mv

issue 27 • sUMMER 2009

Interfaith Annual Gathering

UN media peace awards
Cultural Diversity Week
2009 preview
Awards for Excellence

muLTIcultural VICTORIA

A publication of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

cultural display
Polish community shares
its heritage with Victoria
 mv
ISSUE 27 ¤ SUMMER 2009

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MULTICULTURAL VICTORIA

A publication of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

CULTURAL DISPLAY
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Multicultural Victoria magazine

VMC CHAIRPERSON George Lekakis

EDITOR Megan Breen

DESIGN Midnightsky

PUBLISHED BY The Victorian Multicultural

Commission, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000. February 2009.
ISSN 13219340

Printed by Metro Printing, Roberts Road,

Airport West, VIC 3042, on Monza Satin
recyclable stock using environmentally
friendly inks.

DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been

made to ensure that the information in
this document was accurate at the time of
publication, the State of Victoria, through the
Victorian Multicultural Commission, accepts
no responsibility for any errors, omissions,
mistakes or misstatements contained in this
document. The State of Victoria expressly
disclaims any responsibility for any total
or partial reliance on this document or
for anything undertaken or omitted to be
undertaken in consequence of reliance on
this document. The State of Victoria excludes
liability for any loss or damage suffered by
any person resulting in any way from the use
of, or reliance upon, this document.

Copies of this magazine can be obtained

from the Victorian Multicultural Commission:
Telephone (03) 9208 3154
Facsimile (03) 9208 3179
Email info@vmc.vic.gov.au

View the magazine online at:

multicultural.vic.gov.au
contents
news
4 Mix it Up: a great line-up of musical acts for 2009

4 The Youth Junction: Visy Hub Cares is on hand to help newly arrived youth

4 Hub for rent: opportunities for communities to access information

4 Online voice for youth: A new website provides an alternative voice

5 Black Harmony Gathering: a day at the river celebrating Indigenous

4 Mix it up
Mix It Up program includes Tinariwen
– guitar-poets from the Sahara desert.
5
and African music

The art of youth: a program to help people through art

5 Cultural Diversity Week 2009: get ready for an action-packed week

of celebrations

6 Take 5: Craig Spicer – meet a policeman who makes it his duty to

promote harmony and diversity

vmc update
7 Viva Victoria: come along to Federation Square for a fun-filled festival

8 Grants update: what's happening at the VMC grants department

8 Amendments to Multicultural Victoria Act: VMC moving forward

9 Diversity@Work awards: VMC Commissioner a champion at awards night

7 Viva Victoria 10 Tax talk: information about the tax system

Join us to celebrate our cultural diversity
on 21 March at Federation Square. 10 Overseas student taskforce: looking after our international students

arts & culture

11 Polished performances on stage: the Polish community celebrates
at Federation Square

12 All star line-up: Cuban singing legend Feliz Baloy hits Melbourne

12 Chinese collection on world stage: Bendigo museum collects accolades

13 Lygon St Festa: Italian culture takes to the streets

14 Year of the Ox: Vietnamese community celebrates the Lunar New Year

14 Women's drama experience: a theatre program to help women

tell their stories

14 Gordon TAFE art exhibition: photos document many backgrounds

16 Gypsy music 15 The Whirling Dervishes: the Mevlevi Order display Sufi spiritualism
Europe's best Gypsy musicians
took to the stage in Melbourne. 16 A night of Gypsy music: the best Gypsy music on offer comes to Melbourne
contents
our community
17 Lost Boys say thanks: a gesture of thanks for Australia's support

18 A bright future: Shaheen Hasmat's inspiring story

18 Outworkers graduate: initiative to help retrain workers

19 Kabaddi World Cup: find out about an exciting new sport to Australia

19 Kabaddi World Cup 20 Young Muslim leaders: training program to empower young Muslims
A mix of tag, wrestling and speed,
Kabaddi is becoming a popular sport. 20 Discovering Buddha in the classroom: new resource kit to explore Buddhism

20 Women's group going strong: VIRWC celebrates 10 years

21 Interfaith Gathering: faith leaders come together for an annual gathering

22 AFL Multicultural challenge: Africa, Asia and Tonga battle it out

22 Education centre turns 20: marking the contribution to educators

23 Dancers blossom in Bendigo: troupe entertains the elderly in Bendigo

23 White Ribbon lunch: women come together to take a stance against violence

in focus
24 Awards for Excellence: Victorians congratulated for their hard work

28 Celebrating human rights: 2008 marked 60 years since the Universal Declaration

30 Promoting Peace of Human Rights was signed

African Royal Dancers at the
UN Media Peace Awards. 30 Promoting peace: the UN Media Peace Awards recognise outstanding journalism

government initiatives
32 Preventing discrimination: program to foster better health

33 Targeting sensitive subjects: encouraging discussion of taboo topics

33 Chinese school agreement: teacher training centre to be established

34 Improving housing outcomes: help for refugees to negotiate renting

34 The future of language services: making interpreting a great career choice

35 Smart Shopping: a credit education program to help the Sudanese community

35 Ambulance Victoria CPR program: promoting the understanding of basic CPR

36 Helping hand: a free kit to educate about living with Alzheimer's disease

35 Ambulance Victoria 36 Help with visas: brochure to help with Victoria's Legal Aid system
An innovative CPR program
teaches resuscitation via DVD. 36 Ecoliving grants: grants targeting climate change
 chairperson’s welcome
Welcome to the Summer edition of
Multicultural Victoria. Once again our
communities have been hard at work
over the past few months celebrating
and fostering cultural diversity across
the state and I encourage you to read
all about it.
In December we held the annual
Multicultural Awards for Excellence
ceremony at Government House, where
almost 200 hard working individuals
and organisations were rewarded for
their efforts in working to create a
harmonious society. Federation Square
was awarded the Premier’s Award for
Community Harmony, in recognition
of its outstanding achievements in
providing space and support where
Victorians of all religions, cultures
and ethnicities can come together to
celebrate our diversity. I would also
like to congratulate the recipients of
the awards who play such an important
role in maintaining our community
programs and organisations. I thank
you for your dedication and passion.
The United Nations Media Peace
Awards also took place last year,
showing that Victoria is brimming
with passionate and dedicated people
working to promote our human rights
and our cultural diversity.
Now, as 2009 gets into full swing it is
exciting to see what lies ahead on the
multicultural calendar. With Cultural
Diversity Week nearly upon us, it is
time to start planning how you will help
celebrate our wonderful diversity and
come along to some of the many events
above Premier of Victoria John Brumby with
Awards for Excellence recipients Kiemi Lai
and Melaku Ali. right Italian theatrical troupe
Arti Per Via at the Lygon St Festa.
we have planned. This year sees Viva
Victoria take its place as Victoria’s premier
celebration of multicultural diversity
during the Week. Federation Square will
come alive on Saturday 21 March with a
dazzling display of food, arts and crafts,
dance, music and more. Come down
with the family for a wonderful day in
the heart of Melbourne. A handy pocket-
sized program of events is contained in
this edition of Multicultural Victoria.
Another significant event on the
calendar for 2009 is the Parliament
of the World’s Religions, which will
convene in Melbourne in December.
We are fortunate to have been chosen
as the host city for this important
occasion and look forward to hearing
what comes from the event.
Other news for 2009 is the launch of
Victoria’s Multicultural Policy. After
hearing submissions from the public last
year and working hard to meet the needs
of the community, the 2009 Multicultural
Policy will steer Victoria’s direction with
regards to multicultural affairs.
The Multicultural Victoria Amendment
Bill was also passed in December
2008 and formalises the structural and
administrative changes that have been
made to the VMC. Turn to page 7 to find
out more about this matter. I hope you
enjoy the read, and please keep sending us
news of your hard work and celebrations.
George Lekakis
CHAIRPERSON
 news
our pick of who, where and what’s on

the youth junction

The Youth Junction Inc. are the managers
of the Visy Cares Hub which is located in
Sunshine. The Visy Cares Hub is a one-stop
shop for young people with nine youth
services in the one location.
Services provided include health, legal,
education, housing, counselling, generic
youth programs, assistance for newly arrived
young people and assistance for those
accessing welfare payments.
The Visy Cares Hub aims to increase the
efficiency of youth services delivered in the
western region.

Mix it up The Hub also delivers a range of free

Mix it Up is a program of performances
by artists that reflect the cultural diversity
of Victoria. It aims to increase individual
and community access and participation
in the vibrant artistic and cultural life
of Victoria.
Some of the highlights of the 2009
Mix It Up program will include guitar-poets
from the southern Sahara desert, Tinariwen,
who will be performing in April.
Cafe Rebetika on 20 April to 8 May 2009
will be held in the Fairfax Studio and in May,
the amazing Eleftheria Arvanitaki, the voice
of contemporary Greece will be performing
in Hamer Hall.
For more information visit
www.multiculturalarts.com.au
or www.theartscentre.com.au
programs for young people aged 12-25
years including soccer, hip hop, art, drama
and leadership, and in 2009 will be taking a
greater focus on multi-media art, expanding
the sports program and establishing
homework assistance for young people.
The Visy Cares Hub has contact with
approximately 16,800 young people each year.
For more information please contact the
Visy Cares Hub on (03) 9091 8200 or email
info@youthjunctioninc.net.au

HUB FOR RENT

The Melbourne Multicultural Hub is designed to provide opportunities for communities
from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to access information and resources,
and to come together and work in a safe and supportive environment. Rooms are
available for hire for community gatherings, meetings, training programs, art and craft
activities, music and dance, or internet access. Staff are available during business hours
to help with bookings. The Hub is located at 506 Elizabeth Street. Phone (03) 9092 1500.
For more information visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

online voice for youth refugee and migrant communities.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on
Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino launched
a groundbreaking online multicultural news
website at the State Library of Victoria on
12 December 2008. Mr Merlino said the
website, www.newaustralia.media.org
was a valuable resource and gives a voice
to members of Victoria’s culturally and
linguistically diverse (CALD) communities as
well as providing the mainstream media with
a resource for stories and information about
“This provides valuable information
firsthand from journalists from CALD
backgrounds,” said Mr Merlino.
The Victorian Government has provided
$20,000 to New Australia Media (NAM)
through the Victorian Multicultural
Commission’s Community Grants Program.
The founder of NAM, Ms Agnes Cusack,
says the organisation aims to give a voice
to those in our community who are either
missing or misrepresented.

4 Summer 2009
 news

black harmony gathering

Held in the heart of Aboriginal land on
the banks of the tranquil Yarra River at
the Fairfield Amphitheatre, the Black
Harmony Gathering is a unique event
that promotes the message “Say no
to racism!”
It is strongly supported by
Indigenous and non-indigenous artists
Photography Simon J. Nicol

and communities alike. Black Harmony

Gathering is a showcase for premium
professional and talented emerging
main Newly arrived young
Indigenous, African and refugee
people enjoy art workshops
artists. People come together for a at Arts Immersion.
positive community celebration that
is very special and important for the
community wellbeing.
This year, the day will be opened
with a traditional welcome to country
performed by Aunty Joy Murphy and a
The art of youth
Arts Immersion is a contemporary arts access program for newly arrived young people to
smoking ceremony by Robbie Thorpe. Australia. The program is targeted at refugee and migrant people aged 16 -25 who have been
The event features Indigenous living in Australia for 5 years or less. Young people with the support of project workers attend
artists, The Koori Youth Will Shake a workshop program introducing them to contemporary visual, performing and dance arts
Spears, the Grenadines, Skye and Amy, disciplines. Participants are now being encouraged to come on board for 2009.
Robert and Brett, Meriki Hood, Johnny
Details The program is free and takes place at the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art (ACCA),
Mac and Birri-on Lakidjeka, as well Malthouse Theatre and Chunky Move. Food and transport provided.
as friends from Sudan, Burundi, Côte
For more information contact Rob Ball, Coordinator Youth Participation at CMY on (03) 9340 3726
d'Ivoire, Jamaica, Ethiopia, West Papua
or email rball@cmy.net.au
and East Timor.
The Tabura and Laloran Choirs,
Ajak Kwai and Friends, Afro Habesha
Band and the incredible African Band Cultural diversity week 2009
Blak Roots will dance us into the It’s nearly that time of the year when Victoria
autumn twighlight. There is a Koori bursts into a flurry of multicultural activity
BBQ, African food stalls and a market as individuals and groups across the state
place of Indigenous and African wares celebrate Cultural Diversity Week.
plus more performers…MC’s Kutcha Held from 15 -21 March, the Week is a
Edwards, Little G and Stick Mareebo. much anticipated date on the calendar and
sees more than 200 events taking place.
Details The Black Harmony Gathering
2009, Sunday 15th March, 2pm – 6pm This year, the highlight is Viva Victoria, a
@ The Fairfield Amphitheatre. multicultural festival at Federation Square,
For more information please contact
turn the page to find out more about this
Multicultural Arts Victoria on (03) 9417 6777 wonderful event.
or www.multiculturalarts.com.au For more information visit
www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au

mv multicultural VICTORIA 5
 news
take 5
Get to know some
of the hardworking
individuals in Victoria's
multicultural sector.
Craig Spicer
Craig Spicer has worked as
a policemen for 33 years,
mainly in the western
suburbs of Melbourne.
He has spent the past six
years as a Multicultural/
Community Liaison Officer
with Victoria Police in
Footscray, home of his
beloved Western Bulldogs.
6 Summer 2009
Leading Senior Constable Craig Spicer enjoys getting
out and about with residents of the western suburbs.
My role is Community/Multicultural
Liaison Officer for Footscray Police. My area
encompasses all parts of Maribyrnong. I
support Regional Police Multicultural Officers
and work very close with various external
agencies, mainly from the Western Suburbs.
The favourite part of my job is
meeting and working with newly arrived
migrants from countries from all over the
world and gaining cultural understanding
and helping build a mutual trust with Victoria
Police. I also enjoy attending various festivals
and citizenship ceremonies and taking
migrant groups on excursions.
My first job was as a storeman at Hunter
Products in Yarraville. I was a storeman for
one year until accepted by Victoria Police.
I am inspired by people who have
only been in the country for a short time and
willing to work hard to achieve their goal.
Three things I can’t live without
are my family, good food and health.
I'd also like to see world peace achieved.
I’ve really enjoyed reading I don’t
really read books but enjoy reading the
various multicultural publications that are
available, such as the VMC magazine!
My favourite meal is roasts, seafood,
vegetables. With my role I get the opportunity
to taste various multicultural cuisines and am
developing a taste for a number of dishes.
My rewarding moment was
1. Graduating from the Victoria Police
Academy in 1976. I wish to encourage
persons from diverse backgrounds to
consider applying for Victoria Police
or any other Emergency Service.
2. Being offered the fulltime role as
Multicultural Officer.
3. Walking through the streets of Footscray
in uniform and being greeted by persons
of various backgrounds with a hello, high
five or a smile.
Cultural Diversity is the community
working together to make Australia the best
place in the world.
 vmc update
projects • awards • consultations • grants update

Viva Victoria
Join us to celebrate our state’s cultural diversity
on 21 March at Fed Square, 11am-6pm.
One of the best things about living in Victoria is that each of
us is able to express our love of our heritage, ancestors and
lands of family origin as much as our love of Australia.
Our diversity is well established and is something most
Victorians recognise, appreciate and regularly celebrate.
During this year’s Cultural Diversity Week you can experience
first hand some of the many cultures in Victoria.
The Victorian Multicultural Commission is planning a
week of lively events which culminates with the Viva Victoria
festival – a truly inclusive celebratory event featuring music,
dance, food, art, craft and design from more than 60 cultures.
The program line-up has been put together by Multicultural
Arts Victoria, Victoria's peak arts organisation.
The Festival falls on 21 March, which is recognised by the
United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination. On this day Victorians are
encouraged to wear an orange ribbon as a personal pledge
not to commit, condone or remain silent about any form of
racial or religious discrimination.
For a full festival program visit www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au
or call the VMC on (03) 9208 3362.

world market interactive

FOOD
With 20 cuisines from around
the world there will be an array
of traditional delicacies to excite
your tastebuds. Experience a
New Zealand hangi, gourmet
German sausages, Japanese
Yakitori, Sicilian swordfish pies,
Turkish Gozleme or Mauritian
chilli cakes. Finish off with
Polish cherry crumble or French
sweet crepes.
Unique traditional crafts will be
on offer alongside contemporary
designs incorporating aspects
of cultural diversity. Beautifully
handcrafted wooden children's
toys from India, Baltic amber
jewellery, Japanese inspired
clothing and accessories,
handpainted Dutch ceramics and
homewares created from original
Indonesian materials.
Contribute to the creation of
an amazing rangoli – an ancient
Indian artform – using foods
from around the world. Or, add
your ‘wishes of enlightenment
for you, your family and friends
and the world’ to The Bodhi
Tree which, in Buddhist
music tradition, symbolises the
Vibrant beats from around undying peace and kindness
the world will dominate Fed in each of us.
Square’s main stage and Singha
beer garden stage on the Yarra
River Terrace. See Cuban singing
sensation Felix Baloy, Kenny
López & Havana Connection.
See the famous Ukrainian
Verchovnya dancers, hear African
rhythms with Sudanese soloist
Ajak Kwai and feel the energy
of the dancing Singh Sisters.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 7
 vmc update
ABOVE Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino,
Erminia Del Papa and Domenico Biviano from the Associazione Figli D'Italia.
Grants update
Many important government funded celebrations
and projects are underway across Victoria.
As we enter the new year, the grants
team at the Victorian Multicultural
Commission (VMC) continues to be
impressed by the vast number of
local cultural events which are held
each week across our wonderful
multicultural state of Victoria.
The Victorian Government, through
the VMC, provides financial support
to more than 1,000 events held across
Victoria each year. The recently
announced Festival and Events grants
include many important celebrations
for communities, from national days
to religious celebrations.
This year, the VMC is funding
around 140 Cultural Diversity Week
events, including 50 events
being held by schools and colleges.
The commitment of schools
communities educate students about
the benefits of diversity is terrific. The
upcoming Viva Victoria Festival will
be one of the highlights of the Week.
In the past few weeks 650 multicultural
senior citizens groups will have
8 Summer 2009
received the first payment under the
new three-year funding agreement.
The VMC is committed to supporting
these volunteer-run senior citizens
organisations which bring such
important social benefits to the
community.
The 2009 major round is currently
being assessed and the decisions
will be made known in the following
months. We are still overwhelmed
by the number of applications we get
each year. The huge demand points
to the magnitude of the needs of
the community, which are currently
unfulfilled.
The grants team would like to thank
everyone for returning the recent
grants evaluation form. We will use
the results of the survey to look at
ways in which we can provide a better
service to grant seekers.
Finally, the grants team would like
to wish a Happy and Prosperous
New Year to everyone celebrating the
Year of the Ox.
Multicultural
Victoria Act
The Multicultural Victoria Act 2004
(MVA) was enacted to formally
recognise and support the principles of
cultural, racial, religious and linguistic
diversity in Victoria. It introduced
principles of multiculturalism,
reporting requirements for Government
departments, and re-established the
Victorian Multicultural Commission.
In 2006, the Victorian Government
made the commitment to merge the
Victorian Office of Multicultural
Affairs into the Victorian Multicultural
Commission and to amend the MVA
to better reflect the changes.
The merger came into effect
administratively in May 2007, with
$1m in savings being redirected
towards the Commission’s community
grants program.
The MVA amendments, which
were passed through Parliament
in December 2008, enhanced the
whole-of-Government approach to
multicultural affairs; augmented
the functions of the Commission;
improved the reporting requirements
of departments; and ensured
compatibility with the Charter of
Human Rights and Responsibilities.
The additional reporting requirements
for departments cover four areas:
• reporting on initiatives to meet
the identified needs of youth,
older persons and women
within Victoria’s culturally and
linguistically diverse communities;
• reporting on departments’ progress
under their cultural diversity plans
to address provision for culturally
sensitive service delivery to
Victoria’s communities;
• reporting on initiatives in rural and
regional Victoria; and
• reporting on the measures taken by
Departments to promote human
rights in accordance with the Charter
of Human Rights and Responsibilities
for multicultural communities.
In order to formalise the structural
and administrative changes, the
Commission became an Administrative
Office aligned to the Department of
Premier and Cabinet.
 vmc update

Diversity at work awards

VMC Commissioner awarded for work in diversity.
Last November, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and
Victoria University’s Community Engagement Coordinator
Elleni Bereded-Samuel won the 2008 Diversity@Work Individual
Champion award for her hard work in helping make Victorian
University an inclusive workplace.
The 8th annual awards recognise employers and individuals
who create a business that is inclusive for all workers, clients
and the broader community. Mrs Bereded-Samuel received the
award at a gala dinner attended by Sir Bob Geldof, World Vision
Australia Chief Executive Reverend Tim Costello and Minister

‘‘
for Employment Participation Brendan O'Connor.
In 2005, Mrs Bereded-Samuel was appointed as a Commissioner
for the Victorian Multicultural Commission and also on the Board
of Directors of Royal Women’s Hospital. Mrs Bereded-Samuel has
been included on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and she is
also on the 2006/07 ‘Who is Who Australian Women’, among
Elleni shows dynamic
leadership in creating solutions
‘‘
6000 remarkable women in Australia. She also has been selected
among 13 significant Victorian women who contributed to civic
for community members.
and community life over the past 100 years.
Diversity@Work CEO Mark Heaysman said Elleni has a long
background in improving conditions for people from diverse
backgrounds.
“Elleni shows dynamic leadership in creating new solutions
for community members to access and participate in the
university community and society in general.
“I congratulate Elleni on setting such a fine example,”
Mr Heaysman said.

top and right VMC Commissioner Ellenie Bereded-Samuel at the Diversity@Work

Awards. centre With her husband Terefe Aborete (far left), VMC Director Hakan
Akyol, VMC Chairperson George Lekakis and Horn Of African Communities Network
representative Sisay Dinku.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 9
 vmc update
Tax talk
Forums are helping people
understand tax.
Each year, the Australian Taxation
Office’s Access and Diversity Unit
holds community forums in
Melbourne and Sydney to listen
to feedback about its products and
services from the non-English
speaking background community.
Held at Armagh House in Toorak,
the 2008 Melbourne forum on Friday
28 November was co-hosted by the
Victorian Multicultural Commission
(VMC) and the Tax Office. VMC
Chairperson George Lekakis
opened the forum and introduced
the Commissioner of Taxation
Michael D’Ascenzo. The forum
attracted almost sixty participants
including representatives from new
and established communities,
government agencies and settlement
service providers.
Mr D’Ascenzo fielded questions
from the audience, listening to their
comments and took the opportunity
to speak personally with participants.
In welcoming participants,
Mr D’Ascenzo emphasised that
“a good, fair tax system that respects
people’s rights and serves the
Overseas student taskforce
A special report has been developed looking at ways to improve the experience of students.
Last year, the Victorian Overseas
Student Experience Taskforce was
established to examine key issues facing
the state’s international student sector
and ways to improve their experiences
living and studying in Victoria.
The Minister for Skills and
Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan
said the taskforce was a positive move
to ensure overseas students enjoyed
their time in Victoria.
“The Victorian Government is
taking action to ensure overseas
students continue to enjoy their
experience studying in Victoria and
10 Summer 2009
community is the backbone of a good
society.” He also highlighted some new
Tax Office initiatives for the coming
year, including an online audio-visual
product that was produced on the basis
of community feedback.
William Daw – who represented the
Melbourne Sudanese community – told
Mr D’Ascenzo that “if people don’t
know the tax system, they become a
victim of it” and echoed the enthusiasm
of others in the room to work with the
Tax Office to assist his community.
Other participants spoke openly
about the difficulties they face as new
migrants or with limited English skills
in getting tax information from the
internet or over the phone and who
may be “scared to ask for advice”.
that’s why we established a taskforce to
examine ways that we can enhance that
experience,” Ms Allan said.
The Taskforce met from October to
December 2008, receiving more than 70
submissions. First-hand experiences were
captured through student roundtable
discussions. Chaired by Marsha
Thompson, Parliamentary Secretary
for Industry and Trade, the taskforce
released the report on 22 December 2008.
It can be viewed at www.diird.vic.gov.au
Victorian Multicultural Chairperson,
George Lekakis was a member of the
Taskforce and said identifying the
main Participants engage in the forum.
BELOW Commissioner of Taxation, Michael
D'Ascenzo and Director of the Access and
Diversity Unit of the Tax Office, Loc Trinh.
In closing the forum, Loc Trinh
(Director of the Tax Office’s Access and
Diversity Unit) thanked the participants
for their time and encouraged them to
continue working together with the
Tax Office to achieve more.
If you wish to express your
interest in attending the 2009 forum
in Melbourne or if you have any
feedback about the Tax Office’s
services for people from a non-English
speaking background please email
communityadvisorygroups@ato.gov.au
particular needs of overseas students
was a positive step.
“Students come to Victoria to access
our fine educational institutions here
and it is vital that we make their stay
welcoming and allow them to pursue
their study without difficulty,” Mr
Lekakis said.
The Taskforce investigated five
key issues of concern to Victorian
overseas students. These included:
accommodation, safety, employment,
social inclusion within the local
community and access to reliable
information on support services.
 arts & culture
music • theatre • dance • visual arts

Polished performances on stage

The Polish community showcased
their culture at an all-day event
at Federation Square.
As the sound of a solitary bugle interrupted
the bustle of Federation Square at the
opening of the Polish festival on 16
November 2008, the crowds gathered were
reminded Poland’s history. When the five
note tune abruptly stops, it symbolises the
death of the bugler by invading armies. It
is a reminder to all Poles of their turbulent
history and why many of them and their
descendants are here in Victoria today.
The festivities then took over and the
stage was filled with children representing
various Polish language schools and young
people from three dance troops showcasing
Poland’s colourful culture of song and dance.
The fourth annual Polish Festival was
officially opened by the Minister Assisting
the Premier on Multicultural Affairs,
James Merlino. The Polish Festival is
organised by a committee of 10 volunteers,
which is supported by an additional
400 people who give their time freely to
contribute to the success of this event.
For more information visit
www.polishfestival.com.au above Dancing was the order of the day at the Polish Festival at Federation Square.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 11
 arts & culture
All star line-up
Cuban singing legend, Félix Baloy, will be the headline act
at this year’s Viva Victoria Festival at Federation Square.
Felix Baloy, last seen in Australia with
Afro-Cuban All-Stars, is one of the most
thrilling soneros in contemporary Cuban
music and is an original founder of the
Buena Vista Social Club. He returns to
Australia to perform with the Melbourne-
based 11 piece Cuban Salsa band, Kenny
López & Havana Connection.
Heading for Ten Days on the Island
in Tasmania, this international legend
promises to deliver an exceptional
performance on centre stage at Viva
Victoria on Saturday 21 March. Baloy
honed his skills with the likes of
Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzales, Omara
Portuondo and Raul Planas, all familiar
names to fans of the Buena Vista Social
Club, and is highly regarded among
salsa singers the world over.
Baloy will be performing material
from his recent album Un Poquito de Fé,
as well as some big band arrangements
with local favourites Kenny López and
Havana Connection. Promising a high-
12 Summer 2009
energy, dance-friendly performance
incorporating “son”, “timba”,
“cha-cha-cha” and “changui”, the
audience will be treated to some of the
world’s best Cuban music right here
in Melbourne.
Viva Victoria is a day of celebration
for all Victorians. Featuring arts, crafts,
dance, food and music from around
the world, it showcases the wonderful
multicultural diversity of this state.
With two stages and an array of food
and arts stalls, there is something for
everyone. Try a German sausage while
listening to the Klezmeritis “Hallelujah”
band, or enjoy a Sicilian swordfish pie
and see how a traditional New Zealand
hangi is created.
On stage prior to Felix Baloy, the
audience will experience the talents
of performers from Turkey, Sudan,
El Savador, Vietnam and more.
For more information visit
www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au
Local collection,
global significance
The Golden Dragon Museum in
Bendigo has been recognised
on the world stage for their
collection of Chinese costumes
and regalia.
The Golden Dragon Museum in
Bendigo has an extensive display of
Chinese artefacts and relics chronicling
the history of Chinese migration in the
community. A recent official assessment
of the collection has now catapulted it
on the world-stage and placed it as one
of the most important collections of
Chinese regalia in the world.
The criteria used in the study
involved a comparison with other
notable collections around the world,
including the Hong Kong Heritage
Museum, the Victoria and Albert
Museum in London, the San Diego
Museum in California and many more.
The collection includes garments,
head-dresses, accessories such as
weapons, storage trunks, makeup and
hair accessories, shoes, ceremonial
objects, musical instruments, a drum
cart, banners and a ceremonial dragon
and lion.
The recent significance assessment
was conducted as part the
Victorian Government’s Victoria’s
Heritage Grants: Strengthening our
Communities.
For more information visit
www.goldendragonmuseum.org or
email info@goldendragonmuseum.org
ABOVE A Chinese artefact from the Golden
Dragon Museum in Bendigo.
 arts & culture

Lygon Street Festa

Italian culture was on show once again in
Melbourne’s Little Italy.
The always popular Lygon Street Festa returned on 15-16
November 2008 after a three year absence. The event attracted
in excess of 35,000 people who once again wandered the street
and enjoyed some fine displays of Italian culture.

‘‘‘‘
The highlight was the spectacular street theatre show,
Arti Per Via, direct from Italy and funded by the Italian
government. It is a street recreation, in which 55 actors from
Italy's Veneto region perform a two-hour street pageant
telling immigration stories in words, song and dance. This
performance turned Piazza Italia into a truly live Italian
This Festa has played an
enormous role in introducing
‘‘
Piazza as it’s never been seen before.
The stages were filled with music by favourites such as Tony
the Italian way of life.
Pantano, Viva Italia Show, and Sylvana, who had both young
and old dancing in the street. There was also traditional Italian
cooking demonstrations by Chef Michele Usci and sausage and
wine making by Cellar Plus.
The Lygon Street Festa was the first street festival in Australia,
commencing in 1978. The Festa is the oldest and most successful
cultural street festa in Australia, and has generated and inspired
many others. Today, it continues to cultivate and celebrate
Photography Carine Boustany

Italian arts and culture, which have contributed to enriching

the Australian culture and its reputation as a harmonious
multicultural society in so many ways. The sidewalk restaurant
culture, cappuccino and lattes were virtually unheard of 25 years
ago and this festival has played an enormous role in introducing
Victorians from all cultures to the Italian way of life.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 13
 arts & culture

Women's drama
experience
Theatre has helped many women
tell their stories.
An innovative theatre program designed to
bring to life women’s struggles with such issues
as body image, parenting in a new country,
mental health, identity, discrimination and
racism in the work place helped many women
across Victoria last year.
‘Listen To Us!’ a production by the Victorian

Year of the Ox Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition

The Vietnamese community welcomes 2009.
Victoria Street in Richmond came
to life with a dazzling array of
sights, smells, sounds and tastes
of traditional and contemporary
Vietnamese culture on 18 January
2008. The annual Lunar New
Year Festival attracted more than
85,000 people and serves as one
of the largest cultural events in
the Vietnamese community
in Melbourne.
As the firecrackers exploded and
the drums were pounded to drive
away devils, patrons celebrated
the beginning of a new year with
traditional customs. The Lunar
Festival is the most popular festival
in Vietnam and artefacts suggest
that it has been celebrated since
at least 500 BC. On the eve of the
three-day festival, houses and
ancestral graves are thoroughly
cleaned and a ceremonial meal is
prepared. The spectacular-looking
traditional dragon parade is meant
to spread good health and wealth.
brought some of these issues to the stage using
Forum Theatre methodology, which originated
in Latin America.
This method of acting gives the audience an
opportunity to engage in dialogue with the
women, who participated in drama workshops
over six months before performing.
The productions took place across Melbourne
and were launched at the Queen Victoria
Women’s Centre on 11 November. A series of
short scenes promoting the productions were
shown to an audience comprised of local
community, service providers, policymakers,
agency heads, politicians and the media.
The project’s artistic facilitator and director
was Catherine Simmonds of the Brunswick
Women’s Theatre.

gordon tafe art exhibition

A photographic exhibition celebrating women from different backgrounds.
Supported by the Victorian
Government, through the Victorian
Multicultural Commission, the
Women Creating Harmony
photographic exhibition was the
culmination of a Gordon Institute
of TAFE project comprising a series
of creative workshops and business
development activities.
The exhibition was designed to give
participants the opportunity to share
their stories with each other and the
community, using art as a language
to break down cultural barriers.
Project Coordinator, Penny Gough-
Harper, said the exhibition was
hugely successful with more than
500 people visiting over a week.
She said its aim was to promote
understanding and respect between
gender, cultures and religions, while
building self-esteem and self-confidence
among the women involved.
“The program used art as a vehicle
for self-expression and as a platform
to learn new skills,” she said.
“Many of these women, particularly
where English is a second language,
are able to better express themselves
creatively.”
The Women Creating Harmony
program also involved helping
participants become ‘work ready’,
giving them skills and experience in
areas such as project management,
database development and catering,
as well as transferable skills such as
communication, problem-solving
and negotiation.
In the wake of its success,
organisers are already looking to
develop a similar project in 2009.

14 Summer 2009
 arts & culture

The W hirling Dervishes

A spectacular display by the Mevlevi Order of Australia commemorated the anniversary of the death of Rumi.
The night of 17 December, is the for the main ceremony. Dervishes from inner spiritual develop in the hope that
anniversary of the death of Mevlana the Mevlevi Order of Australia came individuals know their Creator before
Jalâluddîn Rûmî, commonly known in on to the stage with their spectacular leaving this transient world.
the West simply as Rumi, who died in traditional Mevlevi costumes and The Australian Intercultural Society
1273 in Konya, Turkey. The observance commenced the Sema ritual. As the would like to thank the Mevlevi Order
of the anniversary of the Sufi scholar Dervishes began to perform Sema of Australia for sharing their special
and saint is called ‘urs’, which means many of the guests were standing up to night with the members of society at
‘wedding’ in Arabic. The reason for get a glimpse of the amazing spiritual large. The Australian Intercultural
this is, through death, Rumi attained presentation of the Sema. Society would also like to thank the
“union” with God, the Only Beloved. Sufism is the study within Islam of Australian Sufi Music Group for
Many Sufi gatherings of various how a person can attain higher spiritual its musical performance and the
kinds will be mentioning the name of heights through reflection upon and Stonnington Council for its support.
Rumi on this night, praying that the recital of God’s beautiful names – More information about the AIS can be
blessings of God be upon his soul, and known as Esma-ul Husna. It emphasises found at www.intercultural.org.au
celebrating his ‘Wedding Night’ by
the ‘Whirling Sema Ceremony’ of the
Mevlevi Sufi order.
Each year the Australian Intercultural
Society organises a special Sema
ceremony – the spiritual dance offered
by the Mevlevi Order of Australia
to celebrate Rumi’s ‘Sheb-i Arus’ or
‘Wedding Night’.
The event was celebrated at Malvern
Town Hall with 300 enthusiastic guests
arriving from all regions of Melbourne.
Dr Stewart Sharlow launched the event
with a welcoming speech and a brief
explanation about the significance of
the night. The Australian Sufi Music
Group then performed, touching
the hearts of many guests with their
spiritual Sufi music. It was then time above Dervishes from the Mevlevi Order of Australia display the Sema ritual.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 15
 arts & culture

A night of
Gypsy music
The best Gypsy music Europe has to offer
took to the stage in Melbourne in January.
Stars of the show were the gypsy band Fanfare Ciocarlia,
who hail from a line of Roma farming families in the tiny
north-eastern Romanian village of Zece Prajini. Until 1996,
the 12-piece ensemble had only performed at local weddings,
baptisms and funerals. Then Helmut Neumann and business
partner Henry Ernst from the German imprint Asphalt Tango
Records discovered them by chance and now they are regulars
on the world music circuit.
Often described as Europe’s greatest Gypsy singers, their
frenetic brass sound – born from traditional Roma melodies
and the influence of the brass bands of the Turkish military,
which had a presence in the region at the start of the 19th
century, is intoxicating and hugely popular.
The group was in Melbourne in January to perform as
part of the Mix It Up series at Hamer Hall and also brought
several guest performers to the stage. Twice Nobel Peace Prize
nominee and Macedonian Gypsy Queen Esma Redzepova
stole the show with her renditions of songs detailing the
persecution and plight of the Roma.
Fine performances also came from Hungarian master-vocalist TOP AND ABOVE Fanfare Ciocarlia presented a frenetic and entertaining
Mitsou, 21-year-old Romanian star Florentina Sandu, Bulgarian display of Gypsy music with a special appearance by Gypsy Queen
songwriter Jony Iliev and Perpignan guitar trio Kaloome. Esma Redzepova (below).

Photography Damian Vincenzi

16 Summer 2009
 our community
Lost Boys say thanks
The Lost Boys of Sudan Association turned out in force
to say thank you to the Australian community.
As a gesture of thanks to the Victorian
community, the Sudanese Lost Boys
Association of Australia (SLBAA) held
an Appreciation Day on Saturday 25
October 2008, which culminated in a
free concert at Collingwood Town Hall.
A forum was also held the following
day to discuss issues of importance to
the Sudanese community.
The day gave the Sudanese community
a chance to express its appreciation for
the opportunities and support provided
by the Australian community, as well as
showcasing Sudanese culture through
food, dance and music.
In addition to the event, members
of the SLBAA also volunteered their
services at the Collingwood Children’s
farm and helped collect money for the
Red Cross in South Melbourne. Other
activities included SLBAA members
events • festivals • articles
visiting Thomson Street, Abbotsford
to cook lunch for the disadvantaged
communities, as well as visiting
juvenile detention centres to play
soccer with the young detainees.
The highlight of the day was the
celebration concert on Saturday night
at the Collingwood Town Hall, which
featured traditional Sudanese dance,
music, hip hop and Sudanese food.
The forum on Sunday 26 October
was held at the Supper Room at the
Melbourne Town Hall and provided
a platform to engage government and
community leaders on issues concerning
the Australian Sudanese community –
particularly refugee settlement, social
inclusion and Australia’s engagement
with events in Sudan. ABOVE The Sudanese Lost Boys Association
For more information visit showed their thanks for the support they have
www.lostboys.org.au received in Australia.
mv multicultural VICTORIA 17
 our community
The future is bright
Afghani refugee Shaheen Hasmat gained a VCE result
of 99.8 last year, despite arriving in Australia only five
years ago with limited English. This is his story.
‘‘
I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Due to the civil war, during
which my father was abducted; I
and my family had to migrate from
Afghanistan to Pakistan. My three
brothers, two little sisters, my mum
and myself stayed there for a few
years until in 2003 when we arrived in
Australia on a Humanitarian Visa.
My mother had a degree in
agriculture and worked as an
agriculturalist, however due to the
unstable condition in Kabul she had to
abandon her occupation and move to
Pakistan leaving behind everything,
including most of our documents. My
father was completing his medicine
course before he was abducted. It was
my father who encouraged and advised
my mother to make the children realise
the significance of education and I
suppose it has worked well. We owe
him a lot in regards to our education.
Immediately after arriving in
Australia, we went to the Collingwood
Language School. I spent about 3-4
months there until I could slightly
understand some English. Then, my
brothers and I went to Reservoir District
Secondary College. I was admitted
18 Summer 2009
into year 8 because my English was
not very good at first. I was put into an
accelerated program in year 9, where I
was allowed to do year 11 Mathematical
Methods. In year 10, I was doing year
12 maths and year 11 physics, and in
year 11 I was doing year 12 physics
and specialist maths, lastly in year 12,
I needed more stimulating material so
I was doing 1st year university physics
at Melbourne University for which I
received a ‘First Class Honours’.
I am most interested in
mathematics and physics. I also love
electromagnetism and Einstein’s
relativity theory, although I had
difficulty understanding it and still
need to work on it. I have to admit that
I am not an expert in physics and what
I know is insignificant compared to
what is out there, I am still a student
and still need to learn a lot.
‘‘
As for what course I would want to
do, it is definitely medicine. With an
ENTER score of 99.80 I qualify for the
'Guaranteed Entry Program' into the
graduate medicine course at Melbourne
University and I have been offered
a range of scholarships to help
me complete the course.
Outworkers
graduate
Outworkers in the clothing industry are
deemed one of the most disadvantaged
and vulnerable community groups
in Australia. They face a series of
barriers, some of which are a lack of
English, social isolation and family
responsibilities, as well as inexperience
in the Australian workforce, and a lack
of confidence.
Through the recommendation of
the Ethical Clothing Trades Council
of Victoria, set up by the Victorian
Government in 2005 to protect
outworkers from exploitation, an
initiative was put forward by Industrial
Relations Victoria, now Workforce
Victoria. This Education and Training
initiative was developed in partnership
with employer bodies, TAFE colleges,
TCFUA, community organisations
and local councils, to help outworkers
in their current employment and to
give them the opportunity to achieve
Australian qualifications, especially in
areas of skilled labour shortage.
To date 80 outworkers have achieved
Certificates in Child Care/Family Day
Care, Aged Care, Hospitality, Pattern
Making/Design, Dry Cleaning, and
Quality Control.
On 29 October 2008, Jaala Pulford,
Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial
Relations Victoria, presented 13
outworkers who have studied at
Brunswick RMIT with a nationally
recognised Certificate 3 in Clothing
Production and a Statement of
Attainment from Certificate 4 in Product
Development and Merchandising.
The graduation ceremony took place
at Parliament House.
ABOVE Graduates of the outworker course
with Jaala Pulford, Parliamentary Secretary
for Industrial Relations Victoria.
 our community

Kabaddi World Cup

An intriguing mix of tag, wrestling and speed,
Kabaddi is fast becoming a popular sport in Australia.
An intriguing mix of tag, wrestling and speed, Kabaddi is
fast becoming a popular sport in Australia. Last year fans of
Kabaddi, a sport that originates in northern India, were treated
to a dazzling display of agility and grace.
The Melbourne Kabaddi Academy (MKA) organised an

‘‘
international level Kabaddi tournament in Melbourne on
behalf of the Punjabi community. The one day event was held
on 2 November 2008 and teams from Australia, America,
Canada and England participated. More than 10,000 people
attended the event and watched the teams battle it out.
Kabaddi is an unusual
mixture of tag, wrestling,
‘‘
Kuldip Bassi, the director of the Melbourne Kabaddi
Academy, is keen to get more people involved in the sport and speed, agility and tactics.
says it would be popular for AFL and league fans alike.
Kabaddi is the most popular sport of the northern regions of
India, particularly the Punjab, but it is also played in Pakistan,
Bangladesh, south Asia and regions where Sikh communities
have migrated, such as Canada, America and England.
The sport is an unusual mixture of tag, wrestling, speed,
power, agility and tactics. There are two styles of kabaddi,
but the one played in Australia involves two teams of up to
12 players, held on a circular field. An attack involves one
player at a time making a 30-second raid, 25 for each team in
a 20-minute half, into the opposition's half.
WHERE TO PLAY Melbourne Kabaddi Academy, contact Kuldip Bassi
0425 831 117. Singh Sabha Sports Club, contact Satnam Singh
0417 035 226. Melbourne Punjabi Sports Club, Punjab Warriors.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 19
 our community

Discovering Buddha
in the classroom
Victorian students will receive a more worldly
education thanks to a teacher resource kit.
The Minister for Children and Early
Childhood Development and Member for
Mount Waverley Maxine Morand launched

Young Muslim leaders the unique education resource, created by

the Buddhist Council of Victoria at Mount
Waverley Primary School on Friday 14
A leadership training program has been designed to November 2008.
empower young Muslim men and women and help them Ms Morand said the Brumby Government
provided $16,000 towards the development
to reach their full potential as citizens and future leaders.
of the Discovering Buddha resource through
The Minister Assisting the Premier field trips, debates and interviews the Victorian Multicultural Commission
on Multicultural Affairs, James with prominent decision makers. Community Grants Program.
Merlino, announced in November “I congratulate all of the “The Victorian Government is taking
$180,000 in funding to support graduates for their hard work action to strengthen multiculturalism
the successful Leadership Training and dedication. It is truly inspiring in Victoria and is a proud supporter of
Program for Young Muslims run see young people who are multicultural community groups and respect
by the Centre for Dialogue at determined to break down cultural for diversity in schools,’’ Ms Morand said.
La Trobe University. Mr Merlino and religious barriers within our Buddhists from three traditions and
made the announcement at a communities,” said Mr Merlino. 14 different ethnicities came together to
special ceremony held for the The aim of the program is to produce the resource, which represents the
graduates who undertook the empower young Muslim men diversity of Buddhists in Victoria and engages
course during 2008. and women. students to develop greater self-awareness,
The Leadership Training Program TOP Minister Assisting the Premier on
wisdom and compassion.
for Young Muslims involves Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino with For more information on the resource visit
workshops, seminars, lectures, some of the new young Muslims leaders. www.bcvic.org.au

WOMEN'S GROUP GOING STRONG

The peak body for migrant and refugee women in Victoria last year celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Jenny Mikakos, Member for
Northern Metropolitan Region and
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning
launched the Victorian Immigrant and
Refugee Women's Centre's (VIRMC)
10th anniversary celebrations at
Government House on 14 November
2008 and congratulated the
organisation for its ongoing success.
“10 years is a significant milestone
for any organisation working in the
not-for-profit sector.
The VIRWC has enormous reason
to be proud – it can look back over
a long history of supporting women
through training, advocacy, and
capacity building,” Ms Mikakos said.
Almost 200 people attended the
event, including VIRWC Chief Patron
Mrs. Jan de Kretser, who praised the
organisation for its work.
“The Victorian community is
richer for having the Victorian
Immigrant and Refugee Women’s
Coalition. The VIRWC does not only
give a voice to women; it enhances
and improves the status of women
through the creative programs that
it manages,” she said.
The (VIRWC) has a unique and
responsive approach to fulfilling its
mission. Working at the grassroots
level with women’s organisations,
it has connected groups of women,
focused on building leadership, and
encouraged engagement through the
arts and media for the past 10 years.
The VIRWC provides an avenue
for women whose voices might
otherwise not be heard on issues of
importance to them.
The Victorian Government has
contributed $23,800 over the past two
years to the groundbreaking ‘Recipe
for Community Harmony’ project.

20 Summer 2009

Interfaith gathering
Since 1989, the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong has held an Annual Gathering.
Each year, leaders of faith communities
in the City of Greater Dandenong come
together to work for the promotion
of harmonious relations in their
multicultural, multifaith community.
The Interfaith Network (IFN) is a
group of leaders from a diverse range of
cultural and religious faiths, including
Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu,
Islamic, Jewish and Sikh faiths and
their communities. The Sathya Sai and
Brahma Kumaris spiritual organisations
are also members of the IFN.
A traditional part of the Annual
Gathering is the central presentation
which is based upon the United Nations
theme for the year. The theme for
last year's Annual Gathering, held on
Wednesday 22 October and attended
by more than 300 people, was the
‘International Year of Languages’.
All of the IFN faith leaders participated
in a ceremony reflecting upon the
importance of understanding each other
through speaking words of kindness
and love.
The Annual Gathering features the
signing of the Common Statement
by all of the IFN faith leaders, which
commits committing the IFN to work
towards peace and harmony within the
municipality. An address by the Mayor
of the City of Greater Dandenong and
the announcement of the new IFN
executive for the following year are also
part of the evening. The 2008 Gathering
also included a performance by the
Greater Dandenong Combined Schools
Interfaith Group, with students from
four local schools: Killester College,
Minaret College, St Anthony's Primary
School and Southvale Primary School.
our community
MAIN Faith leaders from across
the City of Greater Dandenong
came together for the Annual
Interfaith Gathering.
The City of Greater Dandenong Interfaith
Network also runs tours of worship
throughout the year. A typical tour takes
in places of worship including mosques,
Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches,
Buddhist temples, and Orthodox Churches.
Please contact Helen Heath on (03) 9546
8441 or email helenheath@bigpond.com
for more information and to book a tour.
The Casey Multi-Faith Network is also
running places of worship tours for local
schools and the broader public.
For additional information or to make
a booking please contact Pam Mamouney
on pammam@tadaust.org.au
The IFN is looking with great
anticipation towards 2009's Annual
Gathering when it will celebrate its
20th Annual Gathering and 20 years
of working for peace, harmony and
understanding in the community and
beyond. The IFN of the City of Greater
Dandenong, and other interfaith
networks around Victoria, are supported
by the Victorian Government through
its Promoting Multifaith Multicultural
Harmony Grants.
mv multicultural VICTORIA 21
 our community
Multicultural challenge
As part of the AFL International Cup, held in September 2008,
a multicultural challenge was organised among the African,
Asian and Tongan communities.
The concept of teams from the African,
Tongan and Asian communities in
Melbourne participating in the AFL 2008
International Cup came after the early
success of the AFL Multicultural Program
in engaging with the communities.
Each community expressed an interest
in forming a team and the result was a
toughly fought out tournament.
The AFL co-ordinated the formation
of the teams and with the assistance of
the North Melbourne and Essendon
Football Clubs, Team Africa commenced
training in early June 2008. Most of
the squad members come from the
Kensington area in Melbourne, South
East (Dandenong), with others coming
from Geelong and three from South
Australia. Squad members represent
Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Egypt, Djibouti, Oromia,
Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Team Asia was born out of the work
Michael Nguyen (AFL Multicultural
Development Officer) is doing as coach
of the predominantly Asian based team,
the Elgar Park Dragons. Due to the level
of commitment and strategy Michael
and the other volunteers are harnessing
in this significantly Asian populated
region, many new people are taking
up Australian football. The Victorian
Government through the Victorian
Multicultural Commission, provided
support for this team.
The Tongan community in Melbourne
22 Summer 2009
Education
Resource Centre
turns 20
On 3 December 2008 the Victorian
Photography Robert Keely
Government celebrated 20 years of
service to the educators of Victoria
by the Languages and Multicultural
Education Resource Centre (LMERC).
LMERC is a dedicated resource centre
for teachers and an important plank in
the Department’s commitment to the
Victorian Government’s multicultural
policy initiatives.
The Centre holds more than
27,000 items and provides Victorian
teachers with resources that support
implementation of multicultural
and global perspectives throughout
the curriculum. It has specialist
collections for English as a Second
Language, Languages other than
English, civics and citizenship, studies
of Asia, human rights, values and
peace education, including many
21st century electronic resources.
Through the LMERC staff, thousands
of teachers have been given practical
teaching advice and resources to better
is very supportive of Australian football meet the diverse learning needs of their
and many of the young people are keen students. These teachers have been
to play the game. Whilst fundraising better able to teach English, to nurture
efforts were not substantial enough to their students’ love of language and
bring out a team from the Kingdom of learning, to help them to fully develop
Tonga in 2008, the team was made up global perspectives and cultural literacy,
of young people from Melbourne’s local and to prepare them to be contributing
Tongan community. global and multicultural citizens
Many of the players representing Team wherever they reside.
Africa, Team Asia and Kingdom of Tonga Victorian Multicultural Chairperson
reside in Australia, not many of them George Lekakis also launched the
play Australian football at community commemorative booklet, Languages and
grass roots football clubs. Multicultural Education Resource Centre:
Other initiatives the AFL has developed 1988-2008 at the event.
to encourage participation in football by
multicultural communities include the
AFL Multicultural Schools Cup, which
is played between the schools that have
completed the AFL Multicultural Schools
program. It is an initiative of the AFL
Multicultural Program and encourages
participation by all children to play the
game. Rules are modified accordingly
for maximum participation and safety.
For more information visit
www.aflvic.com.au

Dancers blossom in Bendigo
Elderly residents enjoyed performances from a talented group of
dancers in Bendigo who brought traditional Chinese culture to life.
The Bendigo Chinese Association
Dancing Team, Plum Blossom, is a
group of young girls passionate about
the intricacies of Chinese dance. The
group trains regularly and learns dance
routines that combine Chinese history
and culture. Through the Women
Creating Harmony program, the dancers
visited 10 aged care facilities in Bendigo
to demonstrate their skills.
The dancers performed some of the
most famous traditional dances of
white ribbon lunch
More than 60 women came together in the City of Casey to support White Ribbon Day in 2008.
White Ribbon Day was originally as
a campaign to urge men to speak out
against violence to women. The White
Ribbon is now the symbol for the
International Day for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women, which
was declared by the United Nations
General Assembly in 1999. The White
Ribbon Foundation of Australia aims
to eliminate violence against women
by promoting culture-change around
the issue.
On 25 November 2008, the Casey
Multi-faith Network hosted a White
Ribbon Luncheon at the City of Casey
China, including ‘The Emperor and
the Fairies in the Moon Palace’ (Ribbon
Dance). It is more than 1200 years
old, dating back to the Tang dynasty.
The story tells of Emperor Tang-Ming-
Hwon, who dreamed he was at the
Moon Palace where he was surrounded
by fairies singing and dancing. A second
dance that was performed was ‘The
Red Ansai Waist Drum & Little Hand
Drum Dance’, which comes from
villages in northern Shanxi. A dancer
Council Chambers for more than 60
women. The luncheon provided a
wonderful opportunity for women from
diverse backgrounds to come together,
get to know each other and discuss
aspects of their faith and culture.
our community
with a red drum tied to her waist holds
a drumstick with red silk, beating the
drum while dancing. Another popular
dance was the ‘Fan Dance’, which was
performed with a feather fan.
In Chinese culture, the plum blossom
flower represents beauty and longevity.
A woman’s strength and beauty is
sometimes compared to the plum
blossom and some take the deeper
meaning of the representation to be:
“Even when a woman is old and tough,
she can still bring beauty to the world”.
The Plum Blossom dancers were
funded by the Victorian Government’s
Women Creating Harmony program
delivered through the Victorian
Multicultural Commission.
VMC Commissioner Samar
Mougharbel spoke about the holy
Islamic festival of Ramadan, while
Stephanie Saunders spoke about
the importance of the Sabbath and
the significance of certain meals for
the Jewish faith.
Samoan Christian singers
entertained the women with their
beautiful vocals during the luncheon.
The women who attend the
luncheon discussed the importance
of women from all traditions coming
together to discuss issues that affected
all communities.
mv multicultural VICTORIA 23
 in focus
awards for excellence • human rights • UN media peace awards

Awards for
excellence
The Victorian Government recognised more than 180 individuals
and organisations for outstanding service to Victoria’s multicultural
and wider community at a special ceremony at Government House
in December 2008.

I
n presenting the Victorian Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs, the
Premier of Victoria, John Brumby said they were an important way to recognise,
celebrate and encourage excellence in Multicultural Affairs.
“Our state is renowned for its generosity, compassion, and willingness to
embrace new and emerging elements while ensuring traditions of the past are not
forgotten. These Awards recognise the commitment and dedication of individuals
who have made a real impact in their local community.”
The event, hosted by Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria,
attracted more than 600 members of Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith
communities. The Governor and the Premier were joined by the Minister Assisting
the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, Parliamentary Secretary for
Multicultural Affairs, Liz Beattie and Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police,
Christine Nixon who presented awards across eight categories.

This PAGE, TOP to bottom A representative from Federation Square, winner of the Premier's Award
for Community Harmony with the Premier of Victoria John Brumby. Constable Nadia Hammoud
was acknowledged for her enhancement of harmonious relations between police and Victoria’s
culturally and linguistically diverse communities by Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police Christine
Nixon. Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs James Merlino with recipients of the
Victorian Multicultural Education Award. Minister Merlino with a representative of the Australian
Karen Organsiation.
opposite page, clockwise from top left Parliamentary Secretary Liz Beattie with members from
the Whittlesea Council, who were awarded the Local Goverment Award. Premier John Brumby with
Melaku Ali and Kiemi Lai for their work with diverse communities. VMC Chairperson George Lekakis
with guests at Government House. Thi Lan Huong Vo from the Vietnamese Veteran's Association
with Premier John Brumby. The crowd enjoyed the awards ceremony at Government House. Award
recipient George Zangalis with Professor de Kretser.

24 Summer 2009
 ‘‘
‘‘ Recognising the commitment and
dedication of individuals who have made
a real impact in their community.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 25
 in focus
above LEFT Natalija Nesvadba was recognised for her work with Alzheimer's Australia, with Premier
John Brumby. above right Percy Fernandez was recognised for his work with the Indian-Australian
community of Victoria, with Professor de Kretser.
The following is a list of recipients
for 2008:
Award for Meritorious
Service in the Community
Recognising the outstanding
achievements of a community group
or individual who has had a minimum
of 10 years voluntary service at a
governance level.
Individuals
Mr Peter Adamis, Mrs Joan Adamson,
Mr Sam Alessi, Mrs Leonilla Alexeev,
Mr Tissa Amarasekera, Mr George
Andreou, Mrs Esther Antos, Ms Tania
Bacash, Ms Julianna Balazs, Mr Vincenzo
Barca, Mr Frank Bevacqua, Mr Aleksander
Bialocerkowski, Mrs Teresa Borzillo,
Mr Anton Brne, Mr Peter Bujnowski,
Mr Josef Caf, Mr Michele Capaldo,
Mr Sai Kit Chan, Mrs Alison Chapman,
Ms Slava Crooks, Mr Philip K.S. Chui,
Mr Romolo Di Giulio, Mrs Renza Dirksz,
Mr Franco Dondio, Mr Costas Elisseou,
Ms Anna Feoktistova, Mr Percy Fernandez,
Mr Nickiforos Floratos, Mr Vincenzo
Galtieri, Mrs Maria Gardani Calandro,
Mr Iakovos Garivaldis, Mr Carmine
Gattuso, Ms Claire Gazis, Ms Angela
Giardino, Mrs Figen Hasimoglu,
Mon Frank Hickey, Mr Russell Jack AM,
Mr Chris Kalaitzis, Mrs Maria Kallinteridis,
Ms Dilpreet Kaur Jaswal, Mr Abdul Khan,
Mr Menachem Khoen, Mrs Bernadette
Khoury, Moefaauo Lotomau Komiti,
Mr Stylianos Konstantinidis, Mr Spyros
26 Summer 2009
Korosidis, Mr Michael Kypreos (Metaxas),
Mrs Galina Lobanov, Mr Domenico Lagana,
Mr Yin Choi Lam, Mrs Donata Lattanzio,
Mr Wellington Lee, Mr Paul Lesur,
Mrs Ghyliane Lesur, Ms Zhao Ran Li,
Ms Xiu Yu Lin, Mr Vincent Kou Chiang Liu,
Mr Egon Lutjens, Mr David Manne,
Mrs Afshan Mantoo, Mrs Sithy Marikar,
Mrs Agnes Marton, Mr Frank Merlino,
Mrs Valentina Mezentseff, Ms Jolanta
Mielczarek, Mr Lucio Miranda,
Dr Mohamed Firdausy Mohideen,
Mr Denis Muto, Mr Eamon Naughton,
Ms Marika Orosz, Ms Kathryn Osmond,
Mr Achilleas Papadopoulos, Cr Kris Pavlidis,
Mr Antonis Polycarpou, Dr Ambalavaner
Ponnampalam, Ms Elly Potamidis,
Mr Satishwar Prakash, Ms Birute Morta
Prasmutas, Ms Maria Presti, Mr Haralambos
Prodromidis, Ms Anna Romeo,
Mrs Franciska Sajn, Mr Carlo Salustro,
Mr Jim Sarris, Mr Demos Savva,
Mrs Umran Simsir, Mr Kuldip Singh Bassi,
The Late Mr Joginder Singh Rai, Mrs Jessica
Smugrevski, Mr Rucio Sosnowski,
Mr Luigi Sozzi, Ms Christoula Stefanatos,
Mr Bhim Sud, Mr Kouy Taing, Mr Martin
Taliana, Mr Mean Te, Ms Brigitte Tornatora,
Mrs Antonietta Tricarico, Mr Ilias Tsinanis,
Mr Nick Tsousis, Mr Teddy Tuason,
Mrs Eleftheria Tzouvelis, Ms Lucy Urbancic,
Mrs Rosa Volpe, Mr Arthur Sung Ta Wu,
Mr John Zafiropoulos, Mr George Zangalis,
Mr Jerry Zhu, Mr Marko Zitterschlager,
Ms Marilyn Zukalski.
service delivery to
Multicultural victoria
Award – community services
Recognising excellence in: aged care,
arts, community services, education,
emergency services, employment,
health, local government, planning,
regional development and tourism.
Individuals
Ms Fatha Ade, Mr Melaku Ali, Mr Abdul
Nasir Aatifi, Ms Barbara Chapman,
Mr Tony Charbel, Ms Mila Abenoja
Cichello, Ms Sulaika Dhanapala,
Mr David Diaz, Mr Vajira Ekanayake,
Ms Carmen Gatt, Mrs Alicja Gotlib,
Mr Bill Hatzisimeonidis, Mr Meca Khoa
Ho, Ms Renate Kamener, Ms Rashika
Kulasinghe, Ms Carol Makhoul, Mrs Nelly
Mavraganis, Mr Vlassis Mavraganis,
Ms Kavisha Mazzella, Mrs Geeti Mukhlas,
Ms Claire Naffah, Ms Natalija Nesvadba,
Mr Stephen O'Malley, Mr Chin Nhu Ong,
Mr Aristos Panagakis, Mr Menios Paterakis,
Dr Senake Perera, Ms Pina Piedimonte,
Mr Trevor Prabhakaran, Mr Fritz Schwab,
Mr Harbir Singh Kang, Mr Roman Syrek,
Mr Loc Trinh, Ms Liz Tripodi, Mrs Sebastiana
Valvo, Mr Sotirios Vassos, Mrs Liang
Wanghua.
Organisations
• AMES Community Guide Program
• Australian Indian Innovations Inc.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence
• Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia Inc.
• City of Greater Dandenong – Youth
Services – Sports Inclusion Program
• City of Yarra – Belonging In Australia Project
• Edmund Rice Centre
• Jewish Cultural Centre & National
Library Kadimah
• Louise Multicultural Community Centre
• Otway Community College
• Spectrum MRC – Aged & Disability Services/
Employed Carers
• Innovative Program
• Suzuki Night Market – Queen Victoria Market
• Tabulam & Templer Homes for the Aged Inc.
• Turkish Tulip Festival – Australian Turkish
• Cultural Platform
• Uniting Care Cutting Edge
• Vietnamese Veterans Association of Victoria
• Hong Bang Vietnamese Ethnic School
• Wellsprings for Women Inc.
 in focus

VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL
COMMISSION AMBASSADOR AWARD
This honour is awarded to individuals
or organisations who have shown
exemplary demonstration of leadership
in the promotion of Victoria’s cultural
diversity through the articulation and
implementation of a vision, idea or activity
for the benefit of the whole community.
• Cr Christopher Gahan
• Ms Kiemi Lai
• Australian Karen Organisation

MEDIA AWARD
Recognising excellence in the reporting
of multicultural affairs; and coverage that
furthers the understanding and promotion
of multiculturalism to create a fairer Victoria.
• Ms Farah Farouk
• Ms Dewi Cooke

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD

Recognising major improvements made, or
initiatives developed, by a local municipal
council that promotes and strengthens
multiculturalism and meets the identified
needs of that municipality’s culturally and
linguistically diverse communities.
• City of Whittlesea

VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL
EDUCATION AWARD
Recognising initiatives and practices
that support and raise awareness of the
educational and settlement needs of
migrants and refugees and the promotion
of multicultural initiatives in schools.
• Ms Chau Cong
• Eastern Schools Refugee Action
Network (ESRAN)
• Noble Park Primary School

POLICE AND COMMUNITY

MULTICULUTRAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AWARD (PACMAC)
Acknowledging police members who have
demonstrated exemplary commitment
to the development and enhancement of
top Ms Fatha Ada was awarded a Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Award for her work
harmonious relations between police and with the Somali community, with Premier John Brumby. centre left Inspector Nigel Howard
Victoria’s culturally and linguistically was awarded a PACMAC award by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon. centre right Councillor
diverse communities. Christopher Gahan was awarded a VMC Ambassador Award for his continued commitment to
multicultural affairs, with Minister Merlino. above left Ms Janina Siwek from the Polish Senior
• Inspector Nigel Howard
Citizens Club of Footscray with Professor de Kretser. above right Noble Park Primary School
• Senior Constable Crystal Cartwright representative with Parliamentary Secretary Liz Beattie for the school's exceptional work in
• Migrant Information Centre Eastern Melbourne furthering the understanding of multiculturalism.
• Constable Nadia Hammoud

mv multicultural VICTORIA 27
 in focus
Celebrating
human rights
In 2008 the United Nations recognised 60 years since the
implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I
n the aftermath of the horrors of World War II, a concerted
effort was made to protect the rights of all humans. On
10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR). Australia was one of eight States given responsibility
for drafting the Declaration and fittingly, the Minister for
External Affairs at the time, Dr HV Evatt, was the President
of the General Assembly and chaired the session at which
the UDHR was passed.
In 2008, the United Nations observed the 60th anniversary
year of the Declaration and all Australians were reminded of
the significance of protecting human rights. Celebrating the
anniversary is more than symbolic, it confirms the place of human
rights within the political discourse taking place in Australia
and the Government’s interest in considering how to further
strengthen human rights. The Australian Government used the
occasion to announce a National Human Rights Consultation
on ways to promote and protect human rights in the future.
This is an historic opportunity for individuals and
28 Summer 2009
communities throughout Australia to have their say about
the protection of the fundamental values of freedom, respect,
equality and dignity.
The 60th anniversary also saw the Victorian Equal
Opportunity & Human Rights Commission’s annual Human
Rights Oration on the topic ‘Climate change and human
rights: Protecting the rights of future generations’. This year,
the inspiring speech was delivered by Dan Adams, the Young
Victorian of the Year for 2008. The speech focused on the threat
climate changes places on fundamental human rights, including
the right to life itself. The fact that those least responsible for
climate change, namely people in the developing world, young
people and future generations, are those who will be most
affected raises the question of equity and moral obligations.
Victoria is a leader in the promotion of human rights in
Australia. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights
Commission (VEOHRC) has been at the forefront of developing
a culture of human rights and will play a major role in the
consultation process on the national charter.

“The Commission can bring experience and practical
knowledge to the process of consultation on a National
Charter,” said the VEOHRC Chief Executive Officer
Dr Helen Szoke.
“Since 2007, we have worked as the human rights watchdog
in the only state in Australia with a Charter of Human Rights,
monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the
Victorian Charter.”
The VEOHRC has worked with members of the general
community to educate and advise them on how to assert
their rights; with public bodies to educate them about their
responsibilities to implement the Charter; assisted courts
to utilise the Charter in their decision-making and assisted
the Government to consider human rights in the process of
drafting new legislation. They also have a team of Young
Ambassadors who work with younger members of the
community to educate them about the protection of human
rights Victoria is committed to.
“Our work has shown that it is possible to realise the
process of providing a human rights insurance policy to the
community,” said Dr Szoke. “We look forward to working
in collaboration with the community, the federal government
and other bodies from around Australia in the consultation
towards a National Charter.”
This Page, above Commission youth ambassador David Vincent, Dr Helen Szoke
and John Belieu from Foundation House, at the launch of Rights of Passage.
opposite page, main Participants at the Human Rights Oration.
right George Lekakis, VMC; Dr Helen Szoke, VEOHRC; David Gregory VECCI;
Samuel Machar, Sudanese Community Association of Australia; Nick Kotsiras,
Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, at the Harnessing
Diversity report launch.
in focus
rights of passage
The VEOHRC works to protect all Victorian’s human
rights. Recent work has involved the Australian-
Sudanese community in the City of Greater Dandenong,
in particular the issues faced by younger members of the
community. A recent report, Rights of Passage: Experiences
of Australian-Sudanese young people is the result of more
than 200 interviews with young people, consultations
with more than 30 community and government workers
as well as written submissions.
The report analyses the stories of Australian-Sudanese
young people and looks at the impact on their human
rights, which are protected by the Victorian Charter of
Human Rights, the Equal Opportunity Act and the Racial
and Religious Tolerance Act.
The report is available at www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
For help with information and advice about experiences of racism
and discrimination, contact the Commission’s Advice Line on
(03) 9281 7100.
Freedom Respect Equality Dignity
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights
Conference will facilitate a conference on human rights
in March during Cultural Diversity Week. The conference
will bring together respected human rights advocates
and present a series of panel discussions on protecting
human rights. Debate will focus on: The Achievement
of Human Rights, The Experience of Human Rights,
and The Business of Human Rights.
Where Melbourne Park Function Centre When 16 –17 March 2009
Details www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
mv multicultural VICTORIA 29
 in focus
Promoting peace
this page, main and opposite page, top left
The African Royal Drummer perform at the
UN Media Peace Awards.
opposite page, bottom left Victorian
Multicultural Commission Chairperson George
Lekakis presents SBS journalist Jennie Brockie
with her award. bottom right The Age
journalist Dewi Cooke speaks after receiving
a special commendation for her work.
30 Summer 2009
through the media
The best social justice stories of 2008 were recognised with
a United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award.
These prestigious national Awards
have recognised the best of Australian
journalism for the past three decades,
and the Award winners focused on
a wide range of both national and
international issues.
In 2008, the 30th anniversary year,
44 outstanding reports and programs
were short-listed to take home a coveted
Media Peace Award. Finalists were
spread across the major categories of
print, television, radio, photojournalism
and online, and five special category
awards for journalism which promotes
understanding of multicultural issues,
Aboriginal reconciliation, older persons,
women’s rights and children’s rights.
The joint chairs of the judging panel
for the Awards, Justice Philip Cummins
(of the Victorian Supreme Court) and
Michael Smith (former editor of The Age)
said the standard of this year’s entries
was outstanding, and demonstrated the
commitment of Australian journalists to
quality reporting.
They said: “Some of the best work
produced by Australian journalists
has featured in these awards over the
last 30 years, and 2008 proved to be
no exception.”
Investigative journalism dominated
the awards again this year, with some
exceptional pieces on subjects ranging
from international child trafficking and
its connections to adoptions in Australia,
to the realities of domestic violence.

International reports publicised the
plight of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and
several winning entries focused on
national Indigenous issues.
Winners were announced at a gala
Presentation Dinner held at the Arts
Centre in Melbourne on Friday 24
October, to coincide with United
Nations Day. The evening was hosted
by the ABC’s Kerry O’Brien, and guests
were entertained by the captivating
African Royal Drummers, and comedian
Rod Quantock.
In attendance were former Governor-
General of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen
and Lady Stephen; Maxine Morand,
Minister for Children and Early
Childhood Development and Minister
for Women's Affairs; Lisa Neville,
Minister for Senior Victorians; VMC
Chairperson George Lekakis; Award
finalists; representatives from the
judging panel; and UNAA members.
All those present on the night bore
witness to a year in focus; the issues,
triumphs, tragedies, and overwhelming
optimism that those in the media can
make a difference by raising awareness
and highlighting issues within our society.
‘‘ Some of the best work produced
by Australian journalists has
featured in these awards.
The winners on the night were:
Victorian Multicultural
Commission/Australian
Multicultural Foundation
Promotion of
Multicultural Issues
 inner Jenny Brockie, Lisa Main & Anne
W
Worthington – ‘Another Country’, SBS
TV Insight.
Special Commendation Farah Farouque,
Dewi Cooke – ‘Ganging up on Africans’, The Age.
best print
News
Winner Jill Margo & Steve Georgopoulos –
‘The terminally ill deserve better’,
The Australian Financial Review.
Feature
Winner Rory Callinan – ‘Stolen Children’,
Time Magazine.
Special Commendation David Leser
– ‘Children Overboard: Two Women, Two
Stories’, The Australian Women’s Weekly.
BEST TELEVISION
News
Winner Auskar Surbakti – ‘Rebuilding Aceh
Series’, SBS World News Australia.
in focus
‘‘
Current Affairs
Winner Matt Brown, Brant Cumming &
Simon Brynjolffssen – ‘Syria – Iraqi Refugees’,
ABC TV Foreign Correspondent.
Special Commendation Jane Hansen &
Nick Farrow – ‘From Behind the Razor Wire’,
Channel Nine Sunday Program.
Documentary
Winner Aaron Lewis, Ashley Smith, David
Potts & Raphael Tenthani – ‘The Heroes
Are Tired (Africa’s Deadly Brain Drain)’,
SBS TV Dateline.
Special Commendation Eric Campbell,
Ian Altschwager, David Martin, Brant Cumming
& Bryan Milliss – ‘Armenia – Ghosts of the
Past’, ABC TV Foreign Correspondent.
BEST RADIO
Winner Damien Carrick & Anita Barraud –
‘Central Australia’, ABC Radio National,
Law Report.
BEST PHOTOJOURNALISM
 inner Stephen Dupont – ‘Inside a Suicide
W
Blast’, Sydney Morning Herald/The Age.
BEST ONLINE
Winner Rob Wellington & Anna Grieve –
‘Mabo Website’, Screen Australia.
mv multicultural VICTORIA 31
 government initiatives
Preventing discrimination
Progress is being made to tackle discrimination and prevent
illness as a result.
The evidence is clear – discrimination
based on ethnicity, ‘race’ or religion
has significant health impacts on those
who experience it, contributing to
mental health problems such as
anxiety and depression.
“People who are discriminated against
often feel unwelcome within their own
communities, and may find it difficult to
access the services and resources needed
to live healthy and productive lives,”
said VicHealth CEO Todd Harper.
Discrimination also offends human
rights and is unlawful in Victoria.
Data collected during a 2006 survey
of 4000 Victorians show that
discrimination remains an issue in
this state, especially for Indigenous
Victorians and those from migrant
and refugee backgrounds. While most
32 Summer 2009
events • awards • projects • support
Victorians support cultural diversity,
a substantial number hold attitudes
that suggest intolerance of ethnic
difference. Over one third of the survey
respondents said that some ethnic
groups ‘do not fit’ in Australia.
The Victorian Health Promotion
Foundation (VicHealth), in partnership
with the Victorian Equal Opportunity
and Human Rights Commission
(VEOHRC) are developing the Localities
Embracing and Accepting Diversity
(LEAD) Program to tackle this issue.
LEAD is a place-based demonstration
project to promote diversity, foster
equity and prevent discrimination.
Victorian local governments have
been invited to tender to participate in
this program. One local government
will receive $300,000 per annum over
main VicHealth is working
to tackle discrimination and
help people stay healthy.
three years. Partner organisations are
being sought to contribute further funds
to allow the inclusion of additional
local governments.
Through LEAD, VicHealth and the
VEOHRC will work in partnership
with local government to develop,
implement and evaluate a broad
range of innovative methods to
prevent interpersonal and institutional
discrimination. This is an area of activity
in which evidence-informed practice
is poorly developed and in which
there is much to gain and learn. The
program will focus on settings where
discrimination regularly occurs
(e.g. schools, workplaces, retail outlets
and sports clubs).
For more information on the LEAD Program
email lead@vichealth.vic.gov.au

Targeting
sensitive subjects
A new health promotion
resource gets families talking
about taboo subjects.
The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and
Health has recently completed a project
on raising awareness of hepatitis C and
sexually-transmissible infections (STI)
in migrant and refugee communities.
The Centre, through its Multicultural
Health and Support Service (MHSS),
organised weekend camps for Iraqi
and various African communities.
Families were invited to participate in
recreational activities and information
sessions, including health workshops
on hepatitis C and STI.
Health workshops were facilitated by
bilingual MHSS community workers
and by staff members from Hepatitis
C Victoria and Mary of the Cross
Centre. Arabic-speaking facilitators and
interpreters were used in workshops
and resources were made available in
both English and Arabic.
Information was presented with
consideration for the various roles held
chinese school agreement
Plans are being made to develop a Chinese Teacher Training school in Victoria.
The Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development
(DEECD) has been invited by the
Office of the Chinese Language
Council International, China
(Hanban) to enter into a partnership
to locate a Chinese Teacher Training
Centre in Victoria to service Australia
and the Oceania Region. On 22
September 2008 the Minister for
Education, the Hon Bronwyn Pike,
signed a Letter of Intent with Hanban
to proceed with planning towards its
establishment. Three Chinese Teacher
Training Centres will be established
by Hanban around the world to
complement the existing network of
Confucius Institutes.
ABOVE A participant at the Iraqi family camp.
within families and the importance of
community leaders. Participants were
encouraged to think about how this
knowledge could protect their families,
their friends and their community.
“In some families it’s not culturally
appropriate to talk about these issues. If
your approach is too direct, people will
simply deny that high-risk behaviours
exist in their community,” said Naomi
Ngo, manager of the MHSS team.
A DVD resource kit called Bridging
Differences, Enhancing Understanding
The establishment of a Chinese
Teacher Training Centre (CTTC)
in Victoria is an exciting prospect.
It is expected to provide high quality
and effective professional learning
opportunities for teachers which are
government initiatives
has been produced to support
training in culturally appropriate
health promotion. It is suitable for:
tertiary courses in social work, health
promotion, community development
and youth work; local councils that
offer services to migrant and refugee
communities; community health
centres; and health promotion agencies
and services.
For more information or to order the
DVD resource kit, phone (03) 9342 9700
or email enquiries@ceh.org.au
thought provoking, reflective and
engaging. Resource development
and research emanating from the
Centre will lead the way into a new
era of teaching Chinese language and
culture in an accessible way for all
learners. The project is expected to
commence in March 2009. The focus
for 2009 is expected to be delivery
of services within Victoria; in 2010
delivery of services within Australia
and in 2011, delivery of services
within the Oceania region.
The Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike,
with delegation members from Victoria at the
signing of the ‘Letter of Intent’ in Beijing on
22 September with Mme Shu Lin, Director,
Hanban and colleagues.
mv multicultural VICTORIA 33
 government initiatives
Improving housing outcomes
A program has been developed to help refugees negotiate
the tricky world of renting.
In early 2006, Consumer Affairs Victoria
(CAV) was approached by the Springvale
Community Aid and Advice Bureau
(SCAAB) to develop tenancy education
programs for Sudanese refugees in the
City of Greater Dandenong. SCAAB
had identified that many refugees
were experiencing difficulties in areas
such as renting and credit, and did
not understanding their rights and
responsibilities in relation to these areas
or what to do when problems arose.
the future of language services
The interpreting profession needs to become a more attractive career choice,
according to a recent panel discussion on the future of Victoria’s language services.
A recent panel discussion on the
future of Victoria's language services
has found the interpreting profession
needs to become a more attractive
career choice. The panel discussion,
‘Now we’re talking’ was hosted by
the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and
Health (CEH) in November 2008.
George Lekakis, Chairperson of the
Victorian Multicultural Commission,
introduced the event and outlined
current language service initiatives,
including interpreter awareness
training for government staff and
34 Summer 2009
The primary target audience for the
project were speakers of Dinka, Nuer
and Sudanese-Arabic. The program
intent was to equip this community
with the knowledge and skills required
by tenants to successfully negotiate
tenancy issues arising in Victoria.
The project involved consulting
with the community and developing
a 30-minute educational DVD in
community languages suitable to
community learning styles and literacy
research into alternative technologies
in regional language service provision.
The challenges raised included the
need to re-position the interpreter
industry and provide better training
and support to interpreters; and the
need to explore alternative technologies
to deliver language services.
It was noted that many communities
had a limited understanding of
their right to access professional
interpreting and translating services,
and that these communities would
need support to self-advocate for
LEFT Participants of the CAV tenancy education
program in Springvale.
levels and capturing key information
for the training program. The DVD was
designed as an accessible information
resource that could be re-used either in
conjunction with the training manuals,
or as stand alone information containing
the key messages which could be
distributed through settlement services
and libraries.
Another project adopted the train
the trainer approach for information
provision and used a flexible delivery
model, whereby 28 Sudanese
community educators delivered
information to the community at
community functions and gatherings,
at churches, and in people’s homes.
The education program was delivered
to a total of 1,965 Sudanese people
in Victoria.
CAV continues to work with
SCAAB to assist Sudanese migrants
during their settlement in Victoria
through the development of a second
DVD ‘Smart Shopping and Money
Matters’.
This DVD will be available from
November 2008 and includes
information about budgeting, credit,
advertising and contracts.
for more information please contact
Rachel Smith on (03) 8684 6455 or email
Rachel.Smith@justice.vic.gov.au
accessible language services.
Bilingual staff were also recognised
as playing a significant complementary
role in language service delivery.
CEH presented a set of guidelines for
recruiting and supporting bilingual
staff in the health and community
sector. These guidelines were produced
as part of the Bilingual Staff Research
Project, funded by the Victorian
Multicultural Commission.
A summary of the panel discussion and the
Bilingual Staff Research Project report are
both available from www.ceh.org.au
 government initiatives

Smart
shopping
Victoria’s Sudanese
community will be better
informed and confident
consumers, thanks to a new
credit education program.
Consumer Affairs Victoria director,
Dr Claire Noone, said the Smart
Shopping and Money Matters DVD
would give members of the Sudanese
community the skills they needed
to be aware of high pressure sales
tactics, contacts and how loans and
repayments work.
“New settlers are some of our
most vulnerable consumers, and this
program will ensure the Sudanese
community are informed about credit
management and consumer rights,”
Dr Noone said.
The program features an educational Ambulance Victoria
DVD in four languages (Dinka, Nuer,
Sudanese-Arabic and English) and a
simple family budgeting tool.
Smart Shopping and Money Matters is a
CPR awareness program
partnership program developed by CAV
An innovative self-learning CPR program uses a 20 minute
and the Springvale Community Aid and video/DVD to teach resuscitation in four key steps to people
Advice Bureau (SCAAB). The program with English as a second language.
is funded by the Consumer Credit Fund,
which is administered by CAV. Ambulance Victoria’s 4 Steps for Life to be with papa because he provides
Amanda Barker, SCAAB program CPR awareness program has reached legitimacy to the Italian community.
manager, said the Bureau was excited more than 500,000 Victorians – teaching The people we are generally targeting
by the opportunity to deliver the them the skills necessary to help save are people his age from Italy and it
program in partnership with CAV. their loved ones from cardiac arrest. helps,” he said.
“This initiative was developed Over the past four years, the program For Rosario, most of the people from
with the target community and we has expanded into 10 languages and the village he grew up in are now living
are confident it will result in better has been promoted by community in Australia. “Not only do I see these
decisions being made in relation to promotions officers, called LOTE people for coffee or dinner but now
money management,” she said. CPR promotions officers, who come I talk about the program with them.
Department of Immigration and from these communities. I meet lots of new people through the
Citizenship (DIAC) figures show One such officer is Claudio Cardamone. program and my friends that I already
the City of Greater Dandenong has Claudio is first generation Australian had from my village back me up on
the highest number of Sudanese and together with his father Rosario is my work when I meet new people.”
settlers arriving in Victoria under the promoting the program to the Italian
For further information about the
Australian Government Humanitarian community in Victoria. 4 Steps for Life program please contact
Programme. The program has helped Claudio is the only LOTE officer who Ambulance Victoria on 1300 550 472
settle more than 1,800 Sudanese in speaks English as a first language and or email cpr @ambulance.vic.gov.au
the area since 2002. said one of the reasons he took on this
The DVD can be ordered by contacting project was to connect with his father's ABOVE Father and son, Rosario and Claudio
Cara Dixon, Consumer Affairs Victoria, community. “I made it clear that if I Cardamone, enjoy working together to educate
on (03) 8684 6470. was to become involved it would have people about life saving techniques.

mv multicultural VICTORIA 35
 government initiatives

ABOVE VMC Chairperson George Lekakis with representatives from Alzheimer's
Australia Vic at the launch of the free kit.
Helping hand
A kit has been developed to help people learn
more about caring for people with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic has released its new Perceptions
of Dementia in Ethnic Communities resource kit, which
uncovers the different ways in which 12 ethnic communities
living in Victoria perceive dementia. The free kit is designed
to help different cultural ethnic backgrounds to develop a
better understanding of how their clients perceive their
condition. The resource kit is the product of extensive
consultations with Arabic, Croatian, Chinese, Greek, Italian,
Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and
Vietnamese communities.
The Perceptions of Dementia in Ethnic Communities resource kit
is available for download at www.alzheimers.org.au

Help with visas

A new edition of Victoria Legal Aid’s
brochure, Refugees and Protection
Visas is now available. The brochure
gives information about how Victoria
Legal Aid can help people who have
arrived in Australia, with or without
a visa, who may be refugees.
It's available in Farsi, Turkish, Arabic
and Mandarin Chinese, as well as
English. It also includes details relevant
to new Commonwealth laws and gives
brief answers to such questions as:
• Am I a refugee?
• What is a protection visa?
• How do I get a protection visa?
• What if I arrived here without a visa?
• Where can I get more information?
For more information phone (03) 9269 0223
or www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Victoria Legal Aid also runs free legal
advice sessions on refugee law and
some immigration matters.
For more information phone (03) 9269 0416.

EcoLiving grants
EcoLiving Grants Program Round Two is now open.
The EcoLiving Grants Program is
designed to build the capacity of
households and communities to
respond to the impacts of climate
change and sustainability issues.
The program provides funding to
assist development of EcoLiving
Centres to support households
and communities reduce everyday
environmental impacts by:
• helping households overcome
barriers to change;
• providing locally relevant
information and learning programs;
• working together with a range of
community members, organisations
and businesses to help achieve the
changes needed; and
• demonstrating sustainable
technologies and practices.
The objectives of the EcoLiving Grants
Program are:
• to facilitate greater understanding
and take-up of sustainable practices
by community members in their
homes and everyday lives;
• to facilitate long-term behavioural
change towards sustainable living
in the community; and
• to build the capacity of communities
to adapt to climate change.
There is approximately $1 million
available for community organisations
interested in establishing an EcoLiving
Centre. Projects must satisfy the
funding criteria to be considered for
grant allocation.
EcoLiving Grants Program Round Two
applications close at 2pm, Thursday
19 March 2009.

36 Summer 2009
 Level 11, 1 Spring Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Telephone (03) 9208 3184
Facsimile (03) 9208 3179
Email info@vmc.vic.gov.au
multicultural.vic.gov.au
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