If you wish to subscribe or renew your subscription, please
download and complete a subscription form and fax it to (02)
6282 5734.
Snippets for issue 19 will be available on the website shortly,
where you’ll be able to view and download selected articles.
SUBMISSIONS
JUNE 2008 FECCA Submission
to the Productivity Commission’s Public Inquiry on Paid
Maternity,
Paternity and Parental Leave.
JUNE 2008 Submission on the Future of
Employment Services in Australia Review.
These can be downloaded from our website at
www.fecca.org.au/Media_Releases.cfm for Media Releases, or
http://www.fecca.org.au/submissions.cfm for Submissions.
Ethnic
Communities’ Councils of Queensland
KICKS ANOTHER GOAL!
ECCQ and the Queensland Police Service (QPS)
hosted Queensland’s fourth premier multicultural football
tournament this month. The theme for this year’s tournament,
held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on 8-9 June, was
break down barriers, overcome challenges, live in harmony.
Thirty two counties played 78 games across
seven fields at the Queensland Lions Stadium at Richlands. In an
exciting final match Greece beat Australia on penalties (4-2) to
take the coveted ECCQ Perpetual Trophy for 2008.
The engraved winner and runner-up floating
trophies are displayed in ECCQ House.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Fair-Play Trophy was awarded to the Vietnam Football Club. The
Golden Boot Award was won by Jaspel Benning who played for the
Indian team and scored 12 goals.The Afghanistan team (see
photograph), sponsored by ECCQ, played very well but were beaten
by Australia in the semi-finals. The 2nd Division winner was the
Scottish team, with India being the runners up.
The tournament was played very competitively
and in good spirits. It was a pleasure to see so many teams and
their supporters from diverse local ethnic communities join in
and obviously enjoy the day. There was a wonderful atmosphere on
the final day - the mix of sport, fete and music creating a
great vibe, a sense of goodwill, that achieved the sentiments of
the 2008 theme.
ECCQ thanks and acknowledges Sgt Jim Bellos,
QPS Cross Cultural Liaison Officer for Metropolitan South, for
his efforts in helping co-ordinate the tournament, Alex Daniloff,
ECCQ’s Treasurer for all his hard work, and all those who
assisted and contributed to the success of this event. Thanks
also go to the generous sponsors who supported the tournament.
And now the count-down starts for the 2009
ECCQ/QPS Cup.
MIGRANT
RESOURCE CENTRE
TOWNSVILLE-THURINGOWA
This year the annual Townsville Cultural Fest
will run concurrently with the International Unity in Diversity
Conference.
Cultural Fest is a five-day family event
showcasing the talents of Queensland’s most exciting music and
dance entertainers, foods and arts.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Cultural Fest
began as a one-day event featuring 20 local dance groups and
food stalls. Today it is one of the largest and most well-known
festivals of its kind in the country. In 2006 Cultural Fest
attracted close to 80,000 guests and involved at least 250 food
sellers, music and dance groups, market stalls and community
groups. A diversity of performances over the five days include
belly dancers, Latino cuisine, hula extravaganzas, mega drumming
circles, the Tropigo Street Carnival and Indigenous arts and
crafts.
The festival is hosted by the Migrant
Resource Centre Townsville-Thuringowa in partnership with the
Townsville City Council.
Being a peak tourist season visitors are
reminded to book accommodation early to avoid disappointment.
Contact Barrier Reef Dive Cruise & Travel on 07 4772 5800 for
all your accommodation requirements.
NAATI
Moves to increase the number of interpreters
The National Accreditation Authority for
Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) has announced a new
national project, funded by the Australian Government, to
increase the number of interpreters in new and emerging
languages in metropolitan areas and in languages where there are
shortages in rural and regional areas.
The fully-funded project includes 15-hour
workshops in various locations around Australia to help
applicants prepare for work as an interpreter and apply for a 'NAATI
Accreditation' test and/or 'NAATI Recognition'.
For more information visit -
http://www.naati.com.au.
Report
on Multicultural Mental Health
A report on the mental health needs of
culturally and linguistically diverse communities in South
Australia highlighted a number of needs not being met by current
services.
The report was issued by Multicultural Mental
Health Australia (MMHA) following a consultation with over 120
people. Among the recommendations were: the need to improve
interpreter services and interpreter training, provide
clinicians and mental health service providers with cultural
competency and cultural awareness training, provide community
awareness training and education on mental health issues with
CALD communities and the wider community, devise strategies to
reduce stigma, make resources more available to mental health
services and ensure such services are more flexible and
holistic. Copies of the report are available through MMHA by
contacting National Program Manager, Georgia Zogalis on 02 9840
3333.
Crisis
management toolkit for communities
Crisis management toolkit for communities
A report and toolkit have been issued to help
communities manage the impact of global crisis events on
community relations in multicultural Australia.
The background report and toolkit are
designed to equip communities with the necessary tools and
skills to deal with a crisis that could potentially damage
community relations and community harmony.
Supported by the Victorian Multicultural
Commission and Multicultural Affairs Queensland, two toolkits
have been prepared that include specific information for each
state.
To access the report and toolkit visit:
http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/web24/vmc.nsf/headingpagesdisplay/publications.
Get
to know your medicines
free language teaching resource
A free teaching resource has been produced
for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to promote the
safe and wise use of medicines within culturally and
linguistically diverse communities.
The resource is part of the Get to know
your medicines project run by the Federation of Ethnic
Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National
Prescribing Service (NPS). It was developed with the help of
Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) Victoria for adult
ESL teachers but could also be used by community organisations
running interactive health promotion activities.
The Get to know your medicines
teaching resource consists of six readers, an activity workbook
and an audio CD. Activities provide practice in comprehension,
listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, reading
and writing.
To order free copies of the resource contact
Jackie Stephenson:
jstephenson@nps.org.au or on 02 8270 8700.
Mensline
Australia adds Arabic and Vietnamese
to online service
Mensline Australia, the national telephone
counselling support service for men with family and relationship
concerns, has developed specific web pages for Arabic and
Vietnamese communities. The web pages include culture specific
information on services, community news and events, and peer
support forums with translated material for some of the sites.
http://www.menslineaus.org.au/Arabic/Default.aspx
http://www.menslineaus.org.au/Vietnamese/Default.aspx
YWCA
of Canberra Course
Are you from an Aboriginal, Torres Strait
Islander or a non-English speaking background?
Are you interested in working with children?
The YWCA of Canberra offers a course:
“Introduction to Child Care with Focus on Cultural Diversity”
This 8 week course is especially for women from diverse cultural
backgrounds. The course is an introduction to professional
childcare and highlights the value of cultural diversity. The
course caters for women who speak English as a second language.
On completion of the course, you will obtain a Statement of
Attainment in the following five Nationally Accredited
Competencies, in partial completion of the Certificate III in
Community Services (Children’s Services):
-
CHCCN1D Ensure
Children’s Health and Safety
-
CHCCN2C Care for
Children
-
CHCPR1C Deliver
Services/Activities to Stimulate Children’s Development and
Enhance Their Leisure
-
CHCIC1C
Interact Effectively with Children
-
CHCORG3B Participate in the Work
Environment
The course includes a hands-on work
experience placement in a childcare centre. You will also have
an opportunity to complete a First Aid Certificate.
|
Dates: |
|
28 July – 19 September 2008
(excluding the school holidays) |
|
Times: |
|
4 days per week 9.30am – 1.30pm |
|
Venue: |
|
Belconnen Community Services
Education room |
|
Cost: |
|
$200.00 (includes the full course,
training materials, work experience placement and
on-going support) |
This course is funded by the ACT Government
through the Strategic Priorities Program, Training and Education
Branch.
International Unity in Diversity Conference:
People, the
workforce and the future
of Australia
Date:13 -16 August 2008
Venue: Jupiter’s Hotel and Casino, Townsville.
Contact: Conference Administration:
culturalfest@bigpond.com or phone: (+61) 7 4772 4800
website:
www.unityindiversityconference.com
The conference will draw together an expert
panel of presenters who will explore the theme of national
cohesion and unity in the context of Australia’s diversity. The
conference will address the need for collaboration,
communication and cooperation across cultural, religious and
ideological barriers.
The International Unity in Diversity
Conference will also explore global trends in migration, the
workforce and creating enhanced community cohesion. The program
has immediate relevance to work, community, education, health
and Indigenous partnerships. It incorporates eminent speakers,
discussion panels and networking opportunities to best enhance
diversity, culture and positive people management.
Conference keynote speakers include:
-
Professor Andrew Jakubowicz:
University of Technology Sydney
-
Professor Forboaz Moshirian:
School of Banking and Finance, University of New South Wales
-
Tom Calma – Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and acting Race
Discrimination Commissioner
-
Voula Messimeri – FECCA Chair
-
Professor Amareswar Galla:
University of Queensland – Museum studies
-
Associate Professor Gracelyn Smallwo
Conference supporters include: Townsville
City Council, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission,
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA),
Australian Multicultural Foundation, and major universities and
organisations.
The conference organiser is Dr Farvardin
Daliri who may be contacted at
Farvardin.Daliri@bigpond.com
or on mobile 0414 356 875
It is recommended that interested people
should also visit the companion site
www.culturalfest.org.
Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA)
Carers Engagement Workshops
Workshops are designed to assist family
members and carers of a person living with a mental illness
further develop their coping and management skills. Specific
workshops for carers from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds will be held as follows:
Sydney: Tues 1 July and Wed 2 July
Mt Annan, NSW:Tues 15 July
Perth: Sat 23 August
Geelong, Vic Tues 2 September
Contact: Linda Rosie - 02 6285 3100 or
email:linda.rosie@MHCA.org.au
Website:
http://www.mhca.org.au.
Experiences and Strategies Conference
Issue 19 Climate change: an issue for all Australians
will be out early July. To order a copy please contact MaryAnn
on (02) 6282 5755 or email her on
