The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria in partnership with Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) and Melbourne Playback Theatre Company presents a unique creative performance inspired by national Refugee Week theme Restoring Hope.

When refugees settle in Australia there is an emphasis on taking care of the essentials - food, housing, education and employment. Yet refugees also need resilience, courage and hope to face the challenges of settlement.

Playback Theatre actors draw on these themes to create a unique performance from the stories of audience members. These actors and musicians bring the audience's stories of hope and resilience in a way that is entertaining, surprising, and transformative.

 Date: Wednesday 13 June 2012

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Venue: Downstairs Gallery, Forty Five Downstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

The performance includes nibbles and drinks. Click here to register and download a flyer.

Keep a look out for further information about this key event on the 2012 public policy discussion agenda in Melbourne.

This FREE session will help you understand how local government works, what councillors do and what the challenges are in getting elected. Register NOW for this forum to be held in the evening at the ECCV in Carlton on 28 May by emailing us at eccv@eccv.org.au. Click here to download a flyer with all the details. Click here for a program.

This forum was funded by the Victorian HACC Program, supported by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments.

The forum was presented as part of Cultural Diversity Week 2012.

The group, led by Maria Vamvakinou MP and Russell Broadbent MP, was launched at Alphington Grammar on June 24.

The launch included a sand art interpretation of multiculturalism, speech by SBS Chairman Joseph Skrzynski and a presentation by Alphington Grammar School.

Both MPs said they were united in promoting the benefits of multiculturalism. They believed migration has enormous benefits to Australia, adding to the vibrancy of our society and increasing productivity.

ECCV supports greater representation for the multicultural community in the State and Federal Government and welcomes this bipartisan alliance.  

For more information about Federal Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism click here.  

View photo slideshow

On the 5 April 2011, the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit (VTPU) will host a forum on the mental health of expectant and new mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

This is part of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative in Victoria

The purpose of the day will be to:

• share information
• build links for future networking
• inform the development of the VTPU “Culturally responsive mental health services” educational component.

Call for expressions of interest to attend or present at the forum

VTPU are looking for expressions of interest in attending the forum from primary health workers with relevant experience or knowledge, or CALD and perinatal services providers. Relevant areas of work might include: mental health, primary health, social support, peer support, group programs with refugee and migrant communities, ethno-specific, multicultural and perinatal service providers.

Additionally, presentations of relevant work or research in the area of perinatal mental health are also invited. The Forum will be held on April the 5th 2011, time to be announced, at:

Brenan Hall, Aitkenhead Wing, St Vincent's Hospital, 27 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy

Expressions of interest should be received by 11 March 2011 to:

Kate Fagnani, Administration & Events Co-ordinator, VTPU on (03) 9288 3300 or at kate.fagnani@svhm.org.au

View photo slideshow.

Young people from refugee or migrant backgrounds are more likely to have caring responsibilities. However, services often struggle to identify these young people as carers and provide appropriate support. To address this gap, ECCV in partnership with the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and Carers Victoria are hosting a forum that will focus on young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds who provide ongoing care for a family member with an illness or disability.

Download the background paper Who Cares? Refugee and Migrant Young People with Caring Responsibilities (143kb). This paper will inform the debate.

For more information about the forum contact Nick Butera, on 9340 3700 or nbutera@cmy.net.au

Our training provides many benefits to employers and service providers including:

• harmonious and innovative workplaces
• improved organisational processes
• social responsibility
• improved outcomes for your clients and service users
• compliance with legal requirements and avoidance of liability.

To view the 2010 Commission workshop calendar online go to:
2010 Training workshops for employers and service providers

If you would like to receive one or more hard copies of the calendar click on the link below and provide your address details and the number of copies required.
Email link to receive hard copy of calendar