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THE AUSTRALIAN MOSAIC

The 17th edition of the Australian mosaic is out. 
Snippets from ISSUE 17 of the Australian mosaic, Australians all: the values debate:

Hon. Malcolm Fraser, Former Prime Minister of Australia:-
On Saturday 30 June, Judith Brett compared the way Menzies dealt with the emergency of communism to the way John Howard has and is dealing with terrorism…

Hugh Mackay, a psychologist, social researcher, columnist and the author of eleven books:-
The debate about Australian values, like the debate about national identity, comes and goes. While we might be ready to accept that our national identity is an evolving concept…

To order a hard copy please contact MaryAnn on (02) 6282 5755 or email her on admin@fecca.org.au.

FECCA CONGRESS 2007

Australian cultural and social diversity
within a global context

Following the great success of the FECCA congress, there has been a great deal of follow-ups in terms of memberships and subscriptions to our e-news.

• Please note that the speeches and presentations delivered at the congress are being posted on the website. If you were a speaker or presenter and have not forwarded your speech, please do so as soon as possible to policy@fecca.org.au.

• To view the range of speakers and presenters at the congress, and to access their speeches and presentations please visit the FECCA website at www.fecca.org.au and follow the prompts.

• To view all the recommendations please visit our website,
   http://www.fecca.org.au/congress/Recommendations.cfm.

FECCA would once again like to extend their gratitude to all the members, guest speakers and delegates who attended.

POLICY POSITION PAPERS

In the lead up to the Federal elections FECCA launched a set of policies and recommendations in areas of great importance to CLDB communities.

These policies are now available on the FECCA website www.fecca.org.au/policies.cfm.

RECENT MEDIA RELEASES

November
28/11/07   FECCA Welcomes New Government
21/11/07   Services Access Critical to Successful Migrant and Refugee Settlement
21/11/07   Media Alert: White Ribbon Day
19/11/07   Innovation needed for CALD Women and Children
16/11/07   FECCA calls for a ’fair go’ in migration citizenship and language policies
15/11/07   FECCA Urges Politicians to Remove Health  Ageing Barriers for Australia’s Multicultural Communities

October
31/10/07   No discrimination or Penalties for Non- English Speaking Workers
03/10/07   Fair Go for African Refugees
03/10/07   FECCA’s Policies

These can be downloaded from our website at www.fecca.org.au/Media_Releases.cfm.

FECCA WHITE RIBBON DAY EVENT

On Thursday 22 November FECCA brought the White Ribbon Day to the CALD communities in the ACT.

As Australia’s national peak body representing people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD), FECCA invited local CALD community groups to show their support for the campaign at a function held at the FECCA offices.

FECCA Chair Ms Voula Messimeri said that “violence against women is a universal concern for all communities. This not only provides a platform for CALD communities to engage in an international mainstream event, but also to unite in a common and universal cause by pledging their support for the elimination of violence against women.” The chair added that the event also created opportunities for leaders from New and Emerging communities to build networks and links with the wider community.

The White Ribbon Campaign was held on Sunday November 25, 2007.

The White Ribbon Day Campaign is an International Day held annually to draw attention to the message of the “Elimination of Violence against Women”.

The White Ribbon Day is a national Campaign and is in partnership with the United Nations (UNIFEM) and other organizations. For more information about the white ribbon campaign visit the White Ribbon Day Campaign website, http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au.

For more information about the FECCA initiative, contact:
Ms Leonie-Ruth Acland (FECCA Director) (02) 6282 5755; M: 0432 352 575.

FECCA'S DEFINITION OF MULTICULTURALISM

Multiculturalism acknowledges, accepts and respects the cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity of contemporary Australia and the unique position of our indigenous Australians as First Nation people. It provides the framework for just and equitable access to national resources, inclusive decision-making, and the rights of all to live without fear of prejudice, discrimination and vilification. It recognizes and promotes the socio-economic potential of diversity and facilitates and supports participation of all Australians in building a strong, harmonious and fair community.

FAMILIES GET TO KNOW THEIR MEDICINES
AWARD CEREMONY

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) have been running a pilot program in Queensland known as Families get to know their Medicines, which ended with an award ceremony on the 18th of October 2007.

The program targeted CALD communities with the aim of sharing information about the safe use of medicines with students and their families and, at the same time teach students about culture and language.

The program was piloted with Chinese, Vietnamese and Greek students in Queensland, and was based on the theory of ‘kitchen table’ discussions where students do homework and share general quality use of medicines messages with parents and grandparents in a comfortable environment.

At the awards ceremony held at The West End Club, students were awarded for the homework portfolios they put together as part of the program. The portfolio was designed to encourage students to share information about safe and effective use of medicines with their families.

The response to the program was overwhelming. The enthusiasm and interest generated demonstrates that important health messages can be conveyed in ways that are fun and accessible.

The pilot program is currently being evaluated with the potential for it being rolled out in other community language schools around Australia.

The winning students and schools along with photos of the event can be found at www.nps.org.au – click Get to know your medicines - my communities - families get to know their medicines.

For further information contact:
Maida Talhami on 02 8217 8700, (M) 0419 618 365 or mtalhami@nps.org.au, or Corinne Dobson on
(02) 6282 5755 or on mcqum2@fecca.org.au.

ETHNIC COMMUNITIES' COUNCIL OF QUEENSLAND (ECCQ)

Top International Speakers at the Queensland Multicultural Summit

The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) hosted the Queensland’s Multicultural Summit ’07 at the State Library of Queensland on 19 and 20 November 2007.

Exploring the theme, ‘Multiculturalism – Investing in our Future’, the summit attracted over 280 delegates. It’s hoped that the summits success will positively influence government, non-government organisations and the corporate sector to recognize and embrace the immense untapped potential which exists within our diverse community.

The Summit looked at challenging and expanding on key issues such as:

• Employment - utilizing our diverse human resource pool.

• Language diversity – our ignored asset?

• Citizenship and integration – fear-driven policy or strength-based vision?

• Diverse communities – nurturing our youth to caring for and rewarding our aged.

The keynote speakers were Philippe Legrain and Jason Yat-Sen Li. Other plenary speakers included:

• Professor Roland Sussex, Professor of Applied Language Studies at the University of Queensland.

• Stephen Maguire, Executive Director of Multicultural Affairs Queensland.

• Siyavash Doostkhah, Director of the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland.

• Andrew Bartlett, Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats and a Senator for Queensland.

A dominant theme which emerged from most speakers was that Australia should reverse the current trend and start moving forward in regards to multiculturalism, multicultural policies, and ensuring Australia is an accepting and equitable nation for its increasingly ethnically diverse population.

The full report and papers from the summit will be available soon on the ECCQ website.

FECCA BOOK SALE

FECCA has a limited number of John Langmore’s book - To Firmer Ground: Restoring Hope in Australia.

UNSW Press,  $32.95
FECCA,          $28.00

This book was commissioned by the Australian Collaboration, of which FECCA is a member. In the book John Langmore asks whether Australia is at a tipping point, reflected in dissatisfaction with work/life imbalance, growing public debate about values and changing voter preferences. The quality of both personal and public life has been undermined by preoccupation with individual income maximisation and neglect of broader concerns such as climate change and growing inequality. To Firmer Ground proposes an alternative vision for this country that prioritises the wellbeing of all Australians, the common good of our society and a national contribution to global peace and justice.

In order to reach these goals, strong leadership from government would be required and policies would have to evolve. To Firmer Ground offers sharp analysis of the critical issues confronting Australia that require immediate attention, and provides a persuasive, hopeful and practical set of solutions – an alternative vision for Australia that emphasises greater security, social justice and vitality.

Barry Jones writes that the book ‘presents a comprehensive analysis of Australia that is fair and balanced yet passionate and imperative, and closes with a powerful appeal, ‘A Way Forward’. The book addresses eleven major issues, all important, most urgent and some apocalyptic. Australians will do well to heed the advice.’ The issues include climate change, education, employment, health, housing, reinvigorated multiculturalism, justice for Indigenous Australians and global security and justice.

John Langmore is a Professorial Fellow in the Political Science Department at the University of Melbourne. Between 1997 and 2002 he was Director of the United Nations’ Division for Social Policy and Development in New York and for the previous 12 years he was the Member for Fraser in the Federal Parliament.

If you wish to purchase a copy at below retail price please contact MaryAnn on (02) 6282 5755 or on admin@fecca.org.au.

CENTRE FOR DIALOGUE CONFERENCE

The Centre for Dialogue is hosting a major international conference, ‘Europe and Asia between Islam and the United States: The Lessons of Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran’, to be held at La Trobe University, Melbourne on 6th -7th December 2007.

A major debate is rapidly taking place upon the geopolitical reconfigurations of Europe and Asia, two emerging centers of regional influence in global politics. An important part of this debate bears upon Europe’s and Asia’s alliances with the United States and the extent to which both regions can forge distinctive and constructive relationships with the Islamic world.

The conference brings together experts from Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States to analyse the ways Europe and Asia are addressing such issues. These complex and significant issues have many implications for Australia’s foreign policy.

The conference is organised in collaboration with seven prestigious research institutions spread across five countries:

1. The Centre for Dialogue (La Trobe University),

2. The Innovative Universities European Union Centre,

3. The Contemporary Europe Research Centre (University of Melbourne),

4. The Università degli Studi di Napoli “L'Orientale” (Naples, Italy),

5. The Institute for Social Ethics (Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan),

6. The Institute of International Relations (Warsaw University, Poland), and the Cold War Studies Centre, London School of Economics (UK).

7. The Ambassadé de France en Australie, and the Republic of Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also sponsoring the event.

Should you have any further enquiries, or would like more conference material, please contact James Oaten - j.oaten@latrobe.edu.au.

The conference is preceded by a one day forum 'Europe and Asia Between Islam and the United States: The Lessons of Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran'. 
For more info please visit: http://www.cerc.unimelb.edu.au/events/conferences.html.

WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTRALIA (WWDA)

WWDA the national peak organization for women with disabilities has recently published a Resource Manual on Violence against Women with Disabilities. This Manual is made up of four booklets:

A Life Like Mine! - Narratives from women with disabilities who experience violence (52 pages). Forgotten Sisters - A global review of violence against women with disabilities (112 pages). It's Not Ok It's Violence - Information about domestic violence and women with disabilities (76 pages). More Than Just A Ramp - A guide for women's refuges to develop disability discrimination act action plans (92 pages). Audio, e-text & Large Print PDF versions of the Booklets are included on a CD-ROM which accompanies the Manual. Cost: $22 AUD To order contact: Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Ph: 03 62448288 Fax: 03 62448255 Email: wwda@wwda.org.au

For more information visit www.wwda.org.au.

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (ARACY)

ARACY has commissioned two papers and will conduct a nationwide consultation on issues affecting youth from multicultural backgrounds to inform the continuing development of its National Youth Agenda.

The two commissioned papers, which have been prepared by the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI), review and summarise the needs and issues facing young people who have come to Australia from a diverse range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Project Coordinator Dr Geoff Holloway says the consideration of multicultural issues is fundamental to the development of the National Youth Agenda “given that so many of Australia’s youth population come from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds”.

The first of the multicultural issues papers, entitled “Multicultural Youth in Australia: Settlement and Transition”, outlines the needs of newly arrived young people across all areas, including:

• Education and training;

• Employment;

• Health services;

• Justice and the law;

• Sport and recreation;

• Youth participation.

This paper also contains a number of case studies of young people's experiences.

The second paper “Working with Multicultural Youth: Programs, Strategies and Future Directions” includes a comprehensive stock-take of existing multicultural youth programs across Australia and identifies gaps in existing services provision. The authors of the two reports, Dr. Steve Francis and Sarah Cornfoot, conclude that youth participation and consultations are key factors in meeting the above needs. They also suggest a range of strategies, including:

• The development of a national refugee youth settlement strategy;

• The development of an on-arrival case co-ordination model for young people;

• Enhanced youth orientation and information provision;

• Programs that build social capital;

• Cross-cultural parenting programs and family support;

• More opportunities for youth participation and community development projects;

• The development of community education programs and intercultural dialogue;

• Enhanced research and data collection;

• Outreach models and flexible service delivery;

• Investment in sector support;

• The creation of a national voice for multicultural youth issues.

Both reports can be downloaded by clicking on the following links: Paper 1, and Paper 2.

THE SUDANESE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS GROUP INC (SAIAG)