor Azizah, Plate It Forward founder Shaun Christie-David and Walkley award-winner Sarah Malik as they explore what belonging means in Australia today, how our understanding of identity and community is shaped, and what we really mean when we talk about Australian values.   

 4.26  CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Researching your Middle Park home | Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 6-7pm

Do you remember Middle Park in the 1970s? Or ever wondered what your street looked like decades ago?
Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) for the launch of Your Home @ 3206, an extraordinary online archive featuring historic images of every Middle Park house and stories from the community. You'll learn how this remarkable project can help you uncover the history of the place you call home.

Presented by the Middle Park and Albert Park History Group with the Port Phillip Heritage Centre.
  • Where: Emerald Hill Library, 195 Bank Street, South Melbourne Victoria 3205
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.27  CoPP | PPLS | SCREENING | Film Club | monthly, fourth Tuesday, next session Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 6-8pm

Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) at Port Melbourne Library for a new evening film club. 
Each month, we invite you to the library to enjoy outstanding films from around the world. Our Film Club is the perfect way to discover powerful stories, unique voices and cinematic treasures – all while connecting with fellow film lovers.

Whether you're a lifelong film buff or just looking for something new, our Film Club is a welcoming space to experience and talk about cinema with others who share your passion.
  • Where: Port Melbourne Library, 333 Bay St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
  • Find out more
  

 4.28  CoPP | PPLS | TALKING | Southside Death Cafe | Monthly, Fourth Wednesday, next session Wednesday 23 September 2026 | Alternates between afternoons and evenings

Join Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) in gathering of people interested in exploring the one thing that affects us all. It can't be avoided, so why not embrace it, empower yourself about your options and come to peace that it's part of what makes us alive!

This is a safe space to bring up any topic relating to death, whether it be your own, someone close or death as a concept overall.  

 4.29  CoPP | PPLS | WORKSHOPPING | Bike Maintenance for Beginners | Monthly, Fourth Saturday, next session Saturday 26 September 2026 | 1-2pm

Come learn with Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS) how to fix a flat tyre on your bicycle in this free 1-hour class and never be put out by a flat tyre again! 
Bring your bike and learn from our local experts who will share useful tips and tricks to keep your trusty steed in top shape.

These workshops are hosted in partnership with the St Kilda Bike Kitchen, Port Phillip Libraries, and the City of Port Phillip Sustainable Transport team.
  • Where: St Kilda Library Community Room, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda, VIC 3182
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: online via EventBrite
 

 4.30  MELBOURNE | AELA | GATHERING | Many Faiths, One Planet – Together, Caring for our Common Home | Saturday 3 October 2026 | 8.30am-5pm

Join Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) for a 1-Day Conference celebrating how the living world brings us together in faith, and in care.
The Earth is crying out to us. We read reports of species becoming extinct and ecosystems under attack. It is easy to lose hope when confronted by the Biodiversity crisis before us. And none of us can face the challenges alone.

In October, people from diverse faith groups, cultures and ecological sciences will meet in Melbourne to hear the cry of the Earth. We will listen, learn, reflect and grow in ecological consciousness together. 

We come together because Australia's unique biodiversity matters. Together we will discover ways people of faith and the sciences collaborate to protect species and ecosystems before they disappear.

 Conference Speakers 

Sherry Balcombe-Maloney | Finding Our Place On Country

Many people have not had the opportunity to hear what First Nations people mean when they talk about Country. As a First Nations descendant, Sherry will open us up to a greater sense of what connecting to Country means — what it REALLY means in time, place, spirituality and relationship, especially for those of us who are disconnected from the natural world. 

Sherry is an Olkola / Mularidji woman from Far North Queensland. Born in Narrm, she has an extensive experience in Social Justice with a faith-based approach, and has enjoyed numerous roles within the community including Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, visiting First Nations youth in detention, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for 20 years. She is a currently State Representative for NATSICC, board member of Jesuit Social Services, Aboriginal Visitor to Aboriginal community at Thomas Embling Hospital, cross cultural Educator, Story Teller with Djirra (Abororiginal women’s support service), and Aboriginal Heritage Walk tour guide at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Sherry also contributed to the book, "An Urgent Call: Laudato Si' and Indigenous Wisdom in Oceania", recently published by the Vatican.

Prof Sarah Bekessy | Locating Ourselves In The Ecosystem

Humans have the tendency to see Nature as a resource, and not something we are a part of. Australia is one of the most mega-biodiverse places on Earth and yet we have the highest rate of biodiversity loss in the developed world. Sarah will give a brief overview of what is causing this loss of our unique biodiversity and present some ways we can all care for it in the urban environment — together! 

Sarah leads the ICON Science research group which uses interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex biodiversity conservation problems. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of human behaviour in conservation, in designing cities to encourage ‘every day nature’ experiences and in defining and measuring ‘nature positive’ development. Sarah is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, which she helped to establish "to be a trusted, expert voice communicating accurate information on all aspects of biodiversity to the Australian people, to ensure biodiversity and Country prosper." She is Honorary Professor at RMIT University, and 2020 Winner of the City of Melbourne Design Challenge.

Dr Michelle Maloney | Growing New Ways Of Being

'Tinkering with the edges' is not enough, because the current systems have led us to this crisis point. We have become disconnected from the natural world. Michelle will speak on what Thomas Berry called the task of this century: "to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner.” How can we understand our ecosystems and bioregions, and grow in our ecological consciousness for the care of our common home?

Michelle manages the strategic direction and governance of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), designs and manages AELA programs and events, and coordinates the work of staff, volunteers and collaborative networks. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (political science and history) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the Australian National University, and an PhD in environmental regulation, from the Griffith Law Futures Centre. Michelle is also the Co-Founder and Director of Future Dreaming Australia; Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and a member of the Advisory Council, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. She lives near Brisbane, Australia with her family and Ziggy the Wonderdog.

Andrew Skeoch | Deep Listening To Nature

In the attention economy, those with the loudest voice wins. How has the Earth been speaking to us? Can we learn to better listen to even the small voices? Andrew Skeoch will open our hearts and minds to deep listening in the natural world using some of the sounds he has recorded here and around the world, and share with us what he has learned about human behaviour from many years of listening and observing the more than human life.  

Andrew is an educator, author, naturalist, environmental thinker, and one of Australia's best-known nature sound recordists. Over the last thirty years, he has documented the sounds of wild environments around the planet, and through his label, Listening Earth, published over one hundred recordings featuring habitats from most continents, attracting Spotify streaming figures in the many tens of thousands a week. His recordings are featured in the audio installation at Sydney Wildlife World, feature films, including Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to Phillip Noyce's 'Rabbit Proof Fence', and Disney's 2016 remake of 'The Jungle Book'. Andrew is a TEDx speaker and President of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group.
 
Please register for the conference as soon as possible.

Space is limited.
  
Families welcome. Please contact us if you have any special needs.

We aim to create a safe and inclusive space for people from all cultural backgrounds, and beliefs.

Post-Conference Dinner Tickets will be available here closer to the conference, please keep an eye out for details
 
Hosted by The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) and the Faith Ecology Network (FEN)
  
  • Where: The Multicultural Hub, Level l, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  • Cost: Prices From Tuesday 11 August 2026
    • Waged: $140
    • Concession/Unwaged/Students: $95
    • Children under 18 attend free. 
  • Bookings: online via Trybooking
 

 4.31  VIC | VTMH | WEBINAR | Balancing personal spirituality with mental health care. Is there a tension? | Tuesday 6 October 2026 | 10.30am-12noon

Identifying and exploring challenges when spirituality or religion comes up during encounters with consumers.
While person-centred care models include these domains, workers often feel ill-equipped to support people in these aspects of their lives. This Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) reflective peer group allows mental health practitioners to deepen their understanding about spiritual diversity, which can include beliefs, values, traditions and practices.

Eligibility criteria
Sessions in this series are for practitioners working in publicly funded mental health programs across Victoria. This includes staff based in clinical mental health services, community-managed services, as well as people working within mental health programs in community health and human social services. Unfortunately, these discussions are not open to students on clinical placement.
  • Where: Online — details to be sent to registrants in advance
  • Cost: Free
  • Bookings: essential as spaces are limited. To secure a place, please register online via VTMH. 
 

 4.32  AUST | EQPR | GATHERING | The Rainbow Leaders Summit Early Bird access is open | Thursday 19 November 2026 | 9am-4.30pm

Too many of us do this work in isolation, and we wanted one day where that stops.
The Equality Project (EQPR) Rainbow Leaders Summit is one hundred rainbow leaders, changemakers and allies in one room.
  • Early bird is open now for two weeks. $195.
  • After that, the ticket goes to $295 on 14 August 2026.
This isn't a conference. No panels, no keynotes, no sitting through presentations. It's a full day out of your inbox, in a room with 100 people who get the work you usually do alone.

You'll have a real say in the direction, have the conversations that don't happen anywhere else, including the ones where you don't all agree, and leave with alliances, not a lanyard.

What the last room said: 
  • 8.65/10 average rating to "How likely are you to recommend this?"
  • 9 in 10 rated the content and facilitation highly
  • 70% scored the day a perfect 9 or 10
That's what the last room said with no cost to attend. This year the ticket funds the day and keeps it independent — same room, same standard.

Only 100 seats! See you there.
The Equality Project Team


 4.33  AUST | EQPR | GATHERING | Adaptive Leadership Program | 3 intensive days, Wednesday 2-Friday 4 December 2026

The Equality Project (EQPR)'s Adaptive Leadership Program is built around a gap, between what a plan says on paper and what a team can actually bring itself to do.
You've sat in that meeting. Everyone nods along to the plan. Three weeks later nothing's actually moved, and nobody can quite say why.

Somewhere in the room, someone already sensed what came next would cost something: a hard conversation, a change nobody asked for, a step outside how things have always run. So the room found a quiet way around it. Another working group. Another meeting about the meeting.

We've done it ourselves. It's a very reasonable thing for a room to do.

Over three days in Melbourne, with 23 other people working on the same thing, you'll learn to spot that gap before it stalls your team again, and how to hold a room through the discomfort of closing it.

Delivered by The Equality Project (EQPR), in collaboration with the Centre for Civil Dialogue (CCD), and led by facilitator Taryn Sexton.
"I was sceptical at first, thinking it would be another set of empty leadership slides. I was wrong. The biggest shift for me was learning to slow down, step back onto the 'balcony', and diagnose what was actually happening. It completely changed how I approach team dynamics and what gets us stuck in a complex environment." – 2025 program participant

Seats open 7 September 2026. Register you interest now and we'll email you on 1 September 2026, a week before everyone else, so you get first access to the workplace-funded early bird: $500 off.

Expressing your interest doesn't commit you to anything. It tells us you want to hear first, and it helps us plan the program properly. We'd love to have you in the room.
The Equality Project Team

 5. COLLECTIVISING 

  1. AUST | CUIN | UPDATING | Culture in Conversation and more | August 2026
  2. AUST | FDPN | UPDATING | Community Information | July 2026
  3. AUST | NJP | UPDATING | Community News | August 2026
  4. AUST | PMW | UPDATING | Community, News and Information | August 2026
  5. AUST | RACS | UPDATING | Community News, and more | August 2026
  6. AUST | RGA | UPDATING | Community, News & more | August 2026
  7. AUST | THCO | UPDATING | Awareness, Funds and Support for independent media and more | August 2026
  8. WORLD | PWR | UPDATING | Community with News, Information and more | August 2026
  9. WORLD | WIKIPEDIA | RAISING | Awareness, Support and Funds so everyone can have equal access to knowledge
 

 5.1  AUST | CUIN | UPDATING | Culture in Conversation and more | August 2026

Culture is something we encounter, navigate, and learn from in our daily lives. Once we recognise its complexity, we can engage with culture in more effective ways.
From classroom discussions to global conversations about technology and cultural identity, this month’s stories explore how we can enhance our understanding and appreciation of the cultures around us.

Discover how schools are building intercultural capabilities, how cultural data can help communities better understand themselves, and how Cultural Infusion is contributing to important conversations about culture, inclusion and representation worldwide.

ANNOUNCING | Cultural Infusion Has a New Home!

Cultural Infusion (CUIN) has moved! You can now find Cultural Infusion at Level 1, 1/105 Rupert St, Collingwood, VIC 3066. We are excited to settle in and start this next stage in our new space.

While our address may have changed, you can still reach us through all the usual channels. From cultural programs to Atlas to our growing range of educational resources, we look forward to creating many more meaningful experiences and connections with you!

In This Issue
  1. Education & Experiences – For teachers & schools
  2. The Atlas Platform – Cultural data & tools
  3. Key Events – Where to find us
  4. Voices of Cultural Infusion – Research & perspectives
  5. Cultural Infusion Organisation – Internships & careers
  6. Calendar Spotlight – Dates worth marking

 1. Education & Experiences  

Bring the Magic of Indonesian Puppetry to Your School

Dalang Sumardi has shared the Wayang tradition around the world for more than 30 years.

As students experience the artistry of Sumardi’s shadow puppetry, including voices and music, they will also have opportunities to step behind the stage and discover the skills and crafts that bring the shadows to life — including seeing puppets up close, some of which are over 100 years old! Younger audiences can also enjoy Wayang Kancil, a playful tale of Indonesian folklore full of humour, animal characters and gentle moral lessons.

Why stop at one performance? Pair it with Demetrius’ energetic Opa! Greek Dance and Culture workshop for a double Cultural Bill — enjoy a discounted rate, with travel fees waived for the tour as well!

* Opa! Greek Dance and Culture is available in WA, SA and VIC only.
Wayang programs are available across all listed states, subject to location and availability.

Touring Dates: October–November 2026 (TBC):
  • WA | 12–15 October 2026
  • SA | 20–23 October 2026
  • VIC | 26 October – 6 November 2026
  • NSW | 9–13 November 2026
  • ACT | 12–13 November 2026
Dates are limited and availability varies by location, so get in early.
 

Building Intercultural Capability in Victorian Schools

The Intercultural Citizenship Ambassador Program (ICAP) continues to expand across Victoria, with schools reporting strong engagement and positive outcomes. Funded by the Victorian Government, it’s currently free for students at Victorian government secondary schools. The 2026 calendar is fully booked — we’re welcoming expressions of interest for 2027 and 2028.

Discover the Cultural Story of Your School Community with Atlas

Atlas for Schools provides a secure, ethical way to explore your cultural profile using anonymised data. Schools receive a tailored report covering languages, heritage, countries of birth, belief systems and more — free of charge for a limited number of schools.

 2. The Atlas Platform 

Help Shape Our Company Values Whitepaper

Do your company values make sense to staff? Are they meaningful, and can they be measured? We’ve embarked on a research piece to inform a white paper and refinements to our products.

We want to hear from HR peeps across regions, industries and company sizes, to get an accurate bird’s eye view. It takes 10–15 minutes, stays anonymous unless you say otherwise, and contributors get our deep thanks plus first access to the whitepaper once it’s ready.

Got a few opinions on how company values shape workplace culture? We’d love to hear them.

Nobody Is 78% Engaged

Preliminary findings from our People & Culture Index (PCI) white paper research explore the gap between company values and lived workplace culture.

Cultural Infusion Product Director Quincy Hall explains that once a score becomes a KPI, organisations can become focused on improving the number rather than addressing the underlying reality it is supposed to measure.

So instead of reducing workplace culture to a single averaged score, the PCI compares survey responses from leaders and staff. This makes it possible to see where their views align and where there is a gap between what leaders believe employees are experiencing and what employees report themselves.

 3. Key Events 

Building Bridges Between Religious Freedom and Responsible Technology

Day 2 of the 2026 IRF Peace Builders Forum brought civil society, government, business and faith leaders together at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., for America250: Building on the Presence and the Promise of Religious Freedom, marking the launch of the Civil Society Collaborative for Religious Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity.

Cultural Infusion was honoured to be represented by Gold Darr and Ben Christensen, while our CEO was called ‘a brilliant almost rock star’ for caring about faith communities and their freedoms.

Hear Gold discuss how we went from 10,000 species of bananas to essentially two, and why AI is a fundamental battle site for the freedom of thought.
 

Atlas at the TechDiversity Awards

For the last nine years, Cultural infusion has attended the TechDiversity awards night, and we’re also a former two-times winner of their merit award. This year, the event took place in Sydney with Cultural Infusion CTO Rezza Moieni representing us, including a live demo of what the actual diversity in the event looked like.

Some of the findings: 34 countries and 58 languages were represented at the event. The three most spoken languages were English, Spanish and French. Mandarin and Arabic, top languages in the Australian census, were very underrepresented. Naming gaps is the first step to closing them.

We also revealed that 34% of this tech savvy room ‘always’ ask whose data an AI has been trained on.
 
We are official media partners of:

 4. Voices of Cultural Infusion 

The Fearless Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Experience Series

Ready to turn your commitment to inclusion into meaningful action?

Series Dates
  • Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 11am-12.30pm
  • Wednesday 30 September 2026 | 11am-12.30pm
  • Wednesday 7 October 2026 | 11am-12.30pm
This dynamic online program is designed to help leaders build the confidence and practical skills to drive positive change – and it’s facilitated by some of our best friends, leading DEI experts Roman Ružbacký, Fiona Krautil and Tom Verghese, authors of The Fearless Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practitioner, which has just been published in a new edition.

Places are limited, so register now and take the leap towards fearless leadership.
 

The Odyssey Controversy

Peter Mousaferiadis weighs in on the controversy surrounding Christopher Nolan’s retelling of The Odyssey, focusing on casting and questions of historical and cultural authenticity. Read his article in the Greek Herald, or hear him discuss it with 3AW’s Tom Elliott.

New Research: Turning Cybersecurity Alerts into Action

A new paper by CTO Rezza Moieni, co-authored with Parisasadat Shojaei, explores how organisations can turn complex cybersecurity information into clearer, actionable insight — bridging the gap between technical security and effective governance.

 5. Cultural Infusion Organisation 

Intern With Us!

Over the past two months, we have received more than 200 applications for our internship programs, with 10+ interns already commencing placements across various projects and teams. We’ve also expanded opportunities to international students, with support including visa guidance, arrival assistance and cross-cultural learning.

Email: intern@culturalinfusion.com
 

Interns Workshop with Our CEO

On 4 August, CEO Peter Mousaferiadis delivered an inspiring workshop for our current interns on culture, diversity and intercultural understanding in today’s global workforce.

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Launch Experience

Kick off your organisation’s reconciliation journey with an impactful, tailored RAP Launch Experience led by a First Nations presenter. 30–60 minutes.
 

 6. Calendar Spotlight 

Key dates across the world worth knowing about, and marking on your own calendar.

International Day of Sign Languages | 23 September 2026

The International Day of Sign Languages advocates for the human rights of deaf individuals and celebrates the cultural diversity of sign language users. Established to commemorate the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951, this day emphasises that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages.

Sign language, rich in grammar and culture, demonstrates the expressiveness of communication beyond spoken words. Keeping this in mind, here are two of our workshops that explore the power of physical and non-verbal expression:

Thanks for reading! Keep the conversation going, be well, and see you next month.

 5.2  AUST | FDPN | UPDATING | Community Information | July 2026

On Monday 27 July, one of our community member is finally safe. He is the first LGBTIQA+ refugee to arrive in Australia through Bridge to Safety, a protection pathway built by and for our community.
Farsheed a gay man who has lived with fear and persecution for as long as he can remember, has touched down in Australia through Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN)'s Bridge to Safety.

Today, Farsheed woke up and breathed without fear.

I have waited a long time to write those words.

Before I explain why this moment matters, I want to share something Farsheed wrote while he was still waiting.
“I want a life where I could exist without fear. A life where I wouldn’t be punished for who I am. I reached out everywhere I could. Every organisation, every agency. Most of the time, there was silence. Or doors that never opened.

Then FDPN told me that they had submitted my case. I did not believe it at first. It felt too fragile, too unreal.

There is a park I used to go to. Every time I went there, it looked grey and lifeless, like everything I was feeling inside.

The day after my interview, I woke up with a quiet feeling I did not recognise at first. When I looked outside, that same park was different. It looked green. Alive. Full of light.

Nothing about the park had changed. But something in me had.”
For years, our community has known a hard truth: the systems that are supposed to protect refugees too often leave LGBTIQA+ people behind.

Global resettlement has collapsed. Places worldwide have fallen by more than 85 percent. There are now fewer than 30,000 resettlement places globally. For an LGBTIQA+ person fleeing persecution, that is not an abstraction. It can be the difference between a chance at a future and no future at all.

LGBTIQA+ people fleeing persecution often face barriers others do not. These include discrimination, violence, threats from family and community, and refugee assessment processes that do not adequately account for their circumstances. Such barriers can prevent access to resettlement and other pathways to safety, even for those who urgently need protection.

FDPN spent years working to change a system that was not built for our communities. Bridge to Safety is what that persistence looks like. We built this program on something unique, something no-one else can offer: the trust of our own community, matched with expert legal support from our partners at RACS.

Community leads. Legal follows. That model just brought Farsheed to safety.

Our local partners walked alongside Farsheed to gather evidence and prepare his case.
Your donations, your refusal to look away, made every step of that possible. Farsheed is safe today because this community showed up. Thank you form the bottom of my heart.

Farsheed is the first. He cannot be the last.

Right now there are others still waiting: for their cases to be prepared, for visas to be granted, for a flight that means freedom. They are living in fear for the simplest reason: who they are and who they love. We have more people ready than we have funding to reach them.

Every week without funding is another week at risk of arrest, violence, or worse.

Donations do not go to a program. It goes to a person. A specific person, in a specific country, facing a specific threat. $13,000 covers everything it takes: the legal work, the casework, risk and triage assessment, verification and interview, interpreting, travel, and the practical support needed to reach safety.

I am confident we will have more good news to share soon.
For now, thank you to donors for being part of the work that got us here. With gratitude,
Dr Renee Dixson, Executive Director & Co-Founder
PS: If you or someone you know is an LGBTIQA+ person overseas seeking help through Bridge to Safety, please reach out to us directly at BridgetoSafety@fdpn.org.au.

If you're already in Australia and wanting to seek asylum, our partners at RACS can help: contact admin@racs.org.au.
 

 5.3  AUST | NJP | UPDATING | Community News | August 2026

Content Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following includes the names of First Nations people who have passed away. This email also includes distressing content.

When policing causes harm, what needs to change? Videos of police violence, stories of misconduct and growing calls for accountability have once again forced a national conversation about policing and public trust.

But alongside questions about what happens when policing causes harm, communities across Australia are asking something much bigger: what does genuine public safety look like?

For many people, safety means more than enforcement. It involves access to housing, healthcare, community support, youth services and systems that respond to harm without causing further harm.

National Justice Project (NJP) explores both sides of that conversation. We look at the reforms needed to strengthen police accountability, and we hear from people working to build community-led approaches to safety.

Prioritising care over force

We work alongside people, families and communities seeking answers and accountability after harmful interactions with police. We’ve seen the lasting impact these experiences can have when the systems meant to keep people safe instead cause harm.

That's why we've contributed to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) review, calling for stronger oversight, greater transparency and more effective accountability.

Accountability matters, but it's only part of the picture. Building safer communities also means investing in approaches that prevent harm before it happens and make sure people get the support they need when they need it.  

Communities leading the way: Beyond Survival Project

Every day, community organisations are already doing the work and supporting people across Australia who have been failed by the system.

At our Alternative First Responders’ recent Action Webinar: VIC Elections 2026, Lauren Caulfield from the Beyond Survival Project spoke about the project's work supporting people who have experienced family violence policing harms through legal assistance, family violence support and community advocacy.

Lauren also shared findings from the Harm in the Name of Safety, a report based on a survey of more than 270 family violence workers across Victoria. The report highlights widespread concerns about policing responses to family violence and reinforces the need for greater investment in community-led responses that keep people safe.

Watch the full webinar to hear Lauren and other advocates discuss the community-led solutions already making a difference across Victoria.
"We are calling for a redistribution of resources to frontline and family violence services, to build and strengthen community pathways, and for funding for an Alternative First Responders pilot in Victoria." – Lauren Caulfield, Beyond Survival Project
 

In conversation with... the Alternative First Responders team

As communities question whether police should be the default response to every crisis, the Alternative First Responders campaign is calling for community-led, health-focused alternatives that prioritise care over force.

What gives this movement its momentum?
People are wanting to grow the conversation. This isn’t just about personal opinions. This is common sense approaches and policy and people can see that. The deep desire people have to have those in their communities responded to with care and dignity gives me hope that this will become the status quo for what shapes policy investment.
– Jacinta Wright, Policy & Projects Officer

Why are more people questioning policing as the default response?
The growing use of force by police is institutional, cultural and strengthened by a growing ‘tough on crime’ policy agenda. We are not experiencing a rise in crime across the country. We are experiencing a safety net crisis where people are being allowed to fall through widening cracks. While social, community and health supports remain underfunded, governments continue to invest in policing as the primary response. More people are questioning this approach because they're seeing its impacts firsthand.
– Chloe Fragos, Project Lead

What gives you hope as you work towards alternatives to policing?
Seeing people come together to drive change, and the immense efforts that are in action and happening on the ground. There's so much love in this space, and there's a lot of grit too. I am constantly in awe of organisations and individuals who fiercely embody the principles of alternative first responders, who have done so for a very long time and who we continue to rally alongside in the call for dignity and care in the first response. The people united will never be defeated.
– Zoe Edema, Campaign Content & Advocate

How to take action

  • Join hundreds of people who are calling for care, not force by signing the Alternative First Responders pledge. Sign
  • Download the Kitchen Table Conversation Toolkit and start meaningful conversations about community safety. Read
  • Tell your local MP why community-led, health-focused crisis responses matter using our ready-made templates. Write
Special Thanks to UTS Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research


 News and Updates 

Kumanjayi White’s family learn police chose not to prosecute officers over his death

More than a year after Kumanjayi White died in police custody, his family has learned that police chose not to prosecute the officers involved. The family are now left with even more questions about what happened and why the decision was made.  

Major changes to mental health crisis response

NSW has announced a major new approach for people experiencing mental health distress. While the government says the  $270 million investment will provide better support, we still have questions about what this will mean for people in crisis.  

What happens after Yoorrook Justice Commission?

Victoria’s truth-telling commission, Yoorrook, heard from First Nations people about their experiences of injustice. But what happens now? A new project looks at what it will take to turn Yoorrook’s recommendations into action.  

One legal case can change the future

A legal case can deliver justice while changing the future for everyone who comes after. Our UTS Clinic students are exploring powerful cases where legal action has changed government policy, held institutions accountable and helped prevent the same injustice from happening again.  

Holding police power to account

Between 2017 and 2022, 43% of critical incidents involving NSW Police happened during a mental health crisis. People in crisis need support, not force. The Alternative First Responders campaign is calling for a NSW Human Rights Bill to prevent harm and hold governments accountable.  

Your complaint needs careful guidance, not guesswork.

Hear Me Out is a project brought to you by the National Justice Project and is available to users making New South Wales, Victorian or federal-based complaints.  

 Events 

Jogging for Justice - Take on a challenge

Over the next few months, there are some amazing running events across the country where you can take on a personal challenge while supporting the National Justice Project. Every kilometre helps power our work to advance justice and protect human rights.  

 In the Media 


Kind Regards,
The National Justice Project Team

 5.4  AUST | PMW | UPDATING | Community, News and Information | August 2026

I hope you are enjoying the little sunshine amidst these winter days. I know I am! Leeching every ray of sunshine that I can.
It's been... a month. Ha! I feel like I'm perpetually exhausted, even though I've already "survived" (arguably) the most difficult time of having a baby, aka the newborn stage. My baby turned 12 months old today (I know, ONE YEAR! Like, when did this happen?), and I feel like I should have gotten used to this new way of life by now. But I must confess I haven't. I'm feeling not only a bit lost, but also not fully like myself.

It's been hard understanding that I'm not the person I used to be, while also getting to know this new aspect of my identity as a mum. Because sometimes I feel like I'm not the best mum. And Instagram doesn't help. I feel exhausted, drained, anxious, and low on energy most of the time. And at the moment, it's been hard to have space for myself. Or a space where I feel like I know what I'm doing. Like in a professional job you're good at.

I was expecting to go back to work by the end of June but, as many of you know, my role was made redundant. So, I'm currently on the job hunt, which is an emotional rollercoaster of its own. One that really challenges your confidence. Which is not helpful when I'm trying to find my way back, or find a new path to a new identity. Or whatever it is I need to find to get out of this rut.

I currently feel somewhat paralysed. I'm getting more and more unmotivated every time I read roles to apply for. It's funny because it's like two sides of a coin. On one side, I don't apply because I feel like I'm not qualified or good enough for the role. On the other side (and I don't know if this is me sabotaging myself in another way), I can't seem to find jobs right now that I can see myself enjoying.

I'm trying my best to break out of this cycle. But I'm tired, and it's been hard to work on my confidence when I feel like I don't have much time of my own. Time to do nothing, just rest, and not feel bad because I'm not either: A) taking care of my baby; B) taking care of the house or doing chores; C) working at PMW; or D) looking for a job to help financially at home.

For today, though, I'm just going to enjoy my baby and celebrate that the most wonderful kind of sunshine came into my life to brighten it up.

Kindest,
Lina

SPOTLIGHTING | When Stories Become Evidence

For years, Professional Migrant Women (PWM) has been hearing a similar story from our community.

Women who had done everything "right", built successful careers overseas, earned qualifications, secured professional jobs in Australia... yet still felt stuck when it came to progressing into more senior roles.

At first, we heard these stories one conversation at a time. At a networking event. During a mentoring session. Over coffee. In a DM.

Eventually, we started asking ourselves: Is this an individual experience, or is something bigger happening?

That's what led us to launch our first national study on career progression among professional migrant women.

Thanks to 185 women from across Australia, we were able to turn lived experiences into evidence. What emerged was a clear picture: getting the job is only part of the story. Career progression, visibility, sponsorship, professional networks, and access to leadership opportunities continue to shape women's experiences long after they enter the workforce.

The findings have already informed the design of our Ascend Career Progression Program, and they'll continue to shape how we advocate, design programs, and support our community moving forward.

Most importantly, this report belongs to the women who contributed to it. To every woman who shared her experience, challenge, and insight: thank you.

If you've ever wondered whether your experiences are shared by other migrant women, we invite you to download and read the report. And if something resonates, share it with your employer, colleagues, networks, and allies. The more people who understand the realities of career progression for migrant women, the stronger the case for change becomes.  

JOINING | Forces for greater impact

One of the things we're always thinking about at PMW is how we can create more opportunities, visibility, and support for migrant women.
That's why we're excited to share that we've recently become a member of Gender Equity Victoria (GenVic), a network of organisations committed to advancing gender equity across Victoria.

For us, this isn't just another membership. It's an opportunity to build stronger partnerships, contribute to important conversations, access leading research, and ensure the experiences of migrant women are represented in spaces where decisions and advocacy happen.

The challenges migrant women face don't exist in isolation, and neither should the solutions. By collaborating with organisations that share our values, we can continue amplifying the voices of our community and advocating for a more equitable future for all women.

We're excited about what this partnership will make possible and look forward to keeping you updated on the collaborations, advocacy, and opportunities that emerge from this space.

CONNECTING | Your City, Your Community

One of the things we've heard time and time again is that while our online events connect women across Australia, many of you are also looking for connections closer to home.
That's why we've been busy launching our new PMW Community Spaces in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide, with Hobart and Perth coming soon.

Think of these spaces as your local PMW hub. A place to connect with other migrant women in your city, hear about local opportunities and events, ask questions, share wins, and build relationships beyond a monthly meetup.

And here's our challenge to you: don't just join, say hello!

Introduce yourself. Share what you do. Ask a question. Tell us what you're working towards. Chances are there's another woman in your city looking for exactly the same kind of connection.

Our PMW Ambassadors are already there, ready to welcome you, start conversations, and help connect you with other women in your local community.

Join your city's Community Space and help us bring it to life:  

 Upcoming training and events 

GATHERING | PMW Anniversary 2026

We're doing it again. And if I'm honest, this is one of our events I'm most proud of.

Because this is the kind of room I wish I had been invited into when I first arrived in Australia.

A room where you don't just hear from successful leaders. Oh no! This is a room where you *actually* sit with them. You ask questions. You learn from their mistakes, their decisions, and their journeys.

A room where the women leading organisations either look and sound like us, or are allies genuinely committed to opening doors for women like us.

And yes, it's a gala. Partly because we love a reason to dress up! But mostly because we believe in celebrating women who lift other women up.  

SHARING | The story behind the ambassador

I'm super excited to introduce Louise Chiu, our Sydney Ambassador, as this month's In Conversations With (ICW) guest.

Many of you already know Louise as the friendly face welcoming women at our Sydney meetups, sharing opportunities, making introductions, and helping our community grow.

But there's so much more to her story.

Behind the ambassador role is a migrant woman who has navigated career changes, taken risks, reinvented herself more than once, and built a career helping others create financial confidence and security.

This month, we're slowing down and getting to know the person behind the title. The experiences, lessons, and moments that shaped her journey, and the insights she's gathered along the way.

Join us this Friday and discover another side of Louise. I have a feeling you'll leave inspired, and probably wishing you'd met her sooner.  

ASKING | Have you ever felt like you know you're capable?

You know you're qualified. You know you're doing the work. And yet somehow, it feels like you're being tested on more than just your job?

If you have felt like this, you are not the only one.

For many migrant women, there is a second, invisible test happening at work: proving that we belong.
Not just proving we can do the role, but proving we understand the culture, the unwritten rules, the humour, the communication styles, and all the things nobody puts in the position description.

If you're reading this and thinking, "I've felt that, but I've never known how to explain it," then you need to join us for our next Level Up exclusive session with Aarti Kararwal.

Drawing from her own experience rebuilding her career in Australia and two decades of leadership experience in technology and cybersecurity, Aarti will unpack the hidden cost of constantly having to prove yourself, and share practical ways to build visibility, influence, and professional authority without losing yourself in the process.

Honestly, this is one of those conversations I wish I'd had years ago.

Exclusive to PMW Level Up Full Members. Learn more

TRAINING | Have you ever talked yourself out of applying for a role, asking for a promotion, putting your hand up for a project, or reaching out to someone you'd love to learn from?

Not because you weren't capable. Because asking felt uncomfortable.

For many migrant women, self-advocacy isn't just a professional skill. It's something shaped by culture, upbringing, expectations, and all the messages we've received about being grateful, humble, and not taking up too much space.

That's why I'm excited about this masterclass with Erika Cramer.

This isn't a session about confidence hacks or positive thinking. It's about understanding what's actually stopping you from asking for what you want, and getting coached through it in real time.

You'll leave with practical tools, clearer language, and most importantly, one action you can take towards an opportunity you've been putting off.

Free for PMW Level Up members.  

SHARING | What's new?

Australia's migration program is once again at the centre of national conversations, with ongoing discussions about future migration settings and the role skilled migrants play in Australia's workforce. Business groups, community organisations, and policymakers are weighing in on proposed changes, highlighting the importance of recognising migrants' contributions to Australia's economy and society.
For migrant women, these conversations are not abstract, they directly shape opportunities, pathways, and experiences.

We'd love to hear from you: What is one thing you wish policymakers better understood about the experiences and contributions of migrant women in Australia? Let us know by responding to this email!  

DISCUSSING | As you probably know, Australia completed its 2026 Census earlier this month.

One thing that caught our attention was the effort to better capture the diversity of modern Australia, including the ability to record up to four ancestries and expanded options for gender identity.

It might seem like a small change, but at PMW we know that better data matters. When communities are counted more accurately, they become more visible. And when they become more visible, it becomes easier to identify needs, inform policy, and advocate for meaningful change.

We hope these changes lead to a richer understanding of Australia's multicultural communities and the experiences that make them unique.  

CONTINUING | The Gender Pay Gap Conversation

New Australian data continues to show significant gender pay gaps across many industries, particularly in higher-paying leadership roles. While more organisations are reporting and addressing pay disparities, there is still much work to do. It's also a timely reminder of why PMW's new research into the experiences of culturally diverse women is so important, because we can't solve problems we don't measure.  

 Community voices 

This section has a new home and a new purpose.
From this month onwards, we'll be using this space to amplify the work, stories, events, achievements, and opportunities coming directly from our community.

At PMW, we believe we all grow stronger when we share the spotlight. Whether you're celebrating a milestone, launching a project, hosting an event, publishing a resource, or simply have something valuable to share, we'd love to help spread the word.

Have something you'd like featured in a future edition of Thriving Us? Submit your content by the last week of each month using the link below.  

RESEARCHING | Migrant Women Entrepreneurs

Are you a migrant woman running a business in Australia? A University of Tasmania PhD study is seeking participants to share their experiences as migrant women entrepreneurs. If you were born overseas and have operated a business in Australia for at least three years, your insights could help inform future research and support.  

SHOWING | Saints and Sinners – A Portrait of St Kilda Exhibition

This Exhibit explores the rich cultural mythology of Melbourne's iconic bayside suburb. Bringing together a diverse group of artists inspired by the many faces of St Kilda, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the question: What does St Kilda conjure up for you?  

FINDING | Your Place in Australia

Looking to expand your network, connect with others, and reflect on your migration journey? Latin Stories Australia's Finding Your Place in Australia workshop creates a welcoming space to explore identity, belonging, resilience, and community through meaningful conversations and activities.  

AUST | MCWH | WEBINAR | Whose Health, Whose Voice? | Thursday 27 Aug 2026 | 1-2.30pm AEST

What can migrant and refugee women's experiences teach us about creating a more equitable healthcare system? This Multicultural Centre for Women's Health (MCWH) online event shares findings from new national research exploring bias and discrimination in healthcare and invites a broader conversation about inclusion, access, and systemic change.  

VIC | GOV | GRANTING | Multicultural Festivals and Events Grants | applications close 31 August 2026

Planning a community event, cultural celebration, or festival? Applications are now open for the Victorian Government's Multicultural Festivals and Events Program, with grants of up to $50,000 available for multicultural and multifaith community groups.  

 Connecting with PMW 

  • Level Up Your Career. Join a community of migrant women growing, connecting, and advancing together.
  • Subscribing. If you have been forwarded this email from a friend, you can subscribe to our newsletter
  • Contributing. Do you have recommendations, resources, or information that you think would benefit our community? Share your insights and help us create a richer, more engaging newsletter for everyone!
 

 5.5  AUST | RACS | UPDATING | Community News, and more | August 2026

In breaking news, the Government is expected to introduce "devastating" migration changes. 

Reports suggest Tony Burke is planning to announce:
  • Work restrictions and appeal limitations for humanitarian visa applicants
  • Curbing the ability of refugees to reunite with family already in Australia
  • Sweeping migration cuts

RACS's Sarah Dale had this to say:
"These reports becoming reality would have catastrophic effects on the community RACS support. Deliberately denying people agency in their own lives, stripping the right to work and leaving them with no option but to rely on charity is deliberate indignity.
Our migration program must be robust, but it also must be fair and compassionate. Focusing on people seeking asylum and those separated from their families, having their rights curtailed, is bad policy and senselessly cruel."
It has been 75 years since the signing of the Refugee Convention: a cornerstone of refugee protection and a legal document that remains as relevant as ever. Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) was founded on the fact that it’s legal to seek asylum. It was the Refugee Convention that set this fact in stone - and set out the obligations states like Australia have to protect refugees.

The first LGBTQI+ refugee has arrived in Australia through the Bridge to Safety program. This was a momentous milestone for the nation-first program, which was designed by our friends at the Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN) to help queer refugees from Asia and Southwest Asia find safety. RACS is proud to be FDPN's legal partner in this vital work. 

If you’d like to help more queer refugees reach safety in Australia, you can donate to Bridge to Safety here.

There are thousands of stateless people in Australia, living in legal limbo. Experts, including our partners at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, are calling for the introduction of a national framework. The Peter McMullin Centre's study into statelessness in Australia – the first of its kind – has just been launched.   

 What We've Been Up To 

LAUNCHING | Statelessness report

We celebrated the launch of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness's landmark report on statelessness in Australia. Rohingya artist, poet and activist Asma Ullah and RACS lawyer and head of our Stateless Children program Ahmad Sawan spoke, alongside report authors Michelle Foster, Katie Robertson and Amelia Walters.

CELEBRATING | Queer Habibi one year Ambassador anniversary 

Social media star Queer Habibi celebrates 1 year as a RACS Ambassador for the LGBTQI+ Safety program!   

SHARING | Family reunion opportunities for refugee students 

RACS lawyer Ahmad was in Melbourne to speak with newly arrived refugee students! He provided important information on how they could bring their families to join them in safety, as they start their university degrees through the Skill Path Australia program.

SHARING | A day in the life of a RACS helpline volunteer

In this blog post, intern Noah writes about his time spent on the RACS "front-end" and how it gave him a crucial insight into the importance of the services RACS provides refugees and people seeking asylum.


REVIEWING | RACS | last chance, survey closing soon

Your opinion matters to us. Please help us understand what you care about and how you prefer to be involved with RACS.   

AUBURN | RACS | TALKING | Information session for Sudanese community

RACS is running an information session on humanitarian visas and family sponsorship for the Sudanese Community on Saturday 8 August at Auburn Centre for the Community. If you know someone who would find this session helpful, let them know! Registration here. 

SURRY HILLS | RACS | TALKING | Who gets to belong? Culture, rights and a fairer Australia | Monday 21 September 2026 | arrive 5.30pm for 6.30pm-8pm AEST

Join writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law, Rohingya human rights advocate Noor Azizah, Plate It Forward founder Shaun Christie-David and Walkley award-winner Sarah Malik as they explore what belonging means in Australia today, how our understanding of identity and community is shaped, and what we really mean when we talk about Australian values.   

BLUE MOUNTAINS | RACS | TREKKING | For Refugees | Saturday 19-Sunday 20 September 2026

We're partnering with Emu Trekkers once again for a two-day hike along the Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains. Accommodation and meals, including wine tasting and lunch at a local vineyard, are included!

What is included?
  • A spectacular out and back hike along the Six Foot Track 
  • Accommodation and welcome drink at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge
  • All meals (2 x lunch, 1 x breakfast, 1 x dinner; vegetarian options available)
  • Wine tasting and lunch at a local vineyard on Day 2
  • Experienced volunteer guides
  • Proceeds go to RACS
 

 5.6  AUST | RGA | UPDATING | Community, News & more | August 2026

It's a big month at Rainbow Giving Australia (RGA) as we farewell our beloved Em, begin the search for a new CEO, review amazing grant applications, launch Rainbow Giving Circle and move toward GiveOUT Day.

NSW | ICLC | ANNOUNCING | Major win: Inner City Legal Centre to establish first statewide LGBTQIA+ legal service in NSW after report funded by Rainbow Giving grant

Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) announced they will significantly expand their offering with new government funding that will increase access to their safe and culturally-informed legal services for more LGBTQIA+ people beyond Sydney and across NSW.

Following the news, we received a touching email from ICLC which they agreed for us to share:
When the NSW Government announced the funding, one of our first thoughts was: we need to thank Rainbow Giving.

Your $60k investment in our A Blueprint for Equality report helped us make the case for what LGBTQIA+ communities need and what it actually costs to deliver it.

It's pretty incredible to think that your $60k has helped unlock more than $3.2 million for specialist LGBTQIA+ legal services in NSW. 

Thank you for backing us when this was just an idea. We genuinely don't think we would be here without you. 
We couldn't be prouder to support ICLC and can't wait to see the positive impact this vital work creates. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to invest in LGBTQIA+ communities, we’d love to hear from you.  

AUST | RGA | CALLING | Applicants for our next CEO | applications close 11.59pm AEST Wednesday 2 September 2026

We’re looking for an ambitious, collaborative and values-led leader who can help Rainbow Giving grow its funding, partnerships and impact while remaining deeply accountable to LGBTQIA+ communities.  

CALLING | Registrations of causes for GiveOUT Day 2026 | now open

It's Australia's national giving day for rainbow causes, where over 100 groups from across the sector unite to fundraise and grow support for our shared movement.

If you’re a not-for-profit with a specific focus on LGBTQIA+ communities, then GiveOUT Day is for you. 

Check your eligibility and sign up before early donations open in mid-September.   

HIGHLIGHTING | Community

AUST | WIP | COMMEMORATING | Wear It Purple Day | Friday 28 August 2026
On the last Friday in August, schools, workplaces and community members wear purple to show they proudly support LGBTQIA+ young people and stand against discrimination. 
We’re delighted to partner with Wear It Purple to deliver the Queer Futures Fund this year, and can't wait to pop on some purple later this month.
 
SYDNEY | QSFF | SCREENING | Queer Screen Film Fest | Wednesday 2–Tuesday 8 September 2026
Across seven days, the Sydney / Gadigal 13th Queer Screen Film Fest will bring together bold features, compelling documentaries and fresh shorts from Australia and abroad. The festival also includes community events and opportunities for emerging queer filmmaking talent.

BRISBANE | PHAU | GATHERING | Reflecting on marriage equality | Wednesday 9 September 2026
Almost a decade on from the “Yes” campaign, Rainbow Giving and Equality Australia will join Philanthropy Australia (PHAU) for an evening in Brisbane / Meanjin for celebration and reflection.
 
AUST | GOV | ANNOUNCING | LGBTQIA+ Health Program 2026 Grants
Good news: $18.1 million in government funding for LGBTQIA+ health services. Funding will support a new collaborative program to assist LGBTQIA+ people in finding accessible healthcare, as well as deliver grants to 18 community-led projects, including several Rainbow Giving grant partners, Sweat with Pride beneficiary ACON and some GiveOUT Day causes. 
 
VIC | RMIT | LAUNCHING | New report: Transitional justice and historical repair for LGBTQIA+ communities in Victoria
Following a landmark research initiative by RMIT in partnership with community, legal and government stakeholders, this new report explores practical pathways for truth-telling, historical redress and institutional reform for LGBTQIA+ Victorians, and contributes to a growing national conversation.
 

RELYING | On Generosity

We rely on the generosity to help us back community-led causes that change lives. Every gift strengthens the ecosystem of rainbow love, care and creativity that enriches us all.  

 5.7  AUST | THCO | UPDATING | Awareness, Funds and Support for independent media and more | August 2026

Our mission at The Conversation (THCO) is simple, so simple it can be easy to miss the scale of our ambition. 
We exist to unlock the knowledge of academic experts and make that knowledge freely available to anyone who wants to access it. That’s what we do every day when we contact academics and ask them to write articles on issues in the news. That’s what our editors do when they take a technically sophisticated journal article and rewrite it into plain English.

Those are the simple tasks of our daily work, but the ambition behind them is huge. It is nothing less than to save the world from the disastrous fracturing of trust that comes with misinformation and disinformation disseminated on an industrial scale. 

In the age of AI, this could not be more important. As The New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger pointed out in a recent speech, AI companies are consolidating their control of our data and our attention. “At the same time they are failing to embrace a core responsibility that comes with this power – to ensure that the public has access to trustworthy news and information.”

The key word here is trust. Without trusted sources, news becomes a choose-your-own-adventure. Without trust, all the wisdom and knowledge that we have accumulated over centuries of science and civilisation comes to naught, drowned out by yesterday’s misleading meme or tweet or bleat.

That’s why we value hearing how our articles are trusted by you and many in our community. Our authors tell us how their published articles have led to conversations with schools, informed local governments and NGO’s. We see their work amplified through media interviews and republished in industry publications. These may seem like small contributions, but at a time when trust is increasingly fragile, every informed conversation, every evidence-based decision is a step towards a more cohesive society and a healthier democracy. And that’s a grand ambition worth pursuing.

P.S Over the next few months editors of The Conversation will be attending events all over the country. If you can join us at one of these events, please come and say hello!
  

 Upcoming Events 

BRISBANE | TALKING | Brisbane Writers Festival | Thursday 8 October 2026 | 4.30-5.30pm

Dr Norman Swan: The Brain Cliff

Liz Minchin, Executive Editor & Business Editor, The Conversation in conversation with Dr Norman Swan  

AUST | TRANSITIONING | From Reader to Supporter

"After I first read and enjoyed The Conversation I realised the value of such informed and trustworthy communication. And, it was for free! I felt that if I donated a small amount it would not only help in some small way but signal the value of The Conversation to me and perhaps encourage you in the endeavour. " – Monthly donor, Martyn H
 

SHARING | Stories of Impact

The Conversation's mission is to amplify the work of academics so it can inform better decisions that affect our everyday lives. So it's encouraging to hear that more than 60% of our expert authors are contacted after publication - for interviews, policy advice, collaboration or public engagement. 
Please take a look at our latest Impact Report to discover some of the ways these conversations lead to real-world impact.   

ANNOUNCING | Some exciting news from us

The Mumbrella Publish Awards celebrate the best work in consumer, B2B and custom publishing across print and digital and we're delighted to be shortlisted in four categories!

Misha Ketchell has been shortlisted for Editor-in-chief and CEO Lisa Watts for Publish Leader of the Year.  And we're nominated twice for the Award for Innovation (Editorial):  for our unique model that pairs professional journalists with academics to produce evidence-based articles that help inform decision-making, and the other for our interactive story ‘How boys get sucked into the manosphere’.

Support from our donors gives us the capacity to invest in ambitious storytelling like this. Thank you for helping make this work possible.

Thank you to Friends of The Conversation.
 
With warm wishes,
Misha Ketchell, Editor

 5.8  WORLD | PWR | UPDATING | Community with News, Information and more | August 2026

OBSERVING | In Memoriam

Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR) are deeply saddened to share the passing of Rev. Dr. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM and S. Kuldeep Singh. Both were former Trustees for the Parliament of the World’s Religions and they both made an incredible impact during their lives. We grieve these great losses and extend our condolences to their family and friends. Please click the links above to read more about them.  

CELEBRATING | 2023 Anniversary

Three years ago this week, more than 8,000 people representing over 200 faith traditions responded to a call to conscience and gathered in Chicago for the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions. These people brought diverse experiences and perspectives and engaged with spiritual and political leaders from around the world. They also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Parliament’s foundational document, “Towards A Global Ethic.” Re-live the 2023 Parliament on our YouTube channel.  

MEETING | Online Monthly Prayers

Current and former members of the Board of Trustees gather each month to share prayers and reflections that are timely and necessary.

Recent themes include: mothers, the environment, hope, and interfaith awareness.  

ANNOUNCING | Upcoming Event

  • Sacred Guidance for a Planet in Crisis: A Call to Justice, Compassion, and Hope | Thursday 3 September 2026 | 2pm Central US / 5am Friday 4 September 2026 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Register
 

LAUNCHING | Trustees Corner

We are excited to announce the launch of Trustees Corner, a blog with posts written by current members of the Parliament of the World's Religions Board of Trustees. Look for new Trustees Corner posts in every newsletter.

Beauty as a Practice of Interreligious Leadership by Rev. Dr. Michael Trice, Trustee & Secretary, Parliament of the World’s Religions
In a fractured world, the work of interreligious engagement is not only about dialogue, representation, or public witness. It is also about formation: the shaping of attention, habits, relationships, and institutional norms that teach people what to expect from one another and what to believe about human dignity.

One way I have come to understand this work is through the language of beauty, an area I am writing about professionally this year. By beauty, I do not mean ornament, sentiment, or aesthetic preference. I mean something closer to a moral and spiritual condition: those patterns of life in whose presence human beings become more alive, more recognizable to one another, and more capable of inhabiting a shared world.

When Women’s Dignity Is Under Attack: Keeping Faith with Our Global Ethic and Our Declaration for the Dignity and Human Rights of Women by Phyllis W. Curott, J.D., H.Ps., Trustee, Parliament of the World’s Religions; Co-Chair, Women’s Task Force
I still remember the extraordinary enthusiasm when the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions ratified the Declaration for the Dignity and Human Rights of Women. The world’s religions spoke with one voice, affirming that “being treated justly and with respect should not depend on whether one is male or female.” We recognized that “we are all interconnected and interdependent and when half the human race suffers, we all suffer.” And we called upon the world’s religions to honor and uphold the dignity and human rights of women and girls.
 

 5.9  WORLD | WIKIPEDIA | RAISING | Awareness, Support and Funds so everyone can have equal access to knowledge

Wikimedia Foundation only exists because donors make it exist. It’s a beautiful example of what’s possible when millions work towards a common goal, despite their differences.
My name is Bernadette Meehan and I’m CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation. Thank you. Donors' generosity keeps Wikipedia strong, benefiting people all around the world.

I am truly inspired by the fact that volunteers from around the world, from all backgrounds and nationalities, choose to help us build this global encyclopedia each day. Wikipedia is now available in 326 languages and receives 5.67 edits every second!

Beyond the statistics, every edit and article reflects a human story of dedication, passion, and generosity—just like yours. Donations will help us ensure that Wikipedia can continue to grow and unite people in their pursuit of knowledge. It will help us make sure our technology remains at the highest standard to meet the needs of every reader or volunteer – whether that’s by developing new online tools or supporting Wikipedia in different languages so more people can create and access knowledge in their mother tongue.

What does donations do?
  • Sustains and improves the technology that runs Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia knowledge projects.
  • Empowers the 265,000+ volunteers, organizations, and groups who share their knowledge with the world.
  • Advances our global mission of sharing knowledge with everyone, everywhere.
Thank you again for helping us build a world where people everywhere have access to free and fair information. We couldn’t do this without you. With gratitude,
Bernadette Meehan, Chief Executive Officer
  1. CoPP | PPLS | HIGHLIGHTING | St Kilda Library glow-up
  2. CoPP | PPLS | MAKING | All your streams come true
  3. VIC | RMIT | REPORTING | Transitional justice and historical repair for LGBTQIA+ communities in Victoria
  4. AUST | OSECI | REPORTING | Islamophobia Campaign
  5. WORLD | PWR | REFLECTING | Upon America’s Independence
 

 6.1  CoPP | PPLS | HIGHLIGHTING | St Kilda Library glow-up

The recently-upgraded St Kilda library is a contemporary and versatile place to learn, create and connect. Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)'s refreshed spaces respect the library's heritage while providing a welcoming and functional environment.

Visitors will notice the new service desk, expanded reading lounges with new furniture, more power points and USB chargers, and other upgrades including better sightlines and improved circulation.   

 6.2  CoPP | PPLS | MAKING | All your streams come true

Port Phillip Library Service (PPLS)'s digital collection brings the library to you – anytime, anywhere. You can even stream movies for free with your library card, with new releases added all the time.
Here are our picks from the latest titles to land on our streaming services. Just click each title to watch! (If you're not a member of that service, sign up with your library card.)

2026's MA15+ 4 First Dates (1h 38mins) via Beamafilm

When her cousin demands she bring a date to her wedding, Zara blunders through a series of awkward first date encounters. A modern Aussie love story.

2026's NRT The Rise and Fall of The Clash Redux (1hr 36min) via Hoopla

You'll be blown away by this up-close film about iconic band The Clash, and their trajectory through rock 'n' roll history. A new edit with previously unseen footage.

2025's PG Miss Austen (3hr 27min) via Kanopy

Cassandra Austen notoriously burned her famous sister Jane's letters. This historical drama mini-series portrays a fascinating, witty and heartbreaking story of sisterly love.

 

 6.3  VIC | RMIT | REPORTING | Transitional justice and historical repair for LGBTQIA+ communities in Victoria

Following a landmark research initiative by RMIT in partnership with community, legal and government stakeholders, this new report explores practical pathways for truth-telling, historical redress and institutional reform for LGBTQIA+ Victorians, and contributes to a growing national conversation.  

 6.4  AUST | OSECI | REPORTING | Islamophobia Campaign

The Office of Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia (OSECI) has launched the Report Islamophobia campaign to encourage Australians to recognise, report and respond to incidents of Islamophobia.

Reporting incidents helps build a better understanding of anti-Muslim hate, supports those affected, and contributes to safer, more inclusive communities. The campaign also encourages bystanders to report incidents they witness and stand in solidarity with those affected.

For more information and reporting resources, please visit the Office of the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia website.  

 6.5  WORLD | PWR | REFLECTING | Upon America’s Independence

In 1976, I was just a four-year-old kid in Delhi, glued to our family’s small black-and-white television. 
I remember being completely mesmerized by the grainy, flickering images of the American Bicentennial fireworks. Growing up in India, a country deeply shaped by our own monumental struggle for independence, freedom wasn't just an abstract concept – it was the very air we breathed. To my young eyes, those distant flashes of light on a static screen felt like a universal celebration of human liberty that connected us all.

On 4 July 2026, America marked its 250th anniversary. That childhood memory feels more meaningful than ever. Serving as the Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, I see how beautifully our global stories intertwine. The freedom we celebrate today isn't isolated; it is a shared human journey.

We see this truth so clearly in the profound connection between Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Gandhi's philosophy of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha – soul force born from Indian spirituality – traveled across oceans to fuel Dr. King’s fight for civil rights in America. They showed the world that true freedom is inherently spiritual, and that our diverse faiths should move us to love and justice, never division.

The American experiment started 250 years ago with a bold commitment to religious liberty. Just like India’s rich spiritual landscape, it proved that a tapestry of different faiths can flourish together. On this Semiquincentennial, let's celebrate by recommitting to deep, mutual respect.

Jai Jinendra. May peace, harmony, and understanding guide our interconnected world.

Best regards,
Nitin Ajmera, Chair, Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR)

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 7. SUPPORTING 

  1. AUST | MANY | Helpers and Reliable Sources Along the Way
  2. AUST | MULTI | Supporting Voices, Treaty and Meaningful Reconciliation with First Peoples, Settlers, and Those Who Come After
  3. VIC | GOV | UPDATING | Coronavirus Response
  4. AUST | MULTI | UPDATING | Coronavirus Response

 

 7.1  AUST | MANY | Helpers and Reliable Sources Along the Way

  1. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
  2. Ageism
  3. Asylum Seeking & Refugees
  4. Climate, Environment & Emergency
  5. Committee Training
  6. Community, Connection & Belonging
  7. Difability & Disability
  8. Employment
  9. Family & Neighbourhood Violence
  10. Health, Sickness & Wellbeing
  11. Kids, Youth, Parenting & Education
  12. LGBTIQA+
  13. Men
  14. Migrant
  15. Racism & Hate Speech
  16. Women

 7.1.1  Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

  • BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation (BLAQ) – National service provider and NSW State Peak Organisation supporting and representing community living with the intersection of a Cultural life and LGBTQ+SB identity.
  • Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation school teaches Aboriginal kids in their own language started in 2022 with just 15 students and this year they already have 74 enrolments plus a waiting list!
  • Call It Out: A First Nations Racism Register App – University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, in partnership with the National Justice Project, are proud to announce the launch of the Call It Out App, a ground-breaking platform aimed at documenting and addressing racism against First Nations Peoples in communities across Australia. Download on Apple and Android now to report racism anytime, anywhere. 
  • From the Heart (FTH) views a Voice to Parliament as a body enshrined in the Constitution would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives.
  • The Healing Foundation (THF) – a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation providing a platform to amplify voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families.
  • Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) Book Supply – creating and translating books with the collective storytelling of First Nations authors, illustrators and Elders
  • Koorie Women Mean Business
  • Mungo Explorer – online learning platform by Cultural Infusion (CUIN). An inquiry based resource aligned with the Australian curriculum and covers Year 4 First Contact and Year 7 Ancient History. Allowing teachers to share Indigenous perspectives, historical and scientific thinking to teach students about the remarkable story of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady.
  • National Justice Project (NJP)
  • Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program (PNABCP) – Canberra not-for-profit group helping make life easier for people in need. As part of its many programs, it helps provide free birth certificates and registrations for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community
  • Reconciliation Victoria – promoting reconciliation across Victoria, promoting deeper understanding, respect and justice for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
  • The Torch Project (TORCH) provides art, cultural and arts industry support to First Nations people currently in, or recently released, from Victorian prisons.

     7.1.2  Ageism

     7.1.3  Asylum Seeking & Refugees

    • Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) – independent not for profit supporting and empowering over 7,000 people seeking asylum each year to maximise their physical, mental and social wellbeing. As a movement we mobilise and unites communities to creating social and policy change for people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia.
    • Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) – providing food, housing, English classes, employment assistance, legal and medical support, and donations of money.
    • City of Whittlesea (CoW) – offering a 12-week placement program for newly arrived non-student migrants and refugees. Learn more and apply
    • Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) – a nonprofit providing trauma-informed legal help to refugees and people seeking asylum of all nationalities, religions and gender identities
    • Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) – Witness to War hotline is a confidential service available across Australia to support individuals and communities affected by overseas conflicts.
      • Service Hours: Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) | 9am–8pm (AEST/AEDT)
      • Telephone: Free Call 1800 845 198

     7.1.4  Climate, Environment & Emergency

       7.1.5  Committee Training

      A series of free educational volunteer training videos designed to educate and empower nonprofit organisations. 
      These engaging Cardinia Shire Council resources are available thanks to the Non Profit Training and provide essential skills and knowledge, helping volunteers and committees maximise their impact and enhance their contributions to the community. 

      Grant Writing
      Conflict of Interest
      Financial Records and Reports
      Running Successful Meetings
      Contractor Management
      Managing Difficult Conversations
      Governance
      Risk ManagementFor more information

         7.1.6  Community, Connection & Belonging

           7.1.7  Difability & Disability

             7.1.8  Employment

               7.1.9  Family & Neighbourhood Violence

                 7.1.10  Health, Sickness & Wellbeing

                   7.1.11  Kids, Youth, Parenting & Education

                  • Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the main way the Australian Government is helping families with the cost of early childhood education and care. For translated materials
                  • Couch International Student Centre is a safe and free lounge space in Melbourne for international students to socialise, relax, study, and seek assistance
                  • Courage to Care Victoria (CTCV) has launched a set of six digital ‘How to be an Upstander’ lesson plans for years 9&10, complementing their existing face to face Upstander Programs. Find more here
                  • Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 – for kids, teens and young adults
                  • Little Dreamers (LIDR) is Australia’s leading Young Carer organisation, supporting young people who provide unpaid care for a family member affected by disability, chronic or mental illness, addiction or frail age. Watch 3 min video
                  • Middle Years and Youth Services (MYYS) are now offering a platform for local City of Port Phillip businesses or organisations to advertise job opportunities that would suit young people. The jobs appear regularly on the Port Phillip Youth Instagram page.
                  • Parentline – 13 22 89 – for parents and carers
                  • Parenting courses by Relationships Victoria (REVI) offers free 6 to 12 week courses for parents to learn better ways to connect with their children and family in a culturally sensitive way.
                  • Raising Children Network – Translated parenting resources
                  • Red Earth (REEA)'s School Immersions are all-inclusive, comprehensive programs designed to open the hearts and minds of students to the beauty and realities of life in remote Indigenous Australia. Find out more
                  • Refugee Council of Australia (RCA) – Face-to-Face program involves presentations to students from a speaker with a refugee background. Learn more
                  • Study Melbourne (STME)  has many free or low cost events for international students who are studying and living in Victoria. Find student events near you
                  • Smile Squad – school dental program is helping thousands of families save up to $400 per child per year by providing free, high-quality dental care at government schools across Victoria.
                  • Teachers are the foundation of Victoria’s future, and as classrooms across the state become more diverse, there is a growing need for passionate teachers who reflect the communities they serve.
                  • Under 16 social media ban – A new nation-wide law by The Australian Government (GOV) requires social media users to be 16 or older.
                  • Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) online community VMConnect is home to a dedicated Group for multicultural young people living in Victoria
                  • WHISE, in collaboration with the Promoting Respect and Equity Together (PRET) Regional Partnership. Teaching children about respect and gender equality is crucial for their personal and social development. It equips them with essential life skills, fosters positive relationships, and contributes to a more compassionate and harmonious society. Download Colouring Sheets
                  • Youth and Family Support Network (YFSN) delivering activities and initiatives that empower local African-Australian communities to tackle racism and support social cohesion. Watch video (2 mins)
                  • YouthNav - helping young Victorians understand, plan for and succeed in skills like getting a job, moving out of home, getting around, having their say and managing money.

                     7.1.12  LGBTIQA+


                       7.1.13  Men

                      • The following crisis and counselling services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:1800RESPECT – Call 1800 737 732 or visit website
                      • Lifeline: 13 11 14 or visit website - Counselling, information and referrals for personal crisis
                      • Mensline: 1300 789 978  or visit website - 24/7 Support for men
                      • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or visit website - Advice and support for depression and anxiety.
                      • Headspace: 1800 650 890 or visit website - National youth mental health foundation, chat, email or speak with a qualified professional.
                      • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 - Counselling for anyone suicidal or affected by suicide
                      • Tomorrow Man visit website - Australian social enterprise committed to redefining masculinity and improving men’s mental health.
                      • When No One’s Watching (WNOW) – not-for-profit organisation working to improve men’s health through connection, mateship and community. Learn More in City of Port Phillip

                         7.1.14  Migrant

                           7.1.15  Racism & Hate Speech

                             7.1.16  Women


                             7.2  AUST | MULTI | Supporting Voices, Treaty and Meaningful Reconciliation with First Peoples, Settlers, and Those Who Come After


                            AUST | GOV | OFFERING | Resources and Translations on The Voice and Referendum 2023

                            Australian Government                             in late 2023 held a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
                            The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body. It would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

                            Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for members of the Voice to be chosen by First Nations peoples based on the wishes of local communities.


                              AUST | AICR | ENCOURAGING | YES23. Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a Voice 
                              Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR) asks all to consider voting Yes. It’s time to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a Voice.

                              What is the 2023 Referendum?
                              This vote will give all Australians the chance to come together and consider a change to our constitution that will honour and celebrate the rights, history, and ongoing relationship of Indigenous Australians with this land. It’s a rare chance to make a major positive impact now and for future generations.

                              Australia has been considering constitutional recognition for more than 15 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have asked that the form of recognition come through a Voice to Parliament, which will give advice on laws and policies that affect Indigenous people. 

                              This is what the Australian people are now being asked to decide: Should we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in The Constitution, with a Voice? 

                              A Voice will provide advice to the Federal Parliament about laws and policies, through a consultative policy making process that delivers meaningful structural change.

                              Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know and understand the best way to deliver real and practical change in their communities. When they have a say through a Voice, we can finally start to close the gap that still exists between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians on practical issues like life expectancy, educational outcomes, and employment. 

                              This is why a “Yes” result is important.

                                AUST | LWB | TRANSLATING | Resources in 45+ community languages on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
                                To encourage participation in the Referendum for all Australians, Polaron Language Services with Life Without Barriers (LWB) and several partner organisations have developed accessible translated resources in more than 45 languages.

                                These are free to download and aim to break down language, literacy and communication barriers among Australia’s diverse communities. This includes:

                                  AUST | REAU | EXPLAINING | Voice to Parliament and Referendum 2023
                                  Reconciliation Australia (REAU) advises First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution is a key element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
                                  The Bill to enable the referendum became law in mid-June, but we are waiting for the referendum date to be announced.

                                  The referendum question contained in the Bill is:

                                  A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

                                  What is a referendum

                                  Find out more at Australian Electoral Commission.

                                  Or click the following Reconciliation Australia links that interest you: 

                                  Why do we need a First Nations Voice?

                                  A Voice to Parliament will give Indigenous communities a route to help inform policy and legal decisions that impact their lives. Giving people a say will lead to more effective results.

                                  Embedding a Voice in the Constitution would recognise the special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s history, but importantly would also mean that it can’t be shut down by successive Governments.

                                  This is important because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and bodies have called for voice for close to 100 years. 


                                    AUST | RJfV | ISSUING | An Open Letter to the Australian Public: The Voice to Parliament would enhance Australian governance 
                                    We are individuals representing no political party or political interest. We speak, rather, as retired judges (RJfV) who spent our professional lives listening to, and seeking to evaluate, contending arguments.

                                    We have since considered carefully both the case for, and the case against, the proposed Voice to Parliament. Having done so, we confidently believe that, by raising the quality of our public debate, the proposed Voice will both enrich our democracy and increase the likelihood of governments making correct decisions about matters that affect Indigenous peoples. It will also, and very importantly, give Indigenous Australians their due recognition in our Constitution as this nation’s first peoples.  

                                    Democracies are at their best when decisions are made after informed and respectful debate to which all may contribute. Life being what it is, the rich and the powerful have and will retain that privilege to a greater degree than most. Some, among them Australia’s First Nations peoples, have continually battled to be heard at all.

                                    If successful, the referendum on the Voice will not diminish the influence of anyone. But it will help to correct an historic wrong. It will give recognition, and a voice, to those who for thousands of years owned and lived in balance with this land, only to have their rights to it disregarded during the centuries which have followed settlement from other lands. No consideration was given to the deep connections with country which the original inhabitants have incorporated into their very being; and the newcomers who now occupy their land listened, if they listened at all, with none of the empathy to which everyone should be entitled.

                                    Constitutional recognition of the Voice in a successful referendum will acknowledge these facts, and do much to rectify a long-existing injustice. It will not, in our opinion, divide our nation. On the contrary, it will heal a wound which presently divides us. Nor will it disrupt government or destabilise the presently stable and appropriate division of power between the parliament, the executive and the judiciary.

                                    The possibility of disruption and instability is a concern which nevertheless deserves respect (although not when it descends to ridiculous fears such as that Anzac Day will be ‘cancelled’). It is also reasonable to have doubts about the detail of the arrangements which will follow a successful referendum. We nevertheless firmly believe that these are not reasons for voting ‘No’. First, Australia can draw upon its wealth of common sense and its capacity for sensible compromise. The Voice will not waste its time, energy, finances or goodwill with silly claims that have no chance of political or judicial support. And secondly, detailed arrangements must allow for a degree of flexibility which is impossible if incorporated into a less than flexible constitution. The details are properly to be determined by the parliament of the day according to the changing circumstances of the day.

                                    Advocates for the ‘No’ case point to the proposed amendment’s inclusion of a power in the parliament to make laws with respect to the powers of the Voice. The referendum if passed does not confer powers on parliament that it does not already have to pass such laws. We believe that the likelihood of parliament acting inappropriately in this respect is small. In our opinion it fails to justify a ‘No’ vote.  

                                    Advocates for a ‘No’ vote also claim that the Voice is a creature of Canberra. That is untrue. The call for the Voice was made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which is the product of the widest survey of the views of First Nations peoples ever undertaken and which is a deeply respectful call “from all points of the Southern Sky”. 

                                    It includes an invitation to all Australians to create a better future. We think this invitation should be accepted.

                                    Signed:
                                    • The Hon Mary Gaudron KC, Former Judge of the High Court of Australia
                                    • The Hon Carmel McLure AC KC, Former President of the Supreme Court of Western Australia Court of Appeal
                                    • The Hon Stephen Charles AO KC, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal
                                    • The Hon David Harper AM KC, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal
                                    • The Hon Robert Redlich AM KC, Former Commissioner of the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), former Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal
                                    • The Hon Paul Stein AM KC, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW Court of Appeal, former President of the Anti-Discrimination Board
                                    • The Hon Anthony Whealy KC, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW Court of Appeal
                                    • The Hon Margaret White AO, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland Court of Appeal
                                    Thank-you for reading the open letter supporting the Voice. Please forward this letter to anyone you think would be interested to read it.


                                      AUST | TLW | CALLING | Those Interested to Lace Up Your Shoes and Come Walk with Michael Long in support of the "Yes" campaign 
                                      The Long Walk (TLW)'s Michael Long is once again setting off from Melbourne to Canberra in support of the "Yes" campaign.
                                      Michael Long is one of the most recognisable Aboriginal figures in AFL football. He played for the Essendon Football Club between 1989 and 2001, was a member of two premiership sides and the winner of the 1993 Norm Smith Medal.

                                      Michael championed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cause within the AFL. In 1995, Michael made a stand against racial abuse, following an on-field incident with another player, asserting that racism had no place in sport.

                                      Ultimately this lead to Michael being one of the pioneering forces behind the racial abuse code that was adopted by the AFL in the 1990s. Michael retired from football in 2001.
                                      "Lace Up Your Shoes and Come Walk with Me. We walked in 2004 for a Voice and a Vision.
                                      This year I have decided to bring forward my 20th Anniversary Long Walk to support the campaign for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament."
                                      Walk with Michael Long in support of the "Yes" campaign on one or more legs of the walk from Melbourne to Canberra.

                                          AUST | WRITERS | ENDORSING | The Voice as a major reform leading to better outcomes for First Nations Peoples
                                          It’s only fair.                                           Writers for The Voice (WRITERS) accept the generous, modest invitation of First Nations Peoples in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to walk with them towards a better Australia. 

                                          We support their call for recognition via a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament because we believe passionately that this major reform, the product of broad grassroots consultation and supported by the great majority of First Nations Peoples, will lead to better outcomes for First Nations Peoples.

                                            AUST | GiveOUT | SUPPORTING | Proudly for a First Nations Voice to Parliament
                                            The GiveOUT Team (GiveOUT)                                             supports Australia saying YES in the Referendum for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice
                                            LGBTQIA+ people understand the significance of a public vote about their lives, and the importance of allies in advocating for change. It is time for the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Australian people as a whole, to stand in solidarity with our First Nations communities, including our Brotherboys, Sistergirls and other LGBTQIA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

                                            At GiveOUT, we know that there is no substitute for the wisdom of lived experience when it comes to designing policies and programs.
                                            “As an organisation that exists to address systemic disadvantage, and provide impacted communities the resources they need to drive their own solutions, GiveOUT fully supports this much needed reform to ensure First Nations people are recognised in the constitution and are given a voice on the issues and interventions that impact them.” – Georgia Mathews, Chair of GiveOUT
                                            Polls have demonstrated that over 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people support a Voice to Parliament*. We call upon our LGBTQIA+ friends and allies to join this historic movement and vote ‘YES’ in the Referendum. We must take this important step toward a fairer future for this country. 

                                            You can show your support by: *Source: https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2023/06/ten-questions-about-the-voice-to-parliament---answered-by-the-ex 


                                              VIC | ECCV | ADVOCATING | Victorian Multicultural Voices for ‘Yes’ campaign
                                              The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV) joins forces with Yes23 and the Multicultural Australia for Voice alliance for Victorian Multicultural Voices for ‘Yes’.

                                              Harnessing the power of multicultural communities to raise awareness about why the recognition of our First Nations People in the Constitution is important and how voting ‘Yes’ will achieve that.

                                              Multicultural and multifaith leaders, along with First Nations Elders, attended the launch, with guest speakers Aunty Esme Bamblett, CEO of the Aboriginal Advancement League and a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Colin Brooks, and the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams.

                                              Victorian Multicultural Voices for ‘Yes’ will be organising community town hall forums and community workshops in the lead-up to the referendum. These engagements aim to empower and equip multicultural communities with how to have conversations about the referendum and why it matters.

                                              ECCV Members will be hosting their own community forums to inform members of their communities about why voting ‘YES’ matters, including the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Greek Community of Melbourne.

                                              The launch follows the success of a national multicultural town hall forum at Springvale City Hall with Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, which was attended by more than 700 people in August 2023.

                                              The ECCV is the peak body for multicultural Victoria, with over 220 organisational members.

                                                VIC | VWT | ENGAGING | Listen and learn together through kitchen conversations. It’s time to say yes 
                                                Together, Yes is a kitchen conversations movement by Victorian Women’s Trust (VWT) in support of a YES vote in the 2023 referendum on a First Nations Voice to parliament. It’s a powerful way you can participate in the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in our constitution.
                                                In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future. – Uluru Statement from the Heart, May 2017
                                                By voting YES in the referendum, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will finally have a say on the policies and laws that affect their communities.

                                                But voting ‘yes’ isn’t enough. We need to unite to ensure it’s a resounding YES from every corner of the country.

                                                Is Together, Yes working with First Nations people?
                                                Yes. The Victorian Women’s Trust (creator of Together, Yes) have been working in partnership with Koorie Women Mean Business for more than 30 years, which has guided much of our work since.

                                                Since October 2022 we have been in close collaboration with indigenous-led campaigners to ensure Together, Yes helps achieve a positive referendum outcome.

                                                Together, Yes uses ‘kitchen table conversations’, a model designed by the Victorian Women’s Trust more than twenty years ago. Tried and tested, it arose from a powerfully simple idea: engaging people in respectful and honest dialogue creates real and lasting change.

                                                This civic engagement model is built on a set of important values. People are encouraged to:
                                                1. Help create a safe place for thinking, talking and taking action
                                                2. Acknowledge the experience and wisdom each person brings to the table
                                                3. Enter discussions in good faith with an open, constructive spirit
                                                4. Engage in respectful discussion, even in the face of dissent
                                                5. Be prepared to listen, gain new insight, and test one’s own opinions

                                                Together, Yes invites people from all walks of life to gather in small group discussions and engage in an honest reckoning of the harm and injustice of our colonial past; Australia’s history of constitutional indifference; and how a Voice to parliament can make a difference.

                                                  VIC | VTMH | DEMONSTRATING | Solidarity In Context to the Referendum
                                                  At an important moment in history, Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) supports the national vote adding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (The Voice) to the Australian Constitution.

                                                  VTMH aligns with the principles of unity and understanding promoted by Reconciliation Australia, and we also endorse the stance taken by St Vincent's Health Australia on this matter.

                                                  VTMH sees this as a big chance to bring people together and make things better. We know that health and wellness are connected to making things right between different groups of people in Australia. VTMH thinks this vote can make real changes and respect the different viewpoints of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

                                                    AUST | GEIFN | HOW | To Accept No: Contest of Binaries | Sunday 15 October 2023
                                                    With any adversarial system where only 2 options (aka binary) are offered, part of informed consent is accepting that for every winner there has to be non-winners.
                                                    Binaries (this OR that) is Absolutism. It takes time for people to realise that there are no lasting Absolutes.

                                                    To explore further, every thing with a beginning has also got within the seeds of its end. As daybreak begins it has ended night. As night begins it ends daylight. But when we understand fully we understand that the sun is always shining, it is just our personal vantage point that moved while individually we might be standing still. The spherical planet we all call home is spinning on its own axis as it revolves around the sun. It is only the side facing the sun that gets the sun at any given time. The half in darkness hasn't lost, it is just waiting again for its time in the sun. So dark does not exist without light.
                                                    "To be or not to be – that is the question." – William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet and actor (1564-1616 CE)

                                                    And when that gets easy, consider "To be AND not to be – that is the answer."

                                                    Accepting No majority means you're ready to continue the national conversation reconciling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' (aka First Nations') existence with Colonialism and those who come after. A No majority result is an acknowledgment that this conversation has now began in earnest. And also being just another day in a functioning civil democracy finding its way, steady as we go, full steam ahead.

                                                    When this proposition gets easier to understand, the opportunities for an outcome that benefits everyone becomes self realising. So if not now, then take comfort in the old wise saying "a journey of a 1,000 steps begins with the first but made realisable with the 2nd and subsequent."


                                                      AUST | GEIFN | WHY | To Accept No: Contest of Timing | Monday 16 October 2023
                                                      With big gains come the potential for big setbacks, obstacles and arguments. With practice, patience and perseverance, wisdom, compassion and non-selfish generosity always prevails.
                                                      "Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life's light to be determined by the darkness around me."
                                                      Sojourner Truth, American abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, women's rights, and alcohol temperance (died 1883 CE)

                                                      A No majority doesn't mean "never" it just means "not now". For 235 years there has only been 1 resounding No: Terra nullius (nobody's land). Countering this false fact, has now formally recognised a resounding 40% yes to preexistence, a marked improvement from its 0% starting position. Meaning Australia is now ready to begin a conversation reconciling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' (aka First Nations') existence with Colonialism and those who come after. 

                                                      A No majority result is an acknowledgment that this conversation has now began in earnest. While also being just another day in a functioning civil democracy finding its way, steady as we go, full steam ahead.

                                                      When this proposition gets easier to understand, the opportunities for an outcome that benefits a greater number until including all becomes self realising. So if not now, then take comfort in the old wise saying "a journey of a 1,000 steps begins with the first but made realisable with the 2nd and subsequent."


                                                        AUST | GEIFN | WHEN | To Accept No: Contest of Terra nullius | Tuesday 17 October 2023 and beyond
                                                        Terra nullius is a                                                         Latin expression meaning "nobody's land".  It was a principle sometimes used in international law to justify claims that territory may be acquired by a state's occupation of it. Denying the existence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' existence by the British gave the British permission to land, stay and colonise.

                                                        Reconciling this falsehood in Australia's birth began 265 years ago and continues in our minds, hearts and actions. As testimony to this, the Australia today was unimaginable to our forebears. If we accept what we do today influences the future, it is also how brighter futures for a greater benefit is made possible – the real work being undertaken in the majority of ordinary days between the extra-ordinary milestones.
                                                        "I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams" – Maxine Beneba Clarke, Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent (1979- CE)

                                                        Accepting No majority means you're ready to continue the national conversation reconciling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' (aka First Nations') existence with British Colonialism and those who come after. A No majority result is an acknowledgment that this Australian conversation has now began in earnest. Celebrate just another day in a functioning civil democracy finding its way, steady as we go, full steam ahead.

                                                        When this proposition gets easier to understand, the opportunities for an outcome that benefits everyone becomes self realising. So if not now, then make comfort by applying the old wise saying "Conquer anger through gentleness, unkindness through kindness, greed through generosity, and falsehood by truth."

                                                         

                                                        AUST | VTMH | OFFERING | Reflections following the Referendum

                                                        Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) has taken some time following the Voice Referendum to reflect and attempt to find words to express our disappointment regarding this outcome. 
                                                        We deeply acknowledge the courage and generosity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and leaders who extended this invitation to the Australian community to walk together in this journey for learning and healing together.

                                                        In the weeks since the referendum we have reflected on the impacts that colonisation has had in shaping practices in the mental health sector, including our service, and the continued challenges faced in providing culturally responsive care given the history of these lands.

                                                        VTMH deeply admires the strength and resilience of First Nations communities across the country. We commit to rising strong, leaning in, and to finding ways to honour our commitment to learning and healing together.

                                                        We encourage teams and individuals in all sectors to continue joining collective efforts to support a more culturally safe and humanistic system and society. 

                                                        To learn more about what is happening in Victoria towards truth, treaty and voice, we encourage you to visit the links below: 
                                                         

                                                        CoPP | PPCR | STRIVING | Towards Meaningful Reconciliation

                                                        Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation (PPCR) is a voluntary, not for profit community group. 
                                                        It began in 1997 at a public meeting, at St Kilda Town Hall, convened by Jacki Willox and attended by hundreds of people, including politicians, councillors, indigenous musicians and general public.

                                                        Objectives
                                                        • To maintain local awareness of the reconciliation agenda, recognising that information, understanding and community discussion are integral to the process.
                                                        • promoting an understanding of the history of Aboriginal people, particularly in our local area.
                                                        Mungo, our monthly newsletter, continues to be a good news source for events, circulating annually to over 3,500 as well as members of other networks.

                                                          AUST | CHGR | BUILDING | First Nations kids learning and loving to learn. Their families walking beside. Seeing hope for the future

                                                          Children's Ground Limited (CHGR) introduces you to our ongoing bold vision for change – a future in which every First Nations child can experience a lifetime of opportunity, entering adulthood strong in their identity and culture, connected to their local and global world, and economically independent.

                                                          Children’s Ground vision includes:
                                                          • First Nations people across Australia having self-determination and enjoying social, cultural, political and economic justice.
                                                          • First Nations' next generation of children knowing and celebrating their culture and identity, having freedom of choice and expression and living with opportunity, peace, harmony and wellbeing.
                                                          • Australians recognising our shared history and celebrating First Nations' culture and strength.

                                                            AUST | YSS | EDUCATING | Aboriginal Pedagogy, Social Justice and Self-Determination

                                                            Yarn Strong Sista (YSS) has over 20 years of experience and excellence in Aboriginal pedagogy, social justice and self-determination.


                                                            YSS is a National Indigenous Educational Consultancy and Training Provider. Indigenous owned and run specialising in Aboriginal Pedagogy, providing authentic Aboriginal training for early childhood professionals, primary school teachers and corporate teams.

                                                            YSS are specialists with offering a range of services including:
                                                            • visits to Early Childhood environments to facilitate storytelling and arts workshops with children, 
                                                            • hosting Professional Development training for Educators
                                                            • facilitating arts experiences and face-painting at festivals and events, and 
                                                            • providing First Nations-designed resources and educational tools on our website.
                                                            Working beyond Early Years, customising our programs to meet the curriculum needs of Primary and Secondary students, and work in community contexts supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Resources include: Artefacts, Dolls, Children’s Music, Children’s Books, Games, Felt Hand and Finger Puppets, Felt Mats for Storytelling, Puzzles, and Teachers Resource Guides.

                                                            Other projects include:
                                                            • Foregrounding Anti Bias Perspectives
                                                            • Yarn Strong Brutha
                                                            • Enterprise for Empowerment.
                                                            Providing relevant resources and books that assist parents, teachers and organisations to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal Ways of Being. All our resources are ethically made and sourced, in collaboration with Indigenous artists and Fair-Trade partners.

                                                              AUST | EVCO | BUILDING | Stronger, more inclusive organisation through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence Training Programs

                                                              Be part of the big 10 year goal to inspire 10 million Allies to create a kinder, more inclusive Australia.

                                                              Build a stronger, more inclusive organisation through Evolve Communities Pty Ltd (EVCO)'s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence Training Programs.

                                                              When it comes to cultural awareness training, there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution for education, reconciliation and allyship training. 

                                                              That’s why Evolve Communities offer different training courses and programs to suit any team’s size or style and let you choose the cultural competency training that is the best fit for your business including:
                                                              • 7 Steps Online Course
                                                              • Yarning Circle Workshops
                                                              • Ally Accreditation
                                                              Evolve Communities is a NSW-based Trusted Authority for Australian Indigenous cultural awareness, ally & facilitator training.

                                                                MELB | NGVA | EXHIBITING | Wurrdha Marra – Many Mobs

                                                                Welcome to Wurrdha Marra – meaning ‘Many Mobs’ in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language. 
                                                                The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (NGVA) is a home to Australian art, presenting First Nations and non-First Nations art from historical to present day. The name comes from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, supporting the purpose of this space in sharing the work of First Nations artists, from emerging to senior figures, and across time and place. 

                                                                For First Nations peoples around the world, art and design are part of a continuum where the past intersects with the present, different materials converge, and diverse perspectives come together. The central role of art in passing down important cultural knowledge is celebrated in this display through the diverse approaches that artists take to maintaining and regenerating customary cultural practices and iconography while also creating new forms of expression.

                                                                Wurrdha Marra is a dynamic exhibition space in which familiar works from the NGV’s collection of First Nations Australian art and design are displayed alongside new acquisitions. Presented through a series of changing thematics, the works on display offers a series of visual dialogues as a way to explore how parallel innovations and continuities can continue to inspire new ways of thinking about art.

                                                                The works included in this inaugural hang are by emerging artists as well as senior figures across both time and place. Each of these artists has in their own way been at the forefront in creating new forms of expression, and in maintaining and regenerating customary cultural practices and iconography. Great individual artists, working in Aboriginal-owned art centres or independently after studying at art school, continue to shape and transform art in Australia, inspiring many others to follow their example.
                                                                • Read More
                                                                • Where: NGV Australia (NGVA), The Ian Potter Centre, Fed Square, Melbourne
                                                                • Cost: Free entry
                                                                • Bookings: no booking required. Now showing 10am–5pm daily


                                                                   7.3  VIC | GOV | UPDATING | Coronavirus Response

                                                                  Stay up to date on the latest health advice and please consider both the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations if eligible. If you need access to food or financial relief, there is information available for how to get this support.

                                                                  UPDATING | COVID safe and vaccination information to support CALD people with disability

                                                                  The COVID safe and vaccination information to support CALD people with disability translated fact sheets are now obsolete and will not be updated or maintained.

                                                                  The following links are currently being used to promote COVID-19 resources in language (via the translations icon): 

                                                                  Free RATS Now Available to everyone through your local council

                                                                  The Victorian Government has now made Rapid Antigen tests free and available at more than 200 local council distribution sites such as libraries and council customer service centres. The program is open to all Victorians, with all eligibility requirements removed.

                                                                  Individuals can collect up to two packets for themselves plus up to two packets for each household member per visit. People with a disability or their carer can collect up to four packets of tests.
                                                                  To learn in other ways about Victoria's responses:

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                                                                   7.4  AUST | MULTI | UPDATING | Coronavirus Response

                                                                  • Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned, call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 (24 Hours).
                                                                  • Coronavirus in-language information
                                                                  • If you are an NDIS participant you can also call the national hotline on 1800 020 080.
                                                                  • Information and referrals for people with disability and their supporters about Coronavirus: Contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 634 787. 
                                                                  • If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
                                                                  • Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
                                                                  • Testing locations: Find a testing location near you.
                                                                  • Call-to-Test-at-Home service, providing in-home coronavirus testing to Victorians who would otherwise be unable to get tested, call the DHHS Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
                                                                  • Triple Zero: Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.

                                                                  Other Resources

                                                                     8. ACKNOWLEDGING 

                                                                      1. Acknowledgment to Sources
                                                                      2. Bye bye to Essentialists
                                                                      3. Self-Isolators, Non-Essentials and the Homebound
                                                                       

                                                                       8.1  Acknowledgment to Sources

                                                                      This is a consolidated account of information current at time of issuance, sourced, collated and provided by Victorian Multicultural Commission, Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria, various Government Authorities, community organisations, public domain and individuals, received with gratitude.

                                                                       8.2  Bye bye to Essentialists

                                                                      Us non-essentialists will endeavour to manage our expection of miracles and do our best to follow rules while staying out of the way. 

                                                                      Contact your closest friendly non-essentialist if you need anything that can be done remotely. Bye bye to Essentialists for now, please leave to attend to the essential work. That is all from the Caretaker at this time.

                                                                       8.3  Self-Isolators, Non-Essentials and the Homebound

                                                                      Meanwhile, if with a surplus of time, this is offered. Discuss with sincerity. Deny untruth. Dismiss unuseful. Accept useful. Adapt to change. Adopt least effort most benefit. Adept with sharing. Enjoy throughout. As each case may be. Round about. And again. Or not.

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