Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV)
The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV)’s mission is to work to ensure that we remain a member driven peak body committed to empowering people from culturally diverse backgrounds. We strive to give voice to multicultural Victoria. We strive to advocate for human rights, freedom, respect, equality and dignity for ethnic and multicultural communities and in building a socially cohesive and inclusive Victorian community.
The organisation advocates and lobbies all levels of government on behalf of multicultural communities in areas like human rights, access and equity and improving services. As our core business, we advocate on any issue that is of concern to our members.
We are proud to have been the key advocate for culturally diverse communities in Victoria since 1974.
Recent News
Chairperson’s Message
Dear Reader,
The state of disaster declared by the Victorian Government on the 2nd August is a heavy blow to us all. The thoughts of the ECCV Board and staff are with members of the wider Victorian community, who are further impacted by the restrictions to prevent an escalation in COVID-19 infections.
As the devastating impacts on several residential aged care facilities have shown us, the short term pain that we are being asked to share at this point in time, is to ensure that long-term consequences to our families, friends and neighbours are avoided. We ask all our members and stakeholders to support their communities to comply with Victorian Government restrictions so that we can all get through this difficult time.
The outbreak of COVID-19 infections in a number of aged care facilities in Victoria has been of profound concern to ECCV. ECCV is collaborating with the VMC to host a meeting with Multicultural Aged Care service providers and senior representatives from State and Commonwealth government departments to hear first hand about the work that multicultural communities are undertaking to keep older people safe and informed through the pandemic. The meeting will also consider further actions that can be taken to enhance the COVID-19 response by more effectively tapping into the resilience and connectedness of our communities and seniors in particular.
In light of COVID-19, ECCV has decided to postpone some of its key events for 2020. These include ECCV’s biannual State Conference, which was scheduled to be hosted in the City of Greater Shepparton in November, as well as one of our hallmark annual events – the Walter Lippmann Memorial Oration. While we are disappointed that these events will not progress as planned, given our collective priorities in the current public health emergency this is in the best interests of all concerned. We look forward to these important events returning in 2021.
ECCV’s policy and advocacy work has been in overdrive during the last month, and I’d like to thank the dedicated hard work and quality output of the ECCV staff. Publications over this period have been aligned with the Board’s current strategic priorities including a submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission into Quality & Safety, a series of Issues Briefs relating to COVID 19, on a range of important subjects including, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Racism and the vulnerable position of Migrant Workers. ECCV has also completed its submission to the Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ECCV thanks its members and stakeholders for their considered inputs over the last 5 months in making these papers possible. You will find links to the various submissions in this newsletter.
Finally, ECCV has commenced its membership renewal process for 2020-21 and we are asking all our existing members to continue to support the organisation, and for those who are yet to join to consider doing so. ECCV is the pre-eminent member based peak body for ethnic and multicultural Victorians, and we are only as strong and effective as our members. Working together has never been more important as we collectively seek to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that the needs, interests and aspirations of multicultural Victoria are met as part of our State’s response and recovery.
For more information or questions about the benefits of being an ECCV member, please write to us at membership@eccv.org.au or call 0431 091 738
Warm regards,
Eddie Micallef
ECCV Chairperson
Updated COVID 19 restrictions in Victoria: State of Disaster
Following a State of Disaster being announced in Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne is now under Stage 4 restrictions and from 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August, Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions apply in the rest of Victoria, including in regional Victoria. From 2 August, a curfew will be in place in metropolitan Melbourne from 8am to 5pm. Wide-ranging new restrictions on travel, exercise, social engagement and shopping apply to all Victorians. Please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website (links below) for the latest official advice.
More information:
Face covering and masks
All Victorians must wear a face covering if you need to leave home.
- Information for people with a disability on face coverings and masks
- If you cannot purchase or make a face mask an alternative form of covering including a scarf or bandana may be used.
- Infants and children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a face covering. Due to risk of choking it is not safe to use a mask on child under two years of age.
- A fine of $200 may be issued to people who do not wear a face covering and do not have a valid reason for exception.
- Valid reasons for not wearing a mask are included on this page
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has translated the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s video about face masks into 14 different languages. There are also helpful videos on making your own masks from The Social Studio on the channel.
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To ensure the safety of our staff and the community we serve, the ECCV staff team is continuing to work from home during this time. We are delivering NDIS information sessions, and hosting forums, workshops and consultations via the Internet. Our staff team will continue to be in touch with partners, stakeholders and funders via video or teleconferencing as required.
We thank you for your understanding and ask that you follow our social media channels to stay across updates regarding ECCV events and other news.
We are determined to act in the interest of the community, by reducing risk where possible and stemming the spread of the virus.
If you need to get in touch with ECCV, please call 9354 9555 or write to us at eccv@eccv.org.au
Important information and key resources
We understand that you may be feeling worried, anxious and overwhelmed about COVID-19 and the impacts it has on your daily life, family and community, especially when we are experiencing social distancing. These resources can help keep you informed, connected and safe:
Important Phone Numbers
- Coronavirus hotline: If you suspect you may have the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) call the dedicated hotline – open 24 hours, 7 days – on 1800 675 398
If you are an NDIS participant you can also call the national hotline on 1800 020 080
If you need an interpreter, please call 131 450 first.
- Department of Social Services Support Line – If you’ve lost income because of COVID 19 measures, call the dedicated hotline to see what support you can access – 1300 653 227
- National Debt Helpline: If you are in financial difficulty, free support is available at the National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007. You can speak to a financial counsellor to get advice.
- Business Victoria coronavirus hotline: Businesses seeking advice about whether they are affected can also call the Business Victoria coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15.
- Australian Human Rights Commission: For information regarding discrimination or any other human rights violation, please contact National Information Service on 1300 656 419 (restricted hours)
- If you are distressed, please seek support from Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline 13 11 14
Useful resources
- In-language information about racial discrimination and race hate complaints translated in to 63 languages
- Important information from VCOSS regarding COVID-19 and the community sector
- National Debt Helpline’s COVID 19 Financial Survival Guide and Resources
- Cancer Council ‘Cancer & COVID-19’ English factsheet here. Support and information resources are available in 12 languages. If you would like to speak to someone in your own language, please call 13 14 50 and ask for Cancer Council or the Coronavirus Health Information Line.
- Important information for renters, business and others from Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Important information for NDIS providers: Minimising the risk of exposure to COVID-19
- Australia Council for the Arts COVID 19 Response package to support artists, arts practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations coping with the impact of COVID-19.
- Easy English COVID 19 Information sheets and resources
- Australian federal government’s economic response to COVID 19
- Latest updates and information on COVID 19 from the Victorian government’s Department of Health and Human Services
- FAQS regarding the virus, its transmission and testing, and preventative measures.
- In-language information regarding COVID 19 from Victorian government’s Department of Health and Human Services
- Latest updates and information from the Australian government’s Department of Health
- You can get help and information on looking after our mental health and wellbeing from: Lifeline and Beyondblue
- Embrace Multicultural Mental Health also have information for CALD communities
- Contact numbers of support services for women experiencing family violence from InTouch – Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
For more information, please write to us on eccv@eccv.org.au or call 9354 9555.
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We are proud to recognise the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, as the first Australians, cultural leaders and traditional custodians of the land from which we advocate for ethnic community groups. We pay our respects to their elders, past & present.
ECCV Statement: Recognising the Rights of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders
Connect with ECCV
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road,
Coburg VIC 3058
Phone: 9354 9555
Email: eccv@eccv.org.au
