Policy Committees

ECCV’s Policy Committees support our policy, advocacy and project work. The Committees function as advisory groups comprised of industry experts, sector organisations and community leaders, and they provide policy leadership across a range of issues relating to migrant and refugee communities.

Policy Advisory Committees 

Employment, Entrepreneurship, Education & Training (PACEEET)

This Policy Advisory Committee provides a voice for our member organisations and stakeholders who hold a special interest in education, training and employment issues as they relate to people from migrant and refugee communities.

Priority Areas:
  • Monitor government policies and services in the area of employment, entrepreneurship, education and training in relation to how they impact on ethnic and multicultural communities.
  • Support and contribute to ECCV’s development of policy positions and responses to government enquiries into employment, entrepreneurship, education and training issues.
  • Engage with the public and private sectors on policy advocacy to improve employment prospects and entrepreneurship opportunities for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
  • Provide committee members with a platform to share information and opportunities to collaborate.

Convenor: Simon Jedwab

Staff Support: James Houghton, Policy Officer

Email: jhoughton@eccv.org.au

Telephone: (03) 9354 9555

Health & Wellbeing

This Policy Advisory Committee provides a voice for our member organisations and stakeholders who hold a special interest in issues concerning the health and wellbeing of people from migrant and refugee communities.

Priority Areas:

• Identify emerging health issues 
• Address those issues through the development of partnerships, research, policies and practices
• Act as an advocacy body
• Provide a formal channel to government and relevant sectors

Convenor: Siri Gunawardana 

Staff Support: James Houghton

Email: jhoughton@eccv.org.au

Telephone: (03) 9354 9555

New & Emerging Communities (NECPAC)

This Policy Advisory Committee provides a voice to our member organisations and stakeholders who hold a special interest in settlement issues affecting new and emerging communities in Victoria. New and emerging communities may be identified as diverse groups of people who:

  • have recently settled in Australia as migrants or refugees;
  • are small in number but have increased in size in recent years; and/or
  • lack adequate resources, support systems and networks relative to established ethnic communities in Australia.
Priority areas:
  • Access to employment
  • Access to education and training
  • Access to support and welfare services
  • Capacity building and access to funding
  • Climate change and sustainability
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Entrepreneurship, business and job readiness
  • Health and wellbeing
  • LGBTIQ+ communities
  • Social inclusion and community engagement
  • Ongoing impact and challenges of COVID-19

Convenors: Abiola Akinbiyi and Mohammed Yassin

Staff Support: James Houghton

Email: jhoughton@eccv.org.au

Telephone: (03) 9354 9555

Positive Ageing & Aged Care

This Policy Advisory Committee provides a voice for our member organisations and stakeholders who hold a special interest in issues concerning the aged care sector and older people from migrant and refugee communities.

 Priority Areas:
  • Culturally responsive aged care
  • Ethno-specific and multicultural services for seniors
  • Seniors rights
  • Elder abuse prevention
  • Palliative care
  • Age pension
  • Ethnic senior citizens groups
  • Capacity building of ethno-specific aged care providers
  • Seniors engagement

Convenor: Dr Medha Gunawardana

Staff Support: James Houghton

Email: jhoughton@eccv.org.au

Telephone: (03) 9354 9555