In This Issue:                                                 

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.

Mosaic issue 20 will be on Aged Care and comes out end of October.

Keep visiting the website for more information.
 

SUBMISSIONS                              

JULY 2008    FECCA Submission to the Detention Inquiry.

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.

Both Commissioners have made significant contributions to the public debate on race discrimination and human rights, and have enhanced the Commission's role in advancing and protecting diversity in Australia.
FECCA wishes them all the best.

Message from Child Support Agency

New translated fact sheets available from the Child Support Agency

The Child Support Agency (CSA) is an Australian Government Agency that supports separated parents, including those from diverse and non English speaking backgrounds, to transfer child support payments for the wellbeing of their children.

New fact sheets especially developed for multicultural customers are now available on the CSA’s website www.csa.gov.au/fact in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

The fact sheets were developed in consultation with various community groups and provide these customers with a brief introduction to the CSA—who we are, what we do – and their rights and responsibilities as separated parents.

For those who aren’t familiar with the role of CSA, we help separated parents by working out how much money a parent should pay to the other parent to take care of the children, and make sure this money is paid. These payments are called ‘child support’.

We also have a range of publications and services dealing with other aspects of separation to support parents and children, including:

• Face-to-face services – you can call the CSA on 131 272 and make an appointment to discuss your child support arrangements at one of our offices or Regional Service Centres (RSCs). CSA locations are listed on our website or you can call and ask about the location closest to you. Interpreters can also be organised on request.

• Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) – this is a free service that enables you to talk to a CSA service officer in your language with the help of an interpreter. To use the TIS, call 131 450 and asked to be connected to a CSA customer service officer.

• ‘Me and My’ publications – a series of support booklets for families that provide advice on the key areas of separation. These publications are free and are available in English, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish and Turkish. To order translated publications, call 1800 040 972 or visit www.csa.gov.au/translated

• Community Service Directory – an online directory that lists organisations in the community with services to assist parents on a wide range of family related issues. It can be accessed at www.csa.gov.au and includes many multicultural organisations, including ethnic community councils and migrant resource centres.

Clinical Master Evening Class

Evening with Dr. Porges and Amber E. Gray
The Polyvagal Theory: A new perspective of the relation between the nervous system and behaviour

18 August 2008 6.00pm - 8.30pm
STARTTS, 152-168- The Horsley Drive, Carramar NSW 2163

STARTTS’ free Clinical Master Evening Classes aim to help clinicians deepen their understanding of refugee trauma. They also provide an opportunity for people working in the sector to come together and exchange ideas and options. The Clinical Master Class Program commenced in early 2005. The aim of the program is to provide an opportunity for interested clinicians working with refugees to contribute to and deepen their understanding on issues of refugee trauma.

19 & 20 August 2008 9.00pm-4.00pm (8.30 Registrations)
Sydney Masonic Centre (SMC), Northcott Room, Level 5, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000

This 2 day workshop “Love or Trauma” presents individuals with innovative on the cutting edge theory and practice of working with trauma and the body.

The presentations by Dr. Porges and Dr. Carter will be supplemented by examples of clinical intervention based on the Polyvagal Theory. The Polyvagal Theory provides a new perspective on the relationship between the nervous system and behaviour.

Amber Elizabeth Gray will present clinical interventions and facilitate experiential “Social Engagement” activities based on her Restorative Movement Psychotherapy.

The workshop combines theory, scientific research, practical application and experience in an interactive workshop. It will provide mental health professionals and those involved in movement arts and practices with a greater understanding of the clinical implications of Dr. Porges’ theories, and an opportunity to learn movement, rhythm and somatically based interventions that can be used in a variety of mental health settings.

21, 22 & 23 August 2008 9.00am-4.00pm (8.30 Registrations) STARTTS, 152-168-The Horsley Drive, Carramar NSW 2163

This three day workshop will build on the previous Body as Voice workshop offered at STARTTS in February, 2007. The workshop is opened to all interested in attending regardless of previous training or experience with the Dance Movement Therapy. It will include review for those who attended, as well as for those who did not. This workshop will focus on the Center Post Framework (CPF) and the Restorative Movement Psychotherapy.

To Register contact STARTTS Reception on 02 9794 1900 or visit the startts website at www.startts.org.

Diversity At Work Awards

What:  Diversity@work Awards
Date:   Thursday 13th November 2008
Venue: Palladium at Crown, 1 Whiteman Street, Southbank, Victoria

This year’s Awards program will focus on the important connection between diversity, inclusion and human rights.

The Diversity@work Awards will again recognise, celebrate and promote achievements in diversity and inclusion in the workplace and invites you to partake as a guest or nominee in what will be one of the major awards events in the business calendar for 2008 in Australasia.

Today’s world is often referred to as a world community and global village - one in which we have moved from individualism and fragmentation to a collective identity. Within this context, we all have an important role to play in promoting the rights of individuals to benefit from full social engagement and economic self-sustainability.

This year’s keynote speaker and the presenter of the major awards at the Gala Dinner will be the internationally renowned human rights activist and business owner, Sir Bob Geldof.

Mr. Anton Enus of SBS World News Australia will once again be the MC for the evening.

For more information about the nominations process and categories, ticket sales, judging process and sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to call on (03) 9608 0900 or email at mark@diversityatwork.com.au.

ACTCOSS Conference

4 - 5 September 2008
Kippax Uniting Community Centre, Holt, Canberra

Guest Speakers include:

TWO DAY RATES 4 - 5 SEPTEMBER
Early Bird Rate before 4 August

Regular Rate from 5 August

For further information about the conference and to download the Conference Program and Registration form. Please visit www.actcoss.org.au.

Dinka Folktales from Sudan

Companion House is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of the book Dinka Folktales from Sudan.

The approximately 40 page book has been brought together by a group of Dinka women from Canberra and contains six traditional Dinka folktales with full-colour illustrations by Dinka children and accompanied by a CD in both English and Dinka.

The Dinka people are originally from Sudan. Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the civil war in their country for many years, they have managed to keep many of their traditional stories from being lost completely.

These folktales represent stories of hope, humour, and strength and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Dinka folktales from Sudan will be a valuable resource for libraries and schools as well as for community organisations and anyone who wants to learn more about Dinka culture. The CD is designed to help support Dinka speakers who are learning English in settings such as Primary and Secondary Introductory English Centre’s, ESL settings in schools, and adult English classes.

Dinka folktales from Sudan, with CD, will be available from September 2008 at a cost of $45.00 per copy, including postage and handling, or you can pick it up from Companion House at a cost of $40.00.

You can pre-order your copy now by calling (02) 6247 7227or email at info@companionhouse.org.au.

Community Relations Commission

The Community Relations Commission (CRC) is developing a Community Resource List to assist with matters relating to young offenders from different cultural backgrounds.

Respected community members from different ethnic and religious backgrounds will be called upon by the NSW Police Force and the Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Justice Conferencing Directorate to assist in giving cautions to young people and to provide advice to convenors of youth justice conferences.

The roles and responsibilities of community members will vary but overall their purpose will be to provide advice about relevant cultural issues and play a role in reducing the risk of re-offending by young people and enhancing the young person’s links to the community.

The Commission has been seeking applications from interested community members who would like to be part of this important new initiative.

For further information, please visit the website at:
http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/Projects__and__Activities/community_resource_list or call on (02) 8255 6795.

Audrey Fagan Scholarship Program

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR 2008 AUDREY FAGAN POST GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

On July 15, 2008 the ACT Minister for Women Ms Katy Gallagher MLA called for applications for the 2008 Audrey Fagan Post Graduate Scholarship, as part of the ACT Government's commitment to achieving a culture of equal representation of women in senior decision-making roles.

The Audrey Fagan Post Graduate Scholarships Program has been established to honour the late Audrey Fagan, the first female Chief Police Officer in the ACT.

The aim of the Audrey Fagan Post Graduate Scholarship Program is to provide $20,000 to encourage ACT women to further their studies and professional development in the areas of law enforcement, care and protection, or professional support services for women who are victims of violence, and to encourage the retention of skills within the ACT community.

For further information about application packages please visit the ACT Office for Women, Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services Website at www.women.act.gov.au, or call 02 6205 0515.

Applications close COB 15 August 2008.

CIRCE FILMS PTY LTD

Once Bitten

…when love comes with baggage

Circe Films and Caravan Productions, in association with SBS Television (Australia) and Maori Television Services (New Zealand) are looking for people to tell their stories in a benchmark documentary series, “Once Bitten”.

The producers want to hear from couples and families in a second or more-time round relationship, who believe that sharing their story – the joys, the complications, the pitfalls, the lessons learned – will give others an insight into family life today. They are interested in highlighting different issues and cultural perspectives.

If you are interested in being involved contact circefilms@bigpond.com or call 03 9525 8486.

Filming starts in August 2008.

Nominations for the 2008 Awards are now open with entries closing on 29 August 2008.

The Community Relations Commission of New South Wales aims to encourage and reward the efforts of businesses and organisations that focus on the cultural diversity of Australia in their overall marketing strategies.

The National Multicultural Marketing Awards promote best practice in marketing. Organisations recognised by the Awards are regarded as leaders in the industry and role models in seizing business opportunities through inclusive marketing.

Organisations and individuals from across industries in Australia can nominate in any of seven categories. Click here for the nomination criteria and timetable.

A Grand Award will be presented to the most outstanding entry amongst the category winners in Sydney on the 25th of November 2008.

The New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC) invites suitable people to register for casual employment as Election Officials and Office Assistants in connection with the September 2008 Local Government Elections.

Election Officials are employed at polling places on Election Day, 13 September 2008. Office Assistants are employed casually by Returning Officers in their office typically between 21 of July 2008 and 26 September 2008.

Position descriptions and rates of pay are available on the NSWEC website.

The NSWEC must be independent in the administration of the Local Government Elections. Any person who belongs to an organisation which could bring into question their independence in performing the duties of as Election Official or Office Assistant will not be considered for these positions.

Applications are encouraged from people who are fluent in both English and a community language. The NSWEC is particularly interested in people who speak a community language such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog and Macedonian.

Applications may be made to the NSWEC online at www.elections.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9290 5986 for further information.

Seventy-one councils, in partnership with the MAV, are hosting candidate information sessions across Victoria between mid July and early October.

Sessions are designed to provide prospective candidates with information on the role of local government and councillors. It will also introduce prospective councillors to the electoral process and provide them with information to determine their interest. Each session includes MAV discussion on the place and scale of local government; presentations by CEOs from host and neighbouring councils; and current councillors from neighbouring municipalities sharing their experiences on why they became a councillor, the rewards and difficulties, time commitments and the importance of team work. To date, the MAV has run four sessions in Strathbogie, Towong, Mitchell and Kingston. An average of 15 prospective candidates attended these sessions and feedback has been positive.

To find out more about where upcoming sessions will be held, go to www.standforcouncil.com.au or contact Andrew Rowe on 9667 5549 or by email: arowe@mav.asn.au.

Ethnic Communities Council of the South East (ECCOSE)

ECCOSE Human Rights and the Duty of Government to Care Conference:
Building a rights based approach to social inclusion of migrants and refugees.

Time and date:
8.30am and 2.30pm on Thursday 31 July 2008.

Venue:
Supper Room, Springvale Town Hall, 397 – 405 Springvale Road, Springvale, Victoria.