Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)
The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) 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
Vale Bob Hawke
9th December 1929 – May 16 2019
On behalf of the ECCV Board, staff and membership, Chairperson, Cr Kris Pavlidis would like to express our great sadness at the passing of former Australian Prime Minister, Robert James Lee Hawke, universally know as ‘Bob Hawke’ or simply ‘Hawkie’.
ECCV holds Federal Pre-Election Community Forum and audience Q & A to canvas major parties Multicultural policies
ECCV Chairperson, Cr Kris Pavlidis, said her organisation was very pleased to hold a Federal Pre-Election Community Forum recently, so that people, at the grass-roots level, could ask questions of candidates from the major parties about their multicultural policies.
The Forum was held at the Brunswick Town Hall on Monday 6 May. The three political representatives were: Adam Pulford, the Greens candidate for Wills, Peter Khalil, Labor Member for Wills, and Senator Scott Ryan, Liberal Senator for Victoria.
Cr Pavlidis said the Forum provided an ideal opportunity for members of the public and community leaders to have a greater understanding of the major parties’ multicultural polices and to ask questions on issues of importance to them.
Each of the panellists was given approximately ten minutes to provide an overview of their respective parties’ policies, and after that there was a Q & A session where audience members were able to ask panellists specific questions.
Chairperson’s Message: Cultural Diversity Week & Harmony Day
The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria is proud to be associated and committed to Cultural Diversity Week 16/24 March and Harmony Day on March 21.
As the peak organisation representing and advocating for multicultural communities throughout Victoria, ECCV strongly supports the principles and values of inclusion, respect and belonging. The plethora of events and activities held during Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day are a wonderful opportunity to connect with each other and share and learn about our rich multicultural community.
ECCV strives for the inclusivity of all Victorians in every sphere of our society, where diverse cultures and faiths are respected and we all belong.
The need to celebrate and re-affirm the principles associated with Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day, is more apparent than ever in the aftermath of the most recent global acts of terror.
ECCV stands firm with the people of New Zealand in denouncing the hate-based racially motivated violence perpetrated on the people of Christchurch.
We pay our respects and deep condolences to the people of Christchurch, and to other people globally who have suffered recently at the hands of terrorists in places such as Nigeria, where hundreds of Christians were massacred, as well as other faith-targeted attacks in the Philippines and Egyptian places of worship.
ECCV reaffirms its strong and ongoing commitment to the sanctity of human rights and respect for all peoples, and the importance of restating and embracing the crucial importance of these values at times such as these.
We acknowledge and celebrate the great bi-partisan political commitment to cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Victoria. The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, referred to multiculturalism as Victoria’s number one asset at the recent Multicultural Gala Dinner, which marked the start of Cultural Diversity Week.
I encourage you all to take part in the many fun and inspiring activities and celebrate our cultural diversity. Try a different cultural meal, speak a new language, listen to cultural music, read about a different history. We might be surprised at how much we have in common.
Happy Cultural Diversity Week & Harmony Day to you all.
Warm regards,
Cr. Kris Pavlidis
ECCV Chairperson
ECCV says political parties need to promote a ‘fairer’ migration program
ECCV calls on Australia’s political parties to commit to a fair and equitable migration program that ensures sufficient support is provided to all people choosing to make Australia their home.
‘Citizenship’, ‘Islamophobia’, ‘Social Cohesion’, are poignant themes, which emerged at the recent community forum hosted by the ECCV in the lead up to the Federal election
Members of the public and community leaders were able to ask questions of political representatives on issues of importance to them at a recent Federal Election community forum hosted by the ECCV in Brunswick.
ECCV in the news: ECCV urges voters to assess multicultural policies of parties during election
ECCV encourages members of multicultural communities to carefully assess the multicultural policies of political parties, speak to their local candidates about what is most important to them and to choose those representatives who they believe will take the best action to address their needs.
ECCV in the News: “Push grows for Liberals, unions to put One Nation last in outcry over racist speech”
ECCV Chairperson, Kris Pavlidis along with other ethnic community leaders calls for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to be put last on how-to-vote cards at the upcoming federal election as pressure builds on all sides to take a tougher stand against the minor party and other candidates that promote “racism and hate speech” in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack.
ECCV in the news: “A vibrant election forum at Melbourne’s multicultural suburb of Brunswick”
Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia and Greek Australian non-profit community services organization “Pronia” hosted a “Meet Your Candidates” community forum on Monday 6 May at Brunswick Town Hall. (SBS Greek Language radio podcast)
#FactNotFiction: Join our Anti-Racism Campaign
Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) is proud to have launched #FactNotFiction at a community state pre-election forum held on Thursday 15 November.
Cr Kris Pavlidis Chair of the ECCV stated “The ECCV thanks the State Labor Government for their generous support of this new anti- racism leadership initiative.”
Now, more than ever, we need to take a strong stance against racism and continue to celebrate the goodness and diversity that lives within our community and is integral to our neighbourhoods.
We call on our political leaders to make statements based on rigorous evidence and not play to populist prejudices. We can and we must do better.
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ECCV congratulates Gerard Mansour on his reappointment as Commissioner For Senior Victorians by the Victorian Government. ECCV looks forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Mansour on the prevention of elder abuse in culturally diverse communities.
Rest in Peace Bob Hawke
9th December 1929 - May 16 2019. On behalf of the ECCV Board, staff and membership, Cr Kris Pavlidis would like to express our great sadness at the passing of former Australian Prime Minister,
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ECCV congratulates Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Liberal-National Parties on their Federal Election victory.
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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
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Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road,
Coburg VIC 3058
Phone: 9354 9555
Email: [email protected]
