mv Highlights of the Emerge Festival Celebrating Buddha ... issue 25... · mv muLTIcuLTuraL VIcTOrIa issue 25 • winter 2008 All of Us campaign Refugee Week activities Highlights

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issue 25 • winter 2008

All of Us campaignRefugee Week activities

Highlights of the Emerge Festival Celebrating Buddha Day

a publication of the Victorian multicultural commission

refugees recognisedOutstanding contributions by hardworking refugees

Multicultural Victoria magazine

VMC CHAIRPERSON George Lekakis

EDITORS Robyn Merrett/Megan Breen

DESIGN Midnightsky

PUBLISHED BY The Victorian Multicultural Commission, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. August 2008.

ISSN 13219340

PRINTED BY Metro Printing, Roberts Road, Airport West, VIC 3042, on Monza Satin recyclable stock using environmentally friendly inks.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of the Warrnambool Standard, photographer Angela Milne.

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 3179EMAIL [email protected]

View the magazine online at: multicultural.vic.gov.au

VMC018_wintermagazine_FA.indd 100 14/8/08 1:28:09 PM

4 Community harmony campaign launch: meet some of the people who make Victoria great

4 Free life saving kit: learn how to save a life with a new kit available in 10 languages

4 Guide to community radio: a new DVD to help new and emerging communities get involved in community radio

4 UN Media Peace Awards: nominations are now open

5 Multicultural Resources Directory: access an important database of contact details

5 Refugees assisted by budget: refugees receive $19.2 million in budget funding

5 Equal rights at work: a new report focuses on discrimination in the workplace

5 Bollywood dance spectacular: Bend it like Bollywood takes to the stage

6 Take 5: meet David Manne, Co-ordinator of the Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre

7 All of Us: promoting community harmony

8 Grants update: fi nd out how to apply for a grant

8 Achievements in Multicultural Affairs: learn about the work taking place around health, safety, faith, cultural expression, education and more

9 Buddhists celebrate Vesak Day: a special reception for the community

10 Multicultural Multifaith Youth Network: join a dynamic youth group and have your say

10 Mentoring program: mentors make a difference for young people

10 Refugee Brokerage Program: supporting new arrivals in Wyndham

11 Communicating through interpreters: meet the recipients of this year’s Interpreter Scholarships

12 Samoa Independence Day: a cultural celebration with the Samoan community

13 Emerging musical talents: all the fun of the Emerge Festival

14 Awakening the dragon: dragon boats take to the water in a display of brilliance

14 A night of music: people of all musical talents come together to make friends and enjoy the entertainment

15 Stories from around the world: a school project brought stories from many languages to life

16 Asian Food Festival: the spice of life from several Asian countries

Emerge FestivalNew and emerging talent entertained the crowds at this year's Emerge Festival.13

Buddhist celebrationThe Buddhist community came together to celebrate the Buddha's birthday.9

Bend it like BollywoodA dazzling display of dance and music straight from Bollywood.5


16 Hip-hop connections for refugee youth: young people learn what it takes to create hip-hop

16 A feast of Croatian cuisine: a taste sensation through Croatia

17 Light in Winter: Federation Square ablaze with light during winter

18 SheppARTon Festival: regional arts festival attracts artists from afar

19 Celebrating la dolce vita: celebrating with the Italian community

20 Vietnamese boat people recognised: a monument to commerate the plight of Vietnamese people unveiled

20 Discover the joy of bushwalking: a new program opens up the bush to new arrivals

21 Israel’s 60th Independence Day: a night of entertainment marks the 60th anniversary of the declaration of the state of Israel

22 Multicultural Women’s Day 2008: women join together to dance, sing and enjoy each other’s company

22 Focus on regional issues: the NEMA conference was a great success

22 Tell us your news: if you have an event or project coming up, let us know

23 Healthy attitudes: a new report focuses on mental health issues for refugees in regional areas

24 Refugees making a difference: meet this year’s Victorian Refugee Recognition Record participants and fi nd out about their outstanding contributions

28 Celebrating the birth of the Buddha: the Buddhist community came together to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday

30 A place to call home: Refugee Week was celebrated across Victoria

32 Made in Australia: a stunning exhibition by photographer Viv Mehes

33 Fire safety guides: the Melbourne Fire Brigade has new guides to help communities learn about fi re safety

34 Arrive alive: a TAC initiative to educate young drivers

34 Helping youth at risk: a new initiative focuses on refugee youth in Greater Dandenong

34 Problem gambling: early intervention makes a world of difference

35 Free kindergarten for refugee children: a subsidy extension helps many families

36 Save energy this winter: tips to help you cut your energy bills

36 Tell your story: the Victorian Community History Awards 2009 recognise excellence in historical method

36 Mental health strategy: a strategy to address mental health reform is underway

Healthy attitudes, healthy livesCommunity support can help refugees settle.23

Refugees recognisedRefugees congratulated for their important work in the community.24

New rules for young driversYoung drivers need more hours on the road to get their full licence.34


Welcome to the Winter edition of Multicultural Victoria, which once again showcases the activities of our many diverse communities right across Victoria.

It has been wonderful to see that the wet weather has not dampened the efforts of so many people to join in the cultural celebrations and activities that have taken place.

In this edition you will see a glimpse of the colour and style of the Italian Festival; the diversity of Buddhist traditions at the Buddha’s Day Festival; the vibrancy of dragon boat racing and the activities of the refugee communities during Refugee Week.

Refugee Week certainly gave us all many opportunities to celebrate our diversity and applaud the contributions of many members of our refugee communities. It is a time for all Victorians to consider the often diffi cult and traumatic journeys some people make to build a peaceful future here in Victoria.

Through the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record (VRRR), held during Refugee Week, we also recognised 28 of these dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly since their arrival to benefi t their fellow Victorians. Turn to page 24 to fi nd out more about these inspiring and deserving recipients and take a look at some of the beautiful

photographs students from NMIT took as part of the VRRR.

A highlight of Refugee Week was undoubtedly the Emerge Festival where new and emerging artists had the opportunity to share their talents with the Melbourne community.

In Victoria we protect the rights of all people to practice their faith, speak their language and celebrate their diversity without fear or favour. This is why the Victorian Government has released the All of Us campaign, which is a project we are all very proud of.

The campaign was run during June and July across television, print and outdoors and is part of a wider strategy to create unity, build awareness, understanding and respect within our community.

I would like take this opportunity to thank you for your continued commitment and support in building our great multicultural state.

We encourage community groups to continue to share your stories, achievements, and promote your upcoming events in future editions of Multicultural Victoria.

George LekakisCHAIRPERSON

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP The Italian Festival was full of entertaining sights; this year's VRRR recipients at the Immigration Museum and Buddhist monks celebrate Vesak Day at Federation Square.


The All of Us campaign celebrates the rich

cultural, linguistic and religious diversity

of our state and features 22 people from

different backgrounds who have chosen

to call Victoria home. The advertisements

have been translated into Arabic, Cambodian,

Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian,

Polish, Russian Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and

Vietnamese, and was screened on television

and appeared in newspapers.

Find out more about the All of Us campaign on page 7.

FREE LIFE SAVING KIT IN 10 LANGUAGES

Launched by Ambulance Service Victoria, the ‘4 Steps for Life’ is a new life saving kit which offers a fun and easy way to learn cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese, the kit includes a DVD which replicates a real triple zero (000) call for an ambulance, and demonstrates the steps you need to take to save a life. The kit is provided free to clubs and groups.

For more information visit www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/cpr or call 1300 550 472.

The Victorian Government has launched a new campaign to promote racial and religious harmony in Victoria.

GUIDE TO COMMUNITY RADIOA new DVD has been launched to help new

and emerging communities get involved

in community radio. The DVD is titled

Becoming a Community Radio Broadcaster

– A Guide For Emerging Communities, and

has been produced by 3ZZZ, Melbourne’s

multicultural community radio station.

The resource was launched by the Minister

Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs,

James Merlino, as part of Refugee Week

(15 – 21 June). The DVD highlights the

challenges and rewards of becoming a

community broadcaster and provides

insights, histories and personal stories from

both experienced and new broadcasters.

“This new DVD is an excellent initiative and

will be of great benefi t to new and emerging

communities who wish to connect with their

communities via the radio,” said Mr Merlino.

The DVD will be available in public libraries

across Victoria. Visit www.3zzz.com.au for more information.

UN MEDIA PEACE AWARDSNominations are open for the United

Nations Association of Australia Media

Peace Awards 2008. Since 1979, the

Association has recognised outstanding

efforts by those in the media to highlight

social justice and humanitarian issues.

The 2008 Awards program is a perfect

opportunity to honour outstanding

contributions from the media in the last

12 months. This year, the 30th anniversary,

will refl ect on those extraordinary pieces

of journalism that have championed

human rights and equality over the past

three decades.

Awards are presented for work in print,

television, online, radio and photojournalism,

as well as several special award categories,

including the promotion of multicultural

issues in the community.

If you have written, published, directed,

produced or broadcast a piece of work about

social justice or humanitarian issues between

1 September 2007 and 17 September 2008,

this is your opportunity to nominate for the

Media Peace Awards. Nominations close

5pm, Wednesday 17 September, 2008

For guidelines, entry criteria and nomination forms, please visit www.unaavictoria.org.au

4 Winter 2008


REFUGEES ASSISTED BY VICTORIAN BUDGET

Refugees settling in Victoria will be able to better access health, justice, education and improved interpreting and translating services, under a $19.7 million package announced in the 2008-09 State Budget.

“Our Government is committed to providing refugees and multicultural groups with the support and services they need to settle in Victoria,” Premier of Victoria, John Brumby said.

Mr Brumby said $2 million would go towards strengthening the interpreting workforce through increased recruitment, better training and better staff retention. This strategy will create a larger pool of qualifi ed interpreters to service growing and emerging communities.

Another $17.7 million would go towards a Refugee Support Strategy targeting health, justice and education in refugee communities, including:

intervention programs, information campaigns and multicultural liaison offi cers;

schools and communities to meet refugee students’ needs, with programs such as specialised support and an After School Homework Program; and

the Refugee Health Nurse Program. The program focuses on early health assessment, referrals and health promotion.

BOLLYWOOD DANCE SPECTACULARAn exclusive Bollywood dance extravaganza is

taking to the stage in Melbourne this September.

Bend It Like Bollywood has been exclusively

choreographed by Shaimak Davar for the

Melbourne audience and promises

to take the audience through a

scintillating and memorable journey

of jazz and Indian dances.

Striking use of visuals, lighting,

and costumes, combined with fabulous

choreography and mesmerising

performances, all adds up to a vibrant

performing arts experience.

For more information please visit www.eventsindia.org.au

Victorians now have access to a very useful resource with the release of the Multicultural Resources Directory.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, recently launched

the Multicultural Resources Directory at the State Library of Victoria.

Mr Merlino said the long-awaited directory was a valuable resource for all Victorians and

would benefi t many people by providing an important database of contact details for various

groups across society.

“In Victoria, we have an amazing array of community organisations and services. This

resource will be used by many of these groups to build networks, strengthen friendships and

share knowledge,” said Mr Merlino.

The easy-to-use directory lists the details for more than 1,700 community organisations,

interfaith networks, language service providers, government agencies, chambers of commerce,

consulates and community language schools. It is designed to help people fi nd advice,

encouragement and support and promotes connections between communities and groups.

Compiled by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the directory is available at libraries,

community centres and information hubs but importantly, can also be accessed online at

www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/directory

EQUAL RIGHTS AT WORK The Victorian Multicultural Commission and the

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights

Commission have released a report highlighting

discrimination issues in the workplace.

The report, Harnessing Diversity:

addressing racial and religious discrimination

in employment is in response to many

employers who are still struggling to embrace

people from culturally and linguistically diverse

backgrounds as employees. This research

highlights a number of short and long-term

interventions to ensure Victoria continues

to be a welcoming and inclusive state.

For more information please visit www.veohrc.vic.gov.au

mv MULTICULTURAL VICTORIA 5


David Manne is the principal solicitor at the Refugee &

Immigration Legal Centre, which is the largest provider

of free legal assistance advocacy for disadvantaged

migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.

THE FAVOURITE PART OF MY JOB IS

the clients and their communities. It’s about

the extraordinary privilege of engaging with

so many remarkable people from such rich

and varied backgrounds, and assisting them

with seeking dignity and justice in things

which matter most in their lives – protection

from persecution, and reunion with family.

MY FIRST JOB WAS as a paper boy (in

Grade 4, in old industrial North Melbourne).

THREE THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

ARE my beautiful children (Elias and Hannah),

their mum, and ristretto-strength coffee.

I’VE REALLY ENJOYED READING American

Pastoral (Philip Roth), The Age of Extremes

(Eric Hobsbawm), and The New York

Review of Books, (oh, and letters from the

Government advising of client visa grants!)

MY FAVOURITE PASTIME IS kicking a

footy and then cooking up a storm with my

very enthusiastic five-year old ‘Iron Chef’ son.

MY FAVOURITE TYPE OF FOOD IS

ever-changing, global. At present, exquisite

lamb kofte with parsley, mint and sumac salad.

I AM INSPIRED BY PEOPLE WHO think

and act effectively with care and courage for

betterment of those they come in contact

with, wherever and whoever they are.

MY MOST REWARDING MOMENT WAS

… it’s the sum total of the daily work, like

hearing that our clients’ cases have succeeded.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY HAS been one of

the golden threads of our community and

country’s story so far, and one of the core

foundations of our future.

THE GREATEST CHALLENGES I SEE FOR

A MULTICULTURAL VICTORIA ARE

continuing to inspire and harness leadership

from the grassroots level up which maximises

inclusion of all cultures, ensures they are all

able to participate and thrive, and that this

has concrete meaning in people’s daily lives.

Get to know some of the hardworking individuals in Victoria's multicultural sector.

6 Winter 2008


Victoria is reaffirming its position as a harmonious and accepting society with the launch of a new advertising campaign.

In June, the Victorian Government released an advertising campaign called All of Us at the State Library of Victoria to encourage unity and harmony between people of different faiths and cultures in Victoria.

The campaign is based on the striking images by photographer Michel Lawrence, and gives us the opportunity to glimpse into the lives of 22 people who have come from around the world to make Victoria their home.

The campaign highlights our state's diversity, which includes people from 248 countries who speak 289 languages and dialects and follow more than 120 faiths. It also highlights the positive contributions so many people make to our society and encourages wider appreciation of our differences as well as our similarities. It also encourages unity through the sharing of cultures and traditions and highlights that all Victorians have a role to play in creating a society that is based on mutual respect and understanding.

More information www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au

WEZOOR JIBRIL LOVEGROVE

BORN Jimma, Ethiopia, 1999 ARRIVED in Australia 2002Wez is of the Oromo people of south-west Ethiopia and spent his infancy in an orphanage until he was adopted by his Australian parents. While now speaking English without a trace of any accent, he is keeping up his own language as well.

ARUNA AND USHA RUMNEY

BORN Madras, India, 1948 ARRIVED

Aruna completed her qualifications in Melbourne and has practised here as a psychiatrist ever since. As she and her husband, Clive, were unable to have children, they decided to adopt their daughter, Usha.

JOHANNES VAN DER HORST

BORN ARRIVED

John came to Australia with

as part of a large wave of Dutch immigrants. With his wife Melissa, John has built a small nursery into a large retail nursery operation, which has been voted Best Australian Large Nursery for the last three years.

ELVA ZHANG

BORN ARRIVED in Australia, 1999Elva is studying law and international relations at Melbourne University. She is president of the Australian Federation of International Students and also works as a volunteer for the Muslim Legal Service.

ABOVE Premier of Victoria, John Brumby with Nthoanaki 'Toni' Thaba at the launch of the All of Us campaign.



The assessment phase of the 2008 major round of grants has come to an end with applicants being informed about the outcomes of their applications. The Victorian Multicultural Commission received more than 2100 applications from 1500 organisations, which include 400 who had not previously applied for funding. More than half of all applications will receive funding.

Over the coming weeks the grant presentations will take place throughout the State. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the Minister or local Member of Parliament and let them know about your community.

Enclosed with this magazine is a copy of the latest grant round for Festivals and Events. This is for community events held in the fi rst half of 2009. Applications close on 10 October 2008.

Thank you to all the groups who have sent back their accountability reports letting us know how they’ve spent their funding. There are a lot of great things happening in Victoria thanks to the commitment of volunteers. The VMC tries to make it as easy as possible to acquit your grant, but we won’t fund groups that haven’t provided past reports.

The demand for funds from theVictorian Government's VMC Community Grants Program is strong. At the same time the support for multiculturalism from the wider community is growing. The VMC will continue to provide fi nancial support to as many groups as possible into the future. In this way, Victoria can continue to be acknowledged world-wide as a leader in creating and maintaining a harmonious and multicultural society.

The latest round of funding for Festivals and Events is now open, find out what you need to do to help secure funding for your event.

Each year the Victorian Government releases a report that provides an overview of the key activities and programs undertaken by Government departments that support diversity in our State.

The report covering the achievements for 2006/2007 has now been released and the VMC is seeking your feedback on how well Government departments are addressing the needs of our diverse communities. During September the VMC will be holding consultations to hear your views. Dates for this year's consultations are below.

To view the report, please visit www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

TOP The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino with recipients at the Geelong grants presentation and BELOW RIGHT with Burwood MP Bob Stensholt and members of the Bor Comunity. LEFT Michael Van Vliet, VMC, with Sophia Shen from the Chinese Association of Geelong.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS

LOCATION DATES

Broadmeadows Mon 8 Sept

Carlton Tues 9 Sept

Footscray Wed 10 Sept

Morwell Thur 11 Sept

Ballarat Mon 22 Sept

8 Winter 2008


On Wednesday, 21 May, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby welcomed Victoria’s Buddhist community at special reception in recognition of Vesak Day.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, Reverend Dirk Ficca, Executive Director for the Parliament of the World Religions and Mrs Laura Chan, President of the Buddhist Council of Victoria were among the distinguished guests on the evening. Two chants were led by Venerable Santhindriya and Venerable Phuoc Tan to mark the occasion.

Mr Brumby took the opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contribution the Buddhist community has made to Victoria. Traditionally, Buddha’s birthday is known as Vesak Day, and is the major festival of the year for the Buddhist community, as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.

“Buddhism is a philosophy as much as a faith that teaches wisdom, moderation, tolerance, contemplation and harmony,” Mr Brumby said. “These are all values that have helped in the development of our multicultural society.”

The popularity of Buddhism in Victoria has seen the community grow to more than 130,000 in recent years and there are now more than 70 Buddhist organisations operating in Victoria, which work to preserve the religion, identity and heritage of Buddhism.

Victoria is recognised internationally for its efforts in promoting diversity and in December 2009 religious and spiritual leaders from around the world will travel to Melbourne for the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

‘‘

‘‘

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Premier of Victoria, John Brumby and the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino with members of Victoria's Buddhist community; Buddhist monks; Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, James Merlino, Laura Chan and members of the Victorian Council of Buddhists.



The RBP provides support by removing barriers to opportunities and providing assistance to enable better access to existing services and increased participation in the community, as well as providing better coordination of service delivery.

The New Hope Foundation Werribee Refugee Resource Centre has an evolving program in place and their line-up for activities this year includes:

60 young people who meet every four weeks;

group meetings occur four times per week, leading discussions for concerns within the community;

Wyndham with up to 30 children

communities;

times per week in the local community centre;

group whose aim it is to raise awareness of the environment, promoting ways to help in areas such as recycling and being green friendly;

on Friday nights; and

meet each week.There is also an art therapy class being developed and a citizenship course will start up soon. All of the work is volunteer-based. The ongoing enthusiasm is very impressive and the Centre Coordinator, Alison Heseltine says it is all about educating through having fun…and it works very well!

Formed in 2007, the network provides advice to the Victorian Government on a range of faith and cultural youth issues and initiatives through the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and the Office for Youth (OFY).

The network meets between four and six times per year and strengthens the Government’s commitment to youth participation to build a fair and tolerant society.

The Victorian Government is now looking for recruits to join the network. This is your opportunity to join together with individuals from various faiths and cultures to collaborate, both professionally and socially, on issues and initiatives

relevant to Victorians. This collaboration has not only helped to ensure harmony and understanding between the networks members and their respective communities; it has also forged strong friendships between individuals within the network. Most importantly the network provides young Victorians with substantial and meaningful leadership opportunities in an interfaith and intercultural context.– Rinchen Khadro Norbu (Member and Current Chair of the MMYN)

If you would like to apply to be a part of MMYN please contact Claire Henderson on 9208 3153 or email [email protected]

REFUGEE BROKERAGE PROGRAM – WYNDHAMThe Victorian Multicultural Commission’s, Refugee Brokerage Program (RBP), is hard at work in the Werribee region, providing support to refugees and humanitarian entrants.

Mandeep Singh Dhingra reports on his experience working with a mentor to discuss issues affecting youth.

In 2006, young people who attended the Multicultural Multifaith Youth Forum, organised by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), identified a need for greater youth access to and participation in government, community, business and faith networks.

In response CMY, with the support of the Victorian Government, has developed a group mentoring model to facilitate discussion between community leaders and young people from diverse backgrounds. Mandeep Singh Dhindra participated in the program and found it very useful.

“This program incorporated a selected group that came together each week and discussed issues such as preserving our scarce resources and what we take for granted. Multicultural issues was another focus,” Mandeep said.

Two more mentoring programs will be run later in the year. For more information on how to get involved please email [email protected]

The Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network (MMYN) is a group of twenty young Victorians from diverse faith and cultural backgrounds.

10 Winter 2008


Interpreters play a vital role in helping people communicate to access much-needed services.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, presented 27 Interpreter Scholarships to students enrolled in the 2008 Diploma of Interpreting course at RMIT at a ceremony on 22 May.

Mr Merlino said the Victorian Government realises the critical role that interpreting and translating plays in providing equal access to information and services.

“These scholarships enable students to provide a vital link between crucial services and the people in their community who need to access them,” said Mr Merlino.

“They also provide a boost to the recipients themselves.”

Since 2003, 121 students have been assisted to undertake the Diploma, resulting in 69 accredited interpreters entering the profession. In many instances, graduates from the RMIT course that were supported by Interpreter Scholarships have been the only interpreters accredited in Australia in their languages.

This year's students are studying to be interpreters in Swahili and Burmese.

Mustafa Najib is an example of a recipient of the Interpreter Scholarship who has used the course to further his skills and career.

Mustafa fl ed Afghanistan in 2001 while it was under the rule of the Taliban. He then spent two years in Nauru before being granted a Temporary Protection

Visa for Australia. Since 2003 he has lived here without his family and worked hard to build a career.

In 2006, Mustafa was awarded an Interpreter Scholarship in order to complete the Diploma of Interpreting at RMIT in Dari. He also speaks Hazaragi and works within his community as an interpreter.

“I chose this course because I had fi rst-hand experience of how important it is to have a good interpreter, especially in situations where communication can be a life and death issue,” said Mustafa.

“It has defi nitely helped me – I work as an interpreter now, so it doesn't

only allow me to earn a living, I also get to provide people with support when they need it most, and I have learned about legal issues, the education system, and broader issues affecting migrant communities.”

Since completing the diploma, Mustafa has gone on to complete

a BA in International Studies and is considering starting a Masters degree in either translating or interpreting.

TOP The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino with Swahili students and ABOVE with Burmese students. BELOW Mustafa Najib.

PROFILE Mustafa Najib



The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, welcomed around 100 members of the Samoan community to a special reception on 2 June, to celebrate Samoa Independence Day.

Mr Brumby was joined by the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, His Excellency

community leaders.In 1962, Samoa became the first Pacific nation to regain

independence from New Zealand and Mr Brumby acknowledged the strong identity Samoans have with their culture and nation.

“Maintaining the Samoan way, or fa’asamoa, by upholding customs, religious practices and culture contributes to the community’s harmony and cohesiveness,” Mr Brumby said.

“This has been apparent through the Samoans I have met, who are an incredibly proud and friendly people, who celebrate their culture and have a strong sense of identity.”

Mr Brumby also acknowledged the formidable Samoan Rugby Union team as worthy opponents in the upcoming Ruby World Cup, and said there were similarities between Samoa and Australia in terms of the love of sports, the arts and culture.

Almost 20 percent of the Australian population of Samoans live in Victoria, with just over 3,000 Samoan-born Victorians.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Melbourne Pacific Island Choir, who sang the Samoan and Australian national anthems.

The Samoan community celebrated Independence Day with a special reception.

TOP The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, Reverend Sani T Vaeluaga and Dr Kilifoti Eteuati, High Commissioner for Samoa. ABOVE Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino with members of the Samoan community. BELOW The Melbourne Pacific Island Choir provided the entertainment for the reception.

12 Winter 2008


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Presented and produced by Multicultural Arts Victoria, this dynamic annual arts festival celebrated Victoria’s many diverse refugee and emerging cultures in a series of exciting events around Melbourne from June 10th to July 20th. Attracting capacity audiences, the Emerge Festival commemorated the United Nations World Refugee Day and Refugee Week in Australia.

The major event was on Sunday 15 June, where plenty of activities took place at the Fitzroy Town Hall and spilled out onto Napier St for entertainment on two non-stop stages of world music. There was a vibrant cultural marketplace, the aromas of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, tasty authentic foods from around the world, and free cultural workshops in Ethiopian dance.

Other events included Stories of an African Australia: Short Film Screenings at ACMI and a musical revolution on Sunday 20 July, with contemporary and traditional African, Pacifi c, West Papuan and Indigenous cultures performing at Hamer Hall to launch the Visible CD.

From the emerging to the established, from the traditional to the contemporary there was something for everyone at this year’s Emerge Festival.

ABOVE Plenty of entertainment, henna painting, free trade stalls and music from around the world featured at this year's festival.



Each year in March, the Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival re-enacts the ancient legend of Qu Yuan who was expelled from his kingdom in China and threw himself into the river in despair.

Legend has it that local fi shermen raced out with their boats in an attempt to save him but they failed. To prevent his body from being eaten by fi sh, they beat the waters furiously with their paddles and threw rice dumplings into the river as a sacrifi ce to his spirit.

In China, the Festival is celebrated each year on the fi fth day of the fi fth lunar month. This is when the ancient Chinese paid their respects to dragons, who were believed to control rain and rule the water.

Today, Dragon Boat racing is a celebration of Chinese culture and tradition. On the day of the Festival, the colourful and traditional rite of the Dotting of the Eyes Ceremony is performed on the dragon boats

before they race. The dragons are then awakened and the race begins. During the day lion and dragon dances entertain the crowds.

Dragon boating is a sport that captivates its participants. It is also an event that showcases the preparedness of Australians to accept and enjoy a cultural activity that has its roots in ancient China and celebrates the many unique aspects of Chinese culture.

Understandably, dragon boat enthusiasts come from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds, united by their desire to enjoy this wonderful sporting and cultural event.

Training starts soon for next year’s Festival, so if you or your community are interested in getting involved, please email Dragon Boats Victoria at [email protected]

Local musicians, singers and dancers from diverse cultural backgrounds regularly come together to perform to a friendly audience at the Rosanna Fire Station Community House in Rosanna. The evenings aim to bring together people from the local community to enjoy the diversity of artistic local talent and to help address the issue of isolation.

“Whether born here or newly migrated to Australia, many people can feel lonely and unable to fi nd forums in which to mix with others,” said Jasdip Singh, Community House Coordinator. “These evenings provide a place where people can meet others in a relaxed environment and learn about the different cultures of people in their own community.”

So far, audiences have heard music and songs from north and south India, learned about the Ragas and the rhythms of the tabla, enjoyed some Australian songwriting and musical talent (accompanied by the tabla) and seen and participated in gypsy, Egyptian and belly dancing.

Egyptian dance tutor, Denise Elias, has been delighted with the opportunity to demonstrate her dancing at these evenings. “People very much enjoyed watching and participating,” she said. “Some have joined my class as a result, and we are now rehearsing for a beginner group performance.”

The musical evenings are held on the second Friday of each month, from 7 – 8.30pm at the Rosanna Fire Station Community House, 232 Lower Plenty Rd, Rosanna. Entry is free. For more information call (03) 9458 1935.

A familiar sight for many people in Victoria is the colourful Dragon Boat Festival at Docklands.

ABOVE Jasdip on harmonium, Baljit on tabla and singing, Mukesh on tambourine.

14 Winter 2008


In 2006, the English as a Second Language team at North Melbourne Primary School began a program to increase the involvement of parents with English as a second language, which lead to the publication of a children’s book Telling Stories.

Parents of students in Year 2, 3 and 4 were invited to tell traditional stories in their home language in the classroom. The students heard a range of stories in Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay, Spanish and Somali. It was terrific for the bilingual students who could hear the stories in both their languages and it was also great for the monolingual students to get a sense of what it might be like to sit in class and listen to a different language all day.

Three stories from Somalia, Sudan and China were chosen and illustrated by the students. Teams of students worked with an adult to story board and choose a visual style for the text. Julie Spencer and Mairead Hannan supervised, encouraged and produced the book with the students.

This project is a fine example of how your school can become involved in the Cultural Diversity Awards, which are designed to help raise awareness of Victoria’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity among young people.

To find out more about the Cultural Diversity Quest Awards visit www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au Telling Stories is now available for sale from Global Language Books [email protected]

Students had fun illustrating three stories from Somalia, Sudan and China for Telling Stories.

English took a backseat at North Melbourne Primary School during a program exploring stories in other languages.



The Connect 07 program was developed to encourage refugee youth participation in the arts, specifically hip-hop, by providing the practical skills, experiences and opportunities necessary for advancement in the community.

The program was run by Multicultural Arts Victoria from April to December 2007 with workshops, mentorship programs and performance development opportunities held over this period.

The program was developed into six stages, from consultation with the community to the development of workshops and programs, with a final event showcasing the achievements

of the young people through a free outdoor festival called Do the Right Thing, held on 9 December 2007.

The festival was a celebration of belonging and acceptance of diversity.

Some of the skills gained by the young people during the program included the ability to collaborate and record songs, crowd engagement and microphone control and first hand experiences at performing at events with audiences of up to 150 people.

The program was supported by the Australian Council for the Arts, AMES, the City of Melbourne, Arts Victoria, Freeza and the Victorian Government.

The program is running again this year and anyone who is interested can contact [email protected] to find out how to get involved.

From Chinatown to the outlying suburbs, Melbourne has one of the best restaurant communities in the world – diverse, exciting, adventurous, value for money and best of all – tasty!

The Asian Food festival is presented by the Chinese Restaurateurs Association of Victoria and is now in its 22nd year. With more than 40 restaurants participating across Melbourne, the program is growing each year and proving a hit with restaurant goers across the city.

Discover the delights of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Thai, Japanese

and Vietnamese cuisines as restaurants open their doors and bring out their best dishes. Special menus will be available at some restaurants and make sure you keep an eye out for special events and activities.

Cooking demonstrations, cooking competitions and culinary awards are also highlights, with the aim to promote and recognise excellence in the Asian restaurant industry. The festival runs until the end of September.For more information please visit www.asianfoodfestival.com.au

Things spice up in September in restaurants across Melbourne.

A culinary trip through Croatia not only tempted the tastebuds, it also educated guests about Croatian cuisine.

Alojzije Stepinac) Geelong hosted their biannual flagship event on Saturday 3 May, which saw people from many different cultures enjoying the culinary diversities of Croatian cuisine.

Guests were encouraged to taste their way through the bountiful, fertile land and resourceful river systems of four Croatian provinces.

Starting off in the heart of Bosnia, guests sampled dishes such as bosanski hot pot, various sweet and savoury strudels, and spit roast pork. Moving on to the southern coastal lands surrounding Dubrovnik, dishes from the sea such as calamari risotto and seafood bouillabaisse featured.

Historic Istra shared its delights of rabbit stew with polenta, eel brodetto and veal goulash with home made pasta (fuzi). To conclude the journey, a sampling from Medimurje, renowned for its comforting and simple flavours offered roast turkey with ‘mlinci’, cabbage rolls and baked ‘strukle’ (rich cheese parcels).– Mira Erceg and Ivanka Baric

HIP-HOP CONNECTIONS FOR REFUGEE YOUTHRefugee youth have had access to an innovative program promoting their involvement in the arts.

16 Winter 2008


In June and July 2008, Federation Square turned into a colourful display of light and entertainment celebrating diversity.

Directed by Robyn Archer, The Light in Winter brought together artists, designers and communities to explore their ideas of light, enlightenment and hope.

The Light in Winter comprised various elements, including When The Gods Came Down To Earth – a commission from

at Federation Square, When the Gods Came Down To Earth was an installation of luminous moving images depicted on the big screen. The installation invited visitors to contemplate the beauty of sacred images of Hindu Gods, the meaning of their ritual function and the power of their magical aura.

Another component was The Gift of Light. On the night of the Winter Solstice (21 June), nine of Melbourne's diverse communities came together to celebrate light and enlightenment. These communities, facilitated through the Footscray Community Arts Centre, included Indigenous, Japanese, Indian, Tuvalun, African, Hispano-American, Turkish, Vietnamese and Afghan. Each group worked with an artist to create contemporary interpretations of the meaning of light from their culture.

The Winter Solstice was a highlight of events at Federation Square with a ceremony at 4pm, followed by a dusk procession and the lighting of the gifts in the main square. The community was invited to add thoughts on light and enlightenment following the ceremony. A concert at 6pm, inspired by Indian culture completed the evening.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP The Gift of Light set Federation Square ablaze; Hindu Goddesses Lakshmi and Kali were a part of When the Gods

Came Down to Earth.



The SheppARTon Festival has played a major role in changing the face of the arts culture in the region by giving the arts a greater profile and acceptance.

This year, more than 3,000 festival goers had the opportunity to sample an array of different foods, have their hair braided Congolese style, try their hand at making Chinese hats, take part in various dance workshops and experience produce and traditions from many cultures.

Held at the showgrounds, the events included world music, fireworks, artwork, theatre, film, food and wine. Highlights this year were the Shepparton World Music Choir, Bollywood community dancers, performances from the Sri Lankan

The theme was “Fresh Water”, considering water is so vital to such a dry region and the audience was invited to contemplate the artistic impressions of this valuable life source.

The diverse program achieved a balance between the innovative and the mainstream in a way that appeals to a wide audience. There was an emphasis on mixing community created arts with professionally produced and performed work. In particular, the SheppARTon Festival was successful in bringing professional artists to work with community groups in the development of new work.

The Shepparton Festival once again showcased some of the region’s finest multicultural performances, produce, art and heritage.

18 Winter 2008


Held over 17 days from 22 May to 8 June across Melbourne, the 2008 Melbourne Italian Festival showcased Italy’s fi nest artists and culinary masters using Melbourne’s tree-lined boulevards as the perfect, richly coloured backdrop.

Festival Director, Franca Smarrelli said of the MIF 2008 program; “The Melbourne Italian Festival is devoted to the cultural, artistic and economic collaboration between Italy and Victoria in a program that embraced all art forms.”

The offi cial opening night event was held at The Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria on Thursday 22 May and featured performances from I Cameristi della Fenice di Venezia – chamber musicians of the ‘La Fenice’ Orchestra of Venice.

Federation Square on Sunday 1 June celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Italian Constitution. The celebration of the Italian Republic Day was opened by the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby and special guests included the Consul General of Italy, Dott. Francesco de Conno.

This year, the Festival made history between Sydney and Melbourne as the Inaugural Italian Connection Rally connected the country’s most famous cities. For the very fi rst time, Australia’s most famous Little Italys – Norton Street, Leichhardt and Lygon Street, Carlton – joined over a three-day driving adventure, inspired by the spirit of the Mille Miglia 1000 Rally across Italy, which commenced one week before its Australian counterpart.

Food, wine, music, art and literature, the Italian community celebrated the best of the best at this year’s festival.

TOP Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, the Italian Consul General Francesco de Conno and Luciano Bini celebrate with members of the Italian community.



Australia’s first monument commemorating the plight of the Vietnamese boat people was unveiled by Deputy Premier Rob Hulls at a moving ceremony held at the Jensen Reserve, Footscray in June during Refugee Week.

The monument, which depicts a boat with two sails, is inscribed in Vietnamese and in English – the latter acknowledging the many acts of kindness and compassion of Australians.

Mr Hulls said he was proud that Victoria had led the way by being the first to erect such a monument.

He added: “The boat design is clever and emotional. The message is simple – as human beings we are all in the same boat.”

Not-for-profit organisation the Archive of the Vietnamese Boat People

(AVBP) is responsible for having the monument erected. The organisation’s chairperson, Mr Hung Chau, discovered there was a real desire for such a monument, after extensive consultations with the local Vietnamese community.

The monument is titled ‘The Monument of Gratitude’ and was designed by a local Vietnamese architect who lost his aunt at sea.

The Vietnamese scripture was read by an elderly member of the local community, Mr Ngu Ha, who lost his entire family at sea. “In commemoration of the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people who perished in pursuit for freedom. Whatever the cause, be that of hunger or thirst, rough seas or sickness, exhaustion or pirates, we pray that they now rest in peace.”

A monument commemorating the thousands of Vietnamese boat people who perished in their search for freedom, has been unveiled by Deputy Premier Rob Hulls in Footscray.

Bushwalking Victoria has been funded $40,000 by the Victorian Government to implement Go Further, an innovative project to encourage bushwalking.

Go Further aims to increase bushwalking participation in the community by developing and implementing a plan to engage with local community walking groups to provide support and expertise and to encourage them to 'go further'.

Bushwalking is an active recreation that promotes health and wellbeing, teaches people about the value of our natural environment and promotes good mental health through social interaction.

On Tuesday 1 April, Bushwalking Victoria in partnership with Citylink Creek Connections and Moonee Valley City Council supported four multicultural walking groups to pilot a walk in the bush at Woodland Historical Park.

The groups, including a Vietnamese walking group and Horn of Africa women’s walking group, walked along the Spiritual Path at Woodlands and later enjoyed a picnic lunch. The project has also engaged with Wingate Community Centre to trial a walk in the natural environs of Merri Creek and CERES. This group consists of walkers from a variety of diverse backgrounds including Vietnamese, Turkish and Albanian.

For further information walking groups can contact Gina Manusco on (03) 8846 4130 or [email protected]

20 Winter 2008


On Friday 7 May, the State Zionist Council of Victoria (SZCV) held a concert and reception, which was attended by the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby and Mr Ted Baillieu, Leader of the Opposition, in recognition of the occasion. Speeches were delivered by Mr Brumby, Dr Danny Lamm, President, SZCV and Mr Yuval Rotem, the Ambassador of Israel.

The Yom Ha’atzma’ut 2008 variety concert is held each year, and this year guests were entertained by some of Israel’s best-known and admired performers.

“Tonight’s exciting mix of rising new stars from Israel and from right here in Victoria, as well as the traditional performances we have all come to love, is a sure indicator of the strength of Victoria’s Jewish community,” Mr Brumby said.

He also expressed the privileges of a democratic state that embodies the principles of freedom of expression, acceptance and mutual responsibility.

The work of the State Zionist Council is well-known in addressing the need to promote mutual understanding among Jews and non-Jews and uphold the democratic fundamentals of dialogue, inclusion and respect for difference among all Victorians. The success of the State Zionist Council was recognised on the night by more than 2,500 people who attended the Yom Ha’atzma’ut concert.

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ABOVE Premier of Victoria John Brumby, Dr. Danny Lamm, SZCV, and His Excellency Yuval Rotem, Israel's Ambassador to Australia.

Victoria’s Jewish community celebrates 60 years of Israel’s declaration of independence this year.



The conference was held in Wangaratta in March and the theme focussed was of social inclusion for culturally and linguistically diverse communities within regional Victoria. Initiatives, projects, ideas and research that promote social inclusion were explored by approximately 160 representatives from the community, government and private sectors.

Special guests included the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, who said the conference was an important event on the calendar and helped identify issues that needed to be addressed in regional areas.

“From settlement support to

health, from anti-racism to economic imperatives, from education to employment, from aged care to childcare… all are covered (at this conference) with eminent and well-qualified speakers with direct grass-roots experience,” Mr Merlino said.

“It is an opportunity to look at how we can collaboratively strengthen regional communities through creating connectedness,” he said.

Chairperson of the VMC, George Lekakis acknowledged the hard work many people do in the CALD communities and pointed out the need to continue to support our communities with the existence of such bodies as the ECCV and NEMA.

“It remains absolutely vital to our future as a democracy and as a civil – and civilised – society that we continue to create opportunities for Victorians to get involved in the decisions that affect them and shape the services they use,” he said.

The International Women's Day event brought together 180 women from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds to acknowledge and celebrate the strength, courage and resilience of local migrant women.

The focus this year was on wellbeing and staying active and the activities provided were a positive reflection on that theme. An exercise facilitator from the Prahran Neighbourhood House provided some strength training exercises which motivated women to move and stretch whilst still sitting in their seats.

Entertainment was provided by Showy Salsa Dance Company and

engaging the audience and thus ensuring that the event was lively with many women dancing to Latin tunes and African rhythms.

Women attending were also encouraged to have their hands massaged, which was generously provided by Joy Gahan from the Prahran Neighbourhood House.

As the scrumptious Middle Eastern lunch was being served, the Polish Women's Choir ASTRY serenaded the women and provided a calming mood to finish on.

All involved reported on a wonderful day and have requested that a similar event be held next year. Women from around the world reflected on the different cultures that make up our society.

This event was supported and funded by the Cities of Stonnington and Port Phillip, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Prahran Neighbourhood House and the New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre.

FOCUS ON REGIONAL ISSUESThe Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) and the North East Multicultural Association (NEMA) hosted the Cultural Diversity and Harmony: Regional Conference.

If you have an event coming up and you would like to encourage other people to attend we would love to hear from you. We'd also like to help you get things into action for next year’s Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week. The VMC has developed a register of organisations and artists by local area that are willing to visit schools during the week. This is a wonderful opportunity for community groups to showcase their cultures and help educate schools. It is also an opportunity to establish relationships and help other groups gain insight into the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of Victoria.

Some activities that schools are interested in include:

traditions and customs

If your group would like to be involved, please visit www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au For more information email [email protected]

On Tuesday 8 March, New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre held a Multicultural Women’s Day celebration at the Prahran Town Hall.

We want to hear about what your community has planned for the year ahead.

22 Winter 2008


Successful settlement of refugees in regional Australia can provide clear health, economic, and social benefi ts, according to the report: Refugee Resettlement in Regional and Rural

.Otha Akoch is a proud Sudanese

Australian. He moved to Australia fl eeing the war, injustice and instability his family faced on a daily basis in his homeland. It was a natural decision for Otha and his family to choose a safe haven like Warrnambool to set up a new life.

“We as refugees arrived in Australia after losing every thing; our families, friends, our educational opportunities, our homes, communities, our dignity, identity and our freedom. We had lost so much we don't want to lose our children too, in the midst of big cities,” Otha says.

Otha’s family were the fi rst Sudanese to settle in the scenic beachside town of Warrnambool. They have not looked back, thanks to the warm welcome and support they have received from the community.

“It really works well for the refugee community here, because the local citizens, organisations and churches warmly welcome us,” said Otha.

Wilbert Mapombere moved to Ballarat from Zimbabwe in mid 2006. He fl ed after incessant persecution, arrests and numerous threats against his life. He now lives in Ballarat and

is a barrister and works closely with the African community in the area. Wilbert says the support he has received from the Ballarat community has made a tangible difference to his mental health and wellbeing and that it is vital for new arrivals to have access to services that can help them adjust to their new lives.

VicHealth Chief Executive Offi cer Todd Harper supports Wilbert's observation and said: “There is strong evidence that when new settlers are able to access resources such as housing, health services, employment and education their wellbeing increases and productivity improves.”

“It is vital for the health of newcomers that their cultures are respected and that they do not experience discrimination,” Mr Harper said.

Otha agrees. His positive experience in Warrnambool has been great for his health and wellbeing. After eight years living in Egypt as a refugee, he says proudly: “I feel at home here. I am a man of Warrnambool.”More information www.vichealth.vic.gov.au

A new report by the Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) shows that adequate support is essential for new arrivals in regional Victoria.

TOP Zimbabwen refugee, Wilbert Mapombere and Narelle Hibberd of the Ballarat Migration Project. ABOVE Sudanese refugee Otha Akoch and Anne Waters from Warrnambool Council.

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MAIN Thomas Lual, photographed by Angela Milne (Warrnambool Standard).

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP Danute Lynikas, photographed by Brennan Barry. MIDDLE Zaieb Mohamud Mohamud, photographed by Gerard Hynes. BELOW Akoch Akei Manheim, photographed by Nico Keenan.

24 Winter 2008


Working quietly in the background to better the lives of others in the community often goes unacknowledged, and those who do it do not expect applause and accolades. However, the Victorian Government

recognises the hard work many people do and each year seeks to formally recognise their contribution and say thank you.

Helping others resettle in a new country, opening doors to learning English, developing social groups to minimise social isolation and helping others access services most people take for granted are just some of the ways outstanding members of our diverse society make life easier for refugees.

Each year, the Victorian Government seeks nominations from across Victoria to formally recognise the invaluable contribution refugees voluntarily make to the community. The VRRR is an important event on the state’s calendar and this year was no exception.

This year, the recipients totalled 28 and were added to the VRRR on 19 June in a ceremony at the Immigration Museum. Each recipient was presented with a certifi cate by the Deputy Premier, Rob Hulls and the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino.

“The VRRR recognises the dedication of refugees supporting their own ethnic communities as well as strengthening relationships for the wider Victorian community,” said Mr Hulls.

“By acknowledging the achievements made by refugees to our community, we hope to encourage greater awareness and respect for our cultural diversity, which is enriched by the presence of a signifi cant refugee population,” he said.

Each year refugees who have made an outstanding contribution to society are rewarded for their hard work by being formally recognised in the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record (VRRR).

Refugees

difference



CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Kim Thien Truong, photographed by Natasha Ward; Paulino Joth, photographed by Rebecca Rocks; Victoria Franco, photographed by Geoff Morrissey; Abraham Hadgu, photographed by Lauren Marshall.

OPPOSITE PAGE David Lam, photographed by Rod Donald; Dr Nsubuga-Kyobe Apollo, photographed by Julie Mercer (courtesy of Shepparton News).

26 Winter 2008


The recipients are involved in a range of initiatives, including programs to address problem gambling among refugees; assisting refugees settle into jobs and homes; encouraging the preservation of linguistic and cultural traditions; developing educational programs; and actively defending human rights issues.

For the second year running, the Victorian Government invited photography students from Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE to create a photo exhibition featuring portraits of this year’s recipients. Mr Merlino launched the exhibition at the ceremony and praised the students and recipients for their participation in the project.

“The students’ involvement in the VRRR is inspiring and encouraging to see,” Mr Merlino said, “the recipients have been portrayed in an artistic and compelling way that puts faces to some of the hardworking individuals in our many different community groups.”

Guest speaker Wilbert Mapombere, a signifi cant fi gure in the Ballarat African community and VRRR recipient from last year, acknowledged the ordinary men and women who were recognised for the extraordinary deeds they performed which go a long way in alleviating the suffering of their fellow human beings.

“If we put our heads together, our future is bright; our needs for peace, employment, education and all other services being the same,” said Mr Mapombere.

“Let us all continue to make strident effort to overcome the challenges that lie ahead and build a strong foundation upon which future generations will look back with pride and say ‘our grandparents had foresight’. ”

THE VMC WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE 28 RECIPIENTS ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr Nsubuga-Kyobe Apollo: Goulburn African Community

Kwami Assimadi: Ballarat African Association

Sonam Dolkar Shatsan: Tibetan Women’s Association

Victoria Franco: Refugee Basketball Program, Spectrum MRC

Abraham Hadgu: Eritrean Communities Council Chairperson

Caleb Haunung: Melbourne Chin community

Jacob Haweil: Australian Assyrian Arts and Literature Foundation

Salam Ali Hussein: Oromo Community Association in Vic

Paulino Jouth: Community Development/Problem Gambling

Offi cer – Diversitat

Samuel Kuot: Sudanese Community Association Of Australia

David Lam: Buddhist community

Peng Ling: Burmese community

Thomas Lual: Sudanese Community in Warrnambool

Danute Lynikas: Lithuanian community

Akoc Akei Manheim: Lost Boys of Sudan Association of Australia

Su Su May: AMES Settlement – Community Guide/Information Offi cer

Zabihulla Mazoori: Afghan Refugee Youth Worker

Zeinab Mohamud: United Somali Womens Organisation

Halima Mohomud: Somali Community

Asha Saaed: The Eritrean Community

Sainab Sheikh: African Women's Network

Jeremiah Temple: Sierra Leone Australia Community of Victoria

Alice Tiomkin: National Council of Jewish Women (Vic)

Van Tu Tran: Vietnamese community

Kim Truong: Vietnamese community

Gene Valaitis: Geelong Lithuanian community

Gulgothai Wahidi: Afghan community

Margaret Walerian: Polish community

Additionally, the VMC would like to thank Bill Poon and his

photography design students at NMIT for their contributions:

Geoff Morrissey, Lisa Schrader, Rod Donald, Tricia Tjondropuro,

Gustavo Reyes, Bec Humphries, Rebecca Rocks, Gerard Hynes,

Ben Telford, Brennan Barry, Phillip Brown, Nico Keenan, Spiros Spirou,

Wen Jie Lim, Natasha Ward, Grant Hargreaves, Julia Olle, Graham Parsons,

Haley Franklin, Belinda Nance, Lauren Marshall, Meaghan Ross.



28 Winter 2008

birth of the Buddha The 13th Buddha Day and Multicultural Festival was held on 17-18 May at Federation Square.

Hosted by the Buddha’s Light International Association of Victoria (BLIA VIC) and Fo Guang Shan Melbourne, this annual and much anticipated festival celebrates the birth of the Sakyamuni Buddha, a significant date in the Buddhist calendar and celebrated throughout the world.

Prince Siddhartha Gautama or Sakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. He embarked on a journey to discover the truth after renouncing his crown with a vision and firm footsteps on his own path to enlightenment, along the way dedicating his life to the alleviation of human ills and ailments through wisdom and compassion almost untenable to those treading their own path to enlightenment.

Each year, the Buddha Day and Multicultural Festival is held at Federation Square to celebrate the Buddha. Spread over two days and despite the torrential downpour, 67,400 people came along to this year’s event and enjoyed performances from various artistic and cultural groups, as well as sampling an assortment of vegetarian culinary delights.

The annual World Peace Blessing Ceremony marked the official proceedings of the Festival. This unique ceremony was conducted by the Abbess Yi Lai of Nan Tien Temple and the Venerables of Fo Guang Shan Melbourne and combined the traditional rituals of the “Bathing of the Buddha” and a ceremony for World Peace and

also featured a Traditional “Welcome to Country” by Aunty Doreen Garvey Wandin, Senior Wurundjeri Elder.

The World Peace Blessing Ceremony it is a special celebration, highlighting and promoting cooperation, community understanding and harmony amongst all in our diverse multi faith and multicultural society.

There was also a series of Multifaith events including, “Living in Multicultural Multifaith Melbourne”, a youth forum held in collaboration with the Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network and the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues; An Interfaith Prayer Ceremony: the Sharing of Wisdom, in conjunction with The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne;


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The Ch’an Tea, Flower and Music event and Sacred Songs – The Interfaith Concert, an evening program, held for the fi rst time in BMW Edge.

The MMYN forum featured speakers from different religions and cultures who shared their thoughts and experiences to provide an insight into their own religions and cultures.

The Ch’an of Tea, Flower and Music event was a special program of demonstrations and participative sessions which revolved around the meditative practices of Ikebana by Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter 29. It included a tea ceremony with Tea Master Ms Jin, accompanied by the music of the Gu-Zheng – Chinese zither with Ms Hong, as well as a series of Fo Guang Shan Dharma discussions and Ch’an meditation sessions – “Why suffer? Be Happy” by Venerable Jue Yao.

The Interfaith Concert was an inaugural choral and instrumental concert featuring singers and musicians of diverse faiths and cultures, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Choir; the Anglican Choir of Christ Church Brunswick and the Colour of Unity,

Qawwali Choir; the Tamil All Saint’s Choir; Andrew Travis, Didgeridoo; Cath Connelly, Celtic Harp and Radhey Shyam Gupta, Traditional Hindu Sitar.

Another highlight was the 2008 Buddha’s Day Baby Blessing Ceremony, where children under the age of fi ve were blessed by the Venerables of

Fo Guang Shan Melbourne, so that they may live a happy and fulfi lled life under the protection and guidance of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

Babies enter the world surrounded by the hopes, dreams, joys and most importantly the love of their parents, family and friends. Every parent has hopes and aspirations that their child grows in good health physically and mentally; that they live a meaningful and fulfi lling life; that they develop a kind and loving heart and that they become wise and are blessed with good fortune. The Baby Blessing Ceremony is a popular and special event of the Festival and this year attracted many families wishing to have their babies blessed.

Mrs Dominique Yu, President of BLIA VIC said “Melbourne’s encouragement and acceptance of the Festival over these years has been astounding, it is a true testament to its internationally recognised harmonious community. I thank you Melbourne for sharing our traditions and cultures.”More information www.bliav.org.au/festival



30 Winter 2008

Refugee Week shines a light on the journey of refugees

and the many challenges they face as they adjust to their new lives in Australia.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino launched Refugee Week on 16 June, at a function which was hosted by John Gibson, President, Refugee Council of Australia and supported by Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project, amongst other organisations.

This year’s Refugee Week was held from 15-21 June and saw a host of events taking place across Victoria. The Week coincides with World Refugee Day on 20 June, an international day putting the spotlight on issues that affect refugees and displaced peoples and world attitudes towards their plight.

“Refugee Week endeavours to raise our awareness about the plight of people in the most difficult of life’s circumstances.

“It encapsulates human rights, torture, homelessness, racism, health, women, men, youth and children,” Mr Merlino said.

The theme of this year’s Refugee Week was A Place to Call Home,

suggesting a global theme of protection, human rights and the fundamental right to secure a place to call home.

With 2008 marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is a timely reminder of the relevance and universality of the protection of rights for all.

Over the last decade, Victoria has received approximately 32,000 humanitarian entrants, mostly from Africa, Middle Eastern countries and South East Asia.

Mr Merlino said this diversity adds to our rich, harmonious and connected communities, where everyone is encouraged to practice their faith and cherish their heritage. Mr Merlino also outlined the $17.7 million funding package for refugees that was announced in this year’s budget.

“This funding will assist newly arrived refugees, through the provision of ongoing support in the areas of education, health and justice,” Mr Merlino said.

A place to call home


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‘‘help show students the significance of the Week and encourage student participation in planning and hosting events in the future.

Equality, the Darebin Ethnic Communities Council and restaurant Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford hosted an event with live music and dinner to welcome 83 young Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were the last boat people detained in Nauru Detention Centre before its closure.

Women’s Lunch’ was hosted by Otway Community College and proved to be a celebration of the culture, food and contributions of the Sudanese Community in the area, especially the women, in Colac.

Many other events took place across Victoria during Refugee Week, as Victorians put their support behind developing a stronger awareness and showing support for our refugee communities.

REFUGEE WEEK EVENTSThe Victorian Multicultural Commission also provided funding to 40 community organisations to host events during the Week. Some of these included welcoming ceremonies, lunches, concerts, art exhibitions and forums. Other events included:

artists and performers come together to showcase the best of their talents. The Festival is organised by Multicultural Arts Victoria and features many diverse refugee and emerging cultures. This year’s event was a huge success at the Fitzroy Town Hall. A full report on the festival can be found on page 13.

provided a cultural experience that engaged all five senses. Participants enjoyed rich and diverse experiences through sound, sight, taste, touch and smell at an event to welcome refugees to the area.

a celebration during Refugee Week to

THIS PAGE, ABOVE Young people took to the soccer field in Maribyrnong during Refugee Week, while BELOW many more enjoyed the music, stalls and entertainment at the Emerge Festival.

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP The Dut family at home in Brisbane. This image, captured by photographer Cassandra Mathie, was reproduced on the poster to promote Refugee Week 2008 (June 15-21). BELOW The Eritrean Star Band was a highlight at the Emerge Festival during Refugee Week.



made in australiaThe exhibition, made in australia, was offi cially opened at the launch of Refugee Week in Victoria in the foyer of 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, 16 June. The event also featured stories by author Arnold Zable as well as beautiful acoustic music by the Iraqi group, Mesopotamia.

To inform people on the plight of many asylum seekers, photographer Viv Mehes spent two years collaborating with Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project and asylum seekers living in the community on Bridging Visa E (BVE).

The result is an unfl inching look at the lives of those who live in our community and seek a better life.

The core strength of the exhibition comes from the integrity of the 12 poignant stories of 80 photos in the series Staying Strong, this close collaboration with asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, Burma, Lebanon, Cyprus, Fiji and Ghana gently draws on their inner resilience to create a powerful narrative. This narrative sits between large colour photos in The People series, alluding to the fact that in a democracy we are all responsible. Set aside is another striking feature of the Exhibition – an installation, Hung Out to Dry, combines a Hills Hoist with portraits printed

onto delicate swaying fabric; at fi rst intriguing endearing and familiar, it carries a bitter sting.

A photograph taken from the Hung Out To Dry series has been selected as a fi nalist in the prestigious national Olive Cotton Portrait Award 2008. Usama on his city walk is an unusual choice for a portrait as he is depicted anonymously, but as Viv wrote, “I never thought it possible to work with asylum seekers using photography, they were just too vulnerable on BVE, but their anonymity and a partnership with Hotham Mission made it possible. In fact, the absence of direct gaze and the blurring of the faces make the images more highly charged and disquieting.”

Viv Mehes' work is represented in most Australian public galleries, and in private and corporate collections. She has won several prestigious photographic awards with Shadowland, the fi rst exhibition about refugees on temporary visas, including fi rst prize, high commendations and acquisitions in: The Alice Prize 2006, The Josephine Ulrick Win Shubert Photographic Award 2007 and The Autumn Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography 2005.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Images fl utter on a hills

hoist in Hung Out to Dry; Nadine and Nikitha stare

through a door; Usama on his daily walk to cope

with his troubled circumstances.

All photography by Viv Mehes.

A stunning photography exhibition launched Refugee Week in Melbourne, and brought attention to the plight of many people.

‘‘ ‘‘

32 Winter 2008


The guides were developed after research was conducted by the MFB which indicated that most groups from these two communities had little understanding of fi re safety awareness.

Groups from the Burmese community demonstrated a limited knowledge regarding fi re dangers associated with cooking methods and a lack of understanding and experience using household appliances that are common in Australia.

Manager of Diversity Development Dalal Smiley said that the MFB is committed to developing sustainable relationships with the diverse communities that it serves.

“The amount of people arriving from Burma has increased signifi cantly over the past three years. This infl ux of recent arrivals has required our organisation to

identify and address the specifi c fi re safetyneeds of this emerging community.

“The guide can be used as a practical resource that can be used across the MFB and by other service providers.

and Chin communities’ migration to Australia and their settlement process and issues. It can be used by our Community Safety department to develop appropriately targeted educational material and messages.

“The guide also recommends strategies to be used by the MFB to communicate with communities from Burma and attract applicants for fi refi ghters positions,” Ms Smiley said.

A similar guide was developed to assist the Chinese community.

MFB research indicated that many Chinese groups also had low levels of

fi re safety awareness, in particular, the elderly and recent arrivals to the country.

“Chinese communities in Victoria are relatively well established, but the infl ux of recent arrivals has required our organisation to identify and address the specifi c fi re safety needs of this growing community,” Ms Smiley said.The guides are available at www.mfb.vic.gov.au or by phoning (03) 9662 2311.

The MFB has developed resource guides to better serve local communities from China and Burma.



Even though the road toll has been significantly reduced, young drivers continue to have more crashes than any other road users, and car crashes kill more young people than any other causes. The answer is safer young drivers – and the new Graduated Licensing System (GLS) has been designed to do just that.

The Graduated Licensing System is a four-year, two-stage probationary licence system. This differs from the current single stage licensing system. Motorists will receive a P1 licence for their first year of driving, followed by a three-year P2 licence.

The new system requires young drivers to gain more driving experience before they sit their licence.

Drivers will need to have at least 120 hours of driving experience – including at least 10 hours at night – before they apply for their probationary licence.

If they pass, motorists under 21 years of age will receive a P1 licence followed by a three-year P2 licence.

The P1 licence holder will use red plates and the P2 holder will use green plates.

For more information please visit www.gls.arrivealive.vic.gov.au

On Wednesday 23 July, the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino announced the Connecting At Risk Young People Initiative – a joint initiative between the City of Greater Dandenong and the Victorian Government that will provide outreach workers and a single access point to services for vulnerable young people.

Mr Merlino said the Victorian Government had committed $870,000 towards the innovative partnership, which will provide a range of initiatives to assist

youth in the area to access education, training and employment opportunities.

“We are working closely with the City of Greater Dandenong and local service providers who assist young people with a range of issues to help at risk youth make important connections and provide more opportunities for them to get involved in their community,” Mr Merlino said.

The Connecting At Risk Young People Initiative includes providing a single access point for young people, employing outreach support workers, with potential traineeship opportunities from local refugee communities, providing better access to education and training pathways and employment assistance, plus additional sport, recreation, volunteering and community leadership opportunities.

A local Community Advisory Group, led by the City of Greater Dandenong and consisting of Government departments, local agencies and community leaders will also be a part of the initiative.

The initiative was launched at Noble Park English Language School and was attended by Cr Pinar Yesilagac, Noble Park ESL principal Enza Calabro and members of the Greater Dandenong community.

NEW ROAD RULES FOR YOUNG DRIVERSYoung drivers now need to clock up the hours on the road in order to get their full licence.

A new $1.2 million program in the City of Greater Dandenong

will assist young Victorians in need, particularly those

from refugee and emerging communities, to access vital

support services.

34 Winter 2008

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT VMC Chairperson, George Lekakis, Principal of Noble Park English Language School, Enza Calabro and the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultrual Affairs, James Merlino, with children from Noble Park ESL School.


The Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand announced the funding during Refugee Week (15 – 21 June) and said the service would help many families.

“Accessing a good quality kindergarten program is a vital part of a child’s learning, with research indicating long-term benefi ts for children who attend kindergarten,” Ms Morand said.

The current kindergarten fee subsidy of $730 will be extended to include children from refugee and asylum seeking families, making kindergarten free.

Ms Morand said the initiative extends to special humanitarian entrants. These are refugees who have suffered a human rights violation in their home countries and have support from an Australian citizen, resident or community group.

The initiative is a key element of Victoria’s Plan to Improve Outcomes in Early Childhood, a 10-year plan to drive reform in the early childhood sector.

For more information contact the Offi ce for Children and Early Childhood Development on 1300 732 947.

The research, funded by the Department of Justice and undertaken by the CEH Victorian Multicultural Gambler’s Help Program, profi led four communities: Liberians, Sudanese Dinka, Somalis and Iraqi Muslims.

A bicultural research team investigated community attitudes towards gambling, gambling practices and counselling services.

While all four communities tended to view gambling participation negatively, gambling rates and practices varied widely both within and between communities. The fi ndings broadly support other research that indicates that the longer the communities had been exposed to legalised gambling, the greater the likelihood of developing gambling problems.

The research included extensive community profi ling, covering a range of settlement issues. Researchers discovered that all four communities were reluctant

to use mainstream counselling, preferring instead to seek help within their families or community structures.

As with the wider community, problem gambling amongst refugee communities needs to be addressed through early intervention programs. This might include improving understandings of western-style counselling, organising community discussion groups, using in-language radio to share information, offering alternative recreational activities and more conventional forms of support, including fi nancial counselling.

The research report in New and Emerging Refugee Communities will be available from the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health at www.ceh.org.au


New research on problem gambling in refugee communities in Victoria supports the need for tailored early intervention and prevention programs.

A new funding boost will give children from refugee and asylum seeking families at least 10 hours of free kindergarten a week.

LEFT TO RIGHT The Victorian Problem Gambler's Help Team Muaed Alzagiar, Hien Bui, Tatiana Walker, Mary Gavranic and Issa Farah.


Look out for the well-known 'black balloon' advertisements on your television screen, newspaper or radio.

Each balloon represents 50g of climate-changing greenhouse gas. The average Victorian home produces 240,000 black balloons every year.

Saving energy this winter will reduce the impact on our environment, as well as on your wallet! Just by setting your thermostat to 20 degrees instead of 22 degrees, you could save up to 17,800 black balloons and $150 on your heating bill.

Look out for ways to save energy and money, and kick the carbon habit this winter! More information www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au

In early June 2008, the Minister for Mental Health, Lisa Neville, released Because Mental Health Matters – a consultation paper outlining key reform directions for mental health in Victoria.

As a follow up to this paper, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), in partnership with the Department of Human Services, ran a consultation session with ethno-specific organisations on mental health and CALD communities.

Key issues raised at the VMC consultation were:

barriers, stigma and improve CALD

access to mental health services in the areas of prevention, early intervention and for recovery.

community education activities that are reflective of cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

competency with language issues and CALD community mental health issues.

between service providers and ethno specific organisations.

and evaluation on best practice and

tools for cultural engagement. The Department of Human Services is carrying out a consultation process with a number of individuals and organisations across the state.

Cross sector consultation forums are also being conducted in regional areas across Victoria. These forums are targeted to mental health services and broader health, community and welfare services that provide support to people who have mental health problems.

Consultation details and more information on the consultation process is available on the website www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/reformstrategy

VICTORIA'S MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY REFORMA strategy to address mental health reform is underway.

Winter is the most energy intensive season for Victorian households, and we all need to think about ways we can save energy.

All Victorians have a story to tell – from the 40,000-year-old Koorie culture, through to the first European settlers to our most recent immigrants.

The Victorian Community History Awards 2009 are proudly sponsored by the Victorian Government, through Information Victoria, to keep these true

stories alive. The Awards recognise excellence in historical method. The various categories acknowledge that history can be told in many formats with the aim of reaching and enriching

for the finalists of each category. The categories are:

All entrants will be invited to the official

in May 2009. Assistance and judging

Historical Society of Victoria.

More information www.vic.gov.au

36 Winter 2008

SOME WAYS YOU CAN SAVE ENERGY



Level 11, 1 Spring StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000

Telephone (03) 9208 3184 Facsimile (03) 9208 3179email [email protected]

multicultural.vic.gov.au

VMC018_wintermagazine_cover_FA.indd 2 14/8/08 2:12:57 PM

Documents

mv Highlights of the Emerge Festival Celebrating Buddha ... issue 25... · mv muLTIcuLTuraL VIcTOrIa issue 25 • winter 2008 All of Us campaign Refugee Week activities Highlights