On Wednesday morning Arnold will be on Jon Faine’s morning show debating multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism and his experiences in cross-cultural projects and writing workshops for asylum seekers, refugees, immigrants and other groups.

ECCV Deputy Chairperson Eddie Micallef trusts Arnold will make this Wednesday’s Walter Lippmann Memorial lecture one to be remembered. 

“Arnold will surely take us through an exciting journey in time unveiling the multicultural shades of Melbourne in his lecture “The making of a great cosmopolitan city”.

An Australia that has moved from ‘assimilation’ towards ‘integration’, that wants to recognize and celebrate its first people and strike the right balance in its newly found love for multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism. 

The Walter Lippmann Memorial Lecture honours the memory of ECCV founding father Walter Lippmann who in 1974 helped set up ECCV.

The first organisation of its kind at the time, an umbrella group uniting migrant, ethnic, refugee and multicultural groups, led by migrants themselves.

“He was a vigorous campaigner for the rights of community groups at the grassroots level, he advocated for them to be given a fair go on the issues that affected their lives,” stresses ECCV deputy chairperson Eddie Micallef.

Walter Lippmann’s founding vision still continues today at the ECCV.  “We honour his work by encouraging the community to understand the tremendous contributions migrants and refugees have made to Australia”, says Mr Micallef.

“We believe that a successful multicultural society only works if each individual can see themselves reflected in all parts of our society – in the media, in government, in the community, in schools, in education, in services and importantly,  in leadership, ” says Mr. Micallef.

The Walter Lippmann Lecture will be held at the Wheeler Centre this Wednesday, 19 June, from 6.15-7.00pm followed by Q&A.

This event is sold out so if you haven’t booked a ticket but want to contribute feel free to join the debate via twitter, the hash tag on the night will be #wlmelb.   

For more information on this event contact Catia Nunes, Community Engagement Officer (03) 9349 4122 or 0447 650 778.

Australian researchers estimate that 2 to 7% of older persons (over 65 years old) in the community experience mistreatment.

 “When we speak of elder abuse we are not just talking of physical abuse but neglecting an elder person who needs care, threatening or forcing an older person to move to a nursing home and not including an elderly person in decisions about his or her future. All are abusive attitudes and actions,” alerts ECCV deputy Chairperson Marion Lau, OAM. 

Elder Abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender, culture or religion but needs to be addressed in a culturally responsive manner, taking into account the cultural context of each community. 

During a recent consultation with advisory groups from culturally diverse communities we identified factors that contribute to elder abuse going unreported.

Isolation, dependency, intergenerational conflict, stigma about accepting help outside the family, lack of information about their rights, increased dependency due to migration status and language barriers are some of the factors.

That consultation led to the launch this week of two resource kits on elder abuse prevention in partnership with Seniors Rights Victoria to support bilingual professionals working with seniors from the Chinese and Greek communities.

 “We hope these kits can support not only bilingual workers but the broader community giving them the tools needed to recognise abuse when they witness or experience it, to know how to respond, how and where to access information and support and to understand their rights, said Ms Lau.    

The resource kit was developed as part of a three-year project (2012 – 2015) which focuses on 6 ethnic communities.

The project aims to facilitate community education on elder abuse through discussions that address the needs of people from diverse backgrounds, and to empower service providers and community groups to discuss openly an issue often considered too sensitive to be discussed outside closed doors.

“If you know an elder person who has experienced abuse please let them know that any form of abuse is unacceptable and that help is available for them and their families,” asks Ms Lau.

To access the kits click here.  

The resource has been developed after extensive consultation with young people. It includes a hip-hop video clip and online educational content, and is designed to encourage 14-17 year olds to reflect and to act safely in response to incidences of racism at school, in their peer group, sports club or communities.

The music video clip features Indigenous hip hop artist Brothablack and was created with the participation of students from James Meehan High School in south western Sydney.

What you say matters seeks to answer the key questions that young people surveyed indicated they wanted more information on:

• What is racism?
• Why are people racist?
• Who experiences racism?
• Where does racism happen?
• Why is racism a problem?
• What can you do?
• What does the law say?

  For more information and to access the video click here. 

Questions concern two main issues: How field contact procedures are carried out under current policies and How Victoria Police train members in matters of diversity.

Questions have been provided as a guide to assist community members and are not obligatory, but can assist in writing responses for submission.

Responses can be made by email, letter, audio recording or video tape (however these must be accompanied by a transcription).  Respondents can choose if they wish to provide their name, contact details and information on their background or remain anonymous.  

Details: Click here to access the questions. Community consultation closes on 31 July, 2013. For more information click here. Information booklets in English Download.

Since November last year, when verbal abuse was directed at French tourists on a Melbourne bus, hardly a week has gone by without a high profile racist attack.

We hear about racist comments on public transport, at sporting events, in the street, on the radio, and even on stubby holders. Most recently the shocking racist attack in a shopping centre which left the owner of an Indian restaurant in hospital with a broken jaw was brought to our attention.  What’s next?

People from diverse backgrounds shouldn’t have to live in fear of being racially abused and appearing in tomorrow’s news. 

We are worried that this climate of fear will stop diverse communities speaking in their native language when in public and even avoid socializing with other community members in public for fear of being singled out because they look different or are speaking another language. 

In Victoria more than 40% of the population comes from diverse backgrounds, including myself, born in Malaysia of Chinese Malaysian descent but having lived in Australia most of my life. Should I avoid speaking Cantonese in public for fear that someone is going to tell me to go back to my own country?  Would I bother explaining that this is my country?  I don’t know.

 What I know is that the focus should be on how we can stop this abuse.  

Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act prohibits statements that offend people on racial or ethnic grounds. The public should be made aware of this. Those who vilify others are not only being offensive, they are acting against the law and should be punished accordingly.

We applaud the fact that we live in a free and democratic country but the law fails us if our freedom is invaded by others who know they will not be punished.  

The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria recommends more anti-racism education strategies and cross cultural training that addresses issues of racism, ethnicity-based discrimination, harassment and vilification.

We also call on the government, the police, community organisations and the media to offer more information on how to report racism, better information on people’s rights and possible avenues for action when confronted with racism. 

But we know from the ‘Reporting Racism’ report of the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) that people are unlikely to report racism they have experienced or witnessed.  41% of the 227 respondents said that was because “they did not think anything would be done about it”.

20% also said they were afraid of victimisation and around one in five said “they did not know where to report an incident or what would be involved”.  Change is required; the public should be encouraged to speak up on this issue.

We are confident the majority of Victorians are tolerant but we need to show the few who are not that racism is unacceptable.  Incidents like the bashing of the young man at a mall in Ballarat cannot be met with silence and impunity. There seems to be a resurgence of racism in certain sectors of the community which still needs to be addressed.    

ECCV has taken a stand against racism in the past signing up as a supporter of the “Racism. It Stops With Me” campaign and taking part of the reference group responsible for the Reporting Racism report.

ECCV believes that racism and discrimination have no place in our society. We are all equal under the law. We need people to stand up against racism, it’s the abusers that should feel ashamed not the victims.

We think it’s time to say enough! Speak up and Stop racism!

Marion Lau 

ECCV Deputy Chairperson 

These kits are designed to support bilingual professionals working with seniors from these communities and raise awareness in the community.

The kits include lists of relevant services for people experiencing abuse from those communities.  They also include case scenarios, and translations in Chinese and Greek that cover some of the key issues around elder abuse for those communities.

This resource kit was developed as part of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) project that aims to empower, inform and resource culturally diverse seniors, and ethnic community support services, by raising awareness about seniors’ rights and elder abuse prevention, including the role of Seniors Rights Victoria and how to access this and other support services.

The three-year (2012 – 2015) project is delivered in partnership with Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) and focuses on six ethnic communities.

The Chinese-speaking community resource kit on elder abuse prevention Download

The Greek-speaking community resource kit on elder abuse prevention Download 

To be eligible for these awards, the nominee must be an Australian citizen, a resident of Victoria and be aged 60 years or over. Nominees will be assessed on their contribution and achievements since reaching the age of 60.

Seniors can be recognised for the following awards:

• Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year is presented for an outstanding contribution to the local community and Victoria.
• Healthy and Active Living Award for helping to create active and healthy communities through community involvement and as a role model.
• Promotion of Multiculturalism Award for a significant contribution to promoting the benefits of cultural diversity in their community or in  the broader community.
• Veteran Community Award for a significant contribution to the veteran community, and Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria Senior Achiever Awards for a significant contribution to their local communities and Victoria.

Details: To download the application form click here. If you would like more information please call 9096 9977 or email christine.adams@health.vic.gov.au Nominations close Friday 19 July 2013.

Grants are between $1,000 - $25,000. As well as the central theme of inclusion.  The focus is to aim to build healthier, more vibrant and more inclusive communities by focussing on the following key areas:

• Providing all Australians with access to essential products and services – as well as the knowledge to use these services to connect in both the physical and digital world;
• Maintaining a diverse, inclusive workplace that values the contribution made by people from varying backgrounds and neighbourhoods across our nation;
• Investing in programs and activities that foster community spirit, connect communities and contribute to building a more inclusive Australia; and
• Providing support to Australian communities in times of major crisis.

Targeted audiences

All Our Neighbourhood Community Grant applications must focus on the following audiences:

• Local communities;
• Regional and remote communities;
• Socially disadvantaged;
• Indigenous Australians;
• Culturally and linguistically diverse groups;
• People living with a disability; and
• Small businesses

Details: for more information click here or call 1300 765 772.  To apply online click here. Applications close 28 June 2013. 

This program provides funding to purchase new equipment, undertake refurbishments and build new infrastructure.

The Building Multicultural Communities Program includes two funding streams:  

Stream 1: Grants between $1,000 and $10,000 to support non-fixed infrastructure and equipment projects including:

• computers
• printers
• photocopiers
• furniture
• kitchen and sporting equipment.

 Stream 2: Grants up to $150,000 to support capital works and non-fixed infrastructure including:

• multicultural hubs
• purpose built buildings (e.g. community radio stations, performance studios)
• meeting rooms that form part of a public building (e.g. community/multicultural)

Organisations are able to apply for one grant under Stream One, and/or one grant under Stream Two. Organisations cannot apply for more than one grant under each stream. BMCP projects must be completed by 30 June 2014.

The BMCP aims to empower communities to embrace the benefits of multiculturalism and maintain cohesive and socially inclusive neighbourhoods. The enhanced multicultural community spaces will provide an opportunity for Australians of all backgrounds to come together for activities, programs and events, while promoting a sense of belonging for Australians of every race, culture and religion. 

Details:  Completed application forms for BMCP funding must be emailed as an attachment, with any supporting documentation, to bmcp.applications@immi.gov.au by Friday 28 June 2013. To download the application form click here. For more information call 1800 453 004.

Intimate Partner Violence is the leading preventable contributor to disease, disability and death for women aged 15-45 in Victoria (VicHealth 2004).

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) recognises that gendered violence is a complicated and serious problem in our society and we acknowledge the significant work of the justice and protection services to support victims and prevent future violence.

At present, support services are limited in their ability to respond to diversity . For some time now ECCV has been advocating on behalf of women from CALD backgrounds who have experienced violence and highlighting the need for more accessible and responsive support options and resources.

Speaking on the importance of a culturally competent approach when engaging with CALD women who have experienced violence, ECCV Deputy Chairperson Marion Lau, OAM said:

“Violence is perceived differently in different cultural settings and needs to be addressed with cultural competence by service responders.

“The promotion of gender equality, cultural diversity and social inclusion must be taken into account in prevention programs which involve state agencies and the community, ”added Ms Lau.

Family violence is often not reported by women of CALD backgrounds. Women who participated in the production of this report identified some of the main reasons for this. The limited capacity of services to respond to clients in a culturally responsive and appropriate manner was identified as a strong disincentive to seeking support.

Key barriers mentioned during consultations concerning Victoria’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children( 2012-2015) were: lack of information and awareness of the law, legal rights and how to access and use available services, lack of available or suitable interpreters, fear of homelessness, fear of stigma and social isolation, a reluctance to contribute to negative stereotypes about one’s community and culture, experience of discrimination and uncertainty in immigration status or visa dependency.

Based on in-depth consultation and research, this paper makes recommendations with a view to expanding the options and support available to women in multicultural Victoria.

“We encourage a multidisciplinary approach and resource sharing between all services responding to family violence. ECCV calls on the Victorian Government to include CALD communities in the

improvement of service delivery and to establish partnerships and empower them to be key players in the support given, “said Ms Lau.

“If adequately resourced, trained and supported, migrant resource centres and local community organisations can assist to fill this service gap and break down the myths that particular cultures are more violent than others. Just like all other survivors of family violence, CALD women who ask for help are asking for understanding, safety and an assurance of stability ’added Ms Lau.

Women Surviving Violence – Cultural Competency in Critical Services, will be launched Tuesday and be available on the ECCV website shortly after the launch.

This grant program, administered by the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), comprises three different grants but only the Community Initiatives grants are open to both councils and not for profit organisations.

This grant is for community initiative projects of up to $50,000 that support community skills development and/or better connect people to resources, services, employment opportunities and each other.

Activities that could be supported include mentoring projects such as those connecting newly arrived migrants with local businesses to improve employment opportunities and build cross-cultural understanding, amongst others.

Details: to apply online click here or send your application to grantapplications@dpcd.vic.gov.au. Applications are ongoing. For more information click here.

CEH wants to hear from young culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people and their mates based in Victoria who want to use their creative skills to take part in the Grand Hip Hop Extravaganza.

The event, with prizes valued more than $3,000 in the mix for winners and participants, will take place on Friday 28 June at the BMW Edge in Federation Square.

Details: to participate e-mail Nelson Kur Deng nelsonkd@ceh.org.au

The report focuses on the nature and extent of racism in Victoria and follows an online survey conducted by the Victoria Equal Opportunity and Humans Right Commission. The report is part of a multi-tiered project to raise awareness of racism in the community and to build capacity for victims and bystanders to report racism and vilification when they experience it.

The launch was hosted by John Searle, Chairperson, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission and the report was launched by Jill Gallagher, CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation as part of Reconciliation Week.

ECCV was part of the Steering Committee responsible for the delivery of the report and its participation was acknowledged at the launch.

Some of the main findings of the report include:

Of 227 survey respondents:

• 123 reported incidents that happened to them personally (54 per cent)

• 102 had witnessed racism (44 per cent)

• 40 saw or received racist materials (18 per cent).

Verbal abuse was the most common form of racism identified (reported by 57 per cent of respondents).

Following the report the Commission will undertake in partnership with other agencies actions to respond to the issues raised. For more details and to access the report click here.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations wishing to undertake a new project, research or social enterprise in the greater Melbourne area. Only organisations with DGR status can apply.

Grants are provided for:

• Project funding to test, demonstrate, trial or pilot a new concept or idea that will lead to a service improvement or an advance in addressing a major community issue;
• Research funding to build understanding of an area or issue, inform program design or practice, inform policy development & philanthropic investment, identify good practice or inform community behaviour. 
• Funding to support the initial development phase of a social enterprise.

Details: click here to apply online. Applications must be submitted by 31 May, 2013. For more information click here.

The Diversity in Emergencies Workshop is part of the Emergency Management Conference and will take place on Wednesday July 10, 2013

The workshop will discuss the work of emergency relief agencies and community groups after disasters.  It particularly it focuses on coordinating and integrating relief efforts with local government.  This will open up a wide range of additional support services and funding.

ECCV members and friends are invited to apply for Free-of-Charge registration for the Diversity in Emergencies Workshop, and also the Conference prior, if they wish.  There are a limited number of these FOC registrations available. The usual cost of the Workshop is $85, and the first day of the conference fee is $430.

Cultural and lingual diversity will be addressed by emergency services in the workshop (Wednesday July 10) and in the Emergency Management Conference (July 9 and 10) in an aim to further engage with CALD communities in order to create higher levels of mutual understanding and empathy that will assist in achieving better outcomes in emergencies.

When: Tuesday July 9 and Wednesday July 10, 2013

Where: Pullman Albert Park (formerly The Sebel Hotel)

Details: To book your free place, please call the organisers, High Profile Events on (03) 9596 6662 or email events@hpe.com.au

The detailed program is at http://www.hpe.com.au/emc/program.htm