MIGRATION ACTION LIBRARY Volume X Number 1 (1988) BROTHER! !C 3 3FFT
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MIGRATION ACTION LIBRARY Volume X Number 1 (1988) BROTHER! !C 3 3FFT. LAURENCE 67 BRUNSWICK STREET FITZROY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS Migration Action Migration Action is published by the Ecumenical Migration Centre (133 Church Street, Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 3121 — Tel: 428 4948). Migration Action Volume X Number 1 (1988) ISSN: 0311-3760 E.M.C. is a non-denominational TABLE OF CONTENTS agency which through its welfare, educational, project and The Role of Local Government in Ethnic Affairs community work fosters the by Keith Owen......................................................................................................... 2 development of Australia as a multicultural society. The Centre Resolving the Conflict Between Ethnic Communities and has been working with immigrants Local Government since 1962. Its work is diversified by Tony Pensabene................................................................................................. 7 with a strong emphasis on developing models of working Melbourne’s Greek Community: Infrastructure and Local Government by Christi Gerondaki 14 with non-English speaking background people, community Designing Relevant Services for the Ethnic Community education and community by Jill Leisegang 20 development. Within a framework of ensuring The Ethnic Worker and Local Government by Ana da Silva..................................................................................................... 26 equal rights for all in Australian society, workers at E.M.C. provide News from OMA 30 information, a welfare and counselling service, and World Scene 32 community development activities to Greek and Turkish immigrants Action 33 and Vietnamese refugees. Support is also given to smaller groups Book Reviews............................................................................................................. 36 such as the Timorese and to many Second National Research Directory into Multiculturalism individuals of diverse and Ethnic Affairs 38 backgrounds. CHOMI (Clearing House On Migration Issues) is a unique information centre on migrant, refugee and ethnic issues which Editorial Committee: Tony Pensabene, Lidio Bertelli, Mark Deasey and provides a base for the Centre’s Kati Sunner community education programmes. The library holds Design and Layout: Kati Sunner over 40,000 documents and 250 It is not the intention of this journal to reflect the opinion of either the periodicals which are used by staff or the committee of the EMC. In many matters this would be students, teachers, government difficult to ascertain nor do the Editors think it desirable. The aim of departments, community the Journal is to be informative and stimulating through its various organisations and others seeking articles, suggestions and comments. up-to-date information or undertaking research. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (per volume of 3 issues) — $20.00 (individuals) — $25.00 (institutions) — $30.00 (abroad) — Single issue: $7.50 Please issue cheques, money orders, etc to: Ecumenical Migration Centre, 133 Church Street, Richmond, Vic. Australia, 3121. EDITORIAL In this issue, Migration Action looks at the role of local government in ethnic affairs. Those who have followed the development of migrant programs and services would be tempted to ask, why local government? The key players in the fair and equitable provision of services have traditionally been seen to be the Commonwealth and State Governments, ethnic communities and peak ethnic organisations. Our focus on national issues has made us forget the critical role local government plays in our daily lives. Who provides the infant welfare centres, senior citizen centres, home and community care, local employment, information on local activities, youth services, local streets and garbage services? Local government does all of these to the tune of $4 billion a year, yet for too long residents from non-English speaking backgrounds have paid their rates without questioning the appropriateness and adequacy of the services they receive in return. Local government should be important for two reasons. First, it provides a test to the validity of the so-called policy of ‘mainstreaming’, that is, meeting the needs of Australian residents from non-English speaking backgrounds through the modification and adaptation of generalist services. If local government fails in its responsibilities for ensuring that services are accessible and equitable to ethnic residents, then we must question the validity of current mainstreaming policies. Second, the extent to which local government is recognised as a legitimate sphere of government in its own right will be partly determined by the way it responds to ethnic diversity in a multicultural society. If it fails to be the voice of all its residents, then it will suffer the fate of being regarded by ethnic communities as conservative, parochial and alien to a large section of the Australian community. At a time when the Commonwealth Government is seeking to devolve its services more to local government, State Governments are asking councils to assume greater responsibility for its communities’ needs, and local government associations in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia are looking to develop ethnic affairs policies, Migration Action takes a critical look at recent developments and future prospects. The editors would like to thank Dr Alun Jackson of the Centre for Migrant and Multicultural Studies, Monash University for allowing EMC to publish a selection of papers from its conference of last year. Next issue we examine the Report of the Committee to Advise on Australia’s Immigration Policies. Migration Action Vol.X No.1 1988 — Page 1 The Role of Local Government in Ethnic Affairs Keith Owen Introduction — enable local communities to adjust positively to All spheres of government in Australia are economic and social change affecting their currently facing important decisions regarding the region. provision of relevant human services within a The Local Government Development Program shrinking Federal and State financial base. This has provides policy advice, administers programs of particular relevance here in Victoria, for Victorian financial assistance and provides development Local Government Councils generally deliver a support to local authorities as a means of wider range of health and welfare services in strengthening local government’s capacity. comparison to their counterparts in other States. It is anticipated that this program will continue The Commonwealth has recognised the need for during 1987-88 with emphasis on personnel Local Government to become a genuine partner in including Equal-Employment Opportunity initiatives. the Australian Federal system. It has also Federal and State Ministers responsible for Local recognised Local Government’s potential role in Government commissioned a study in 1986 — the community development, and, as is seen in the “ National Review of Local Government Labour Local Government Regional Development Program, Markets”, to report on methods of is committed to assisting Local Government to • improving the adequacy of education and better service the needs of an ethnically diverse training services and community, both in its traditional responsibilities • reducing the rigidities in local government labour and in new areas such as human services. markets; and also In a settlement context, Local Government plays a key role in facilitating citizenship ceremonies. This role cannot be over-estimated given that for an immigrant, and especially a refugee, adopting Australian citizenship represents one of the most important steps in his/her life. The citizenship t MCAW ceremony provides Local Government with an j*of2£ Tto COUNCIL. TH A N opportunity to build on this initial contact with many of its recently-arrived constituents. Local Government and Regional Development The Local Government and Regional Develop ment Program is designed to promote responsiveness of Government policies and programs to varying local needs and conditions, so that Local Councils can make their optimum contribution to social and economic development. In particular the program seeks to: — develop the capability of local government to participate as an effective partner with Federal, State and Territory Governments in the design and implementation of policies to meet community needs; and Page 2 — Migration Action Vol.X No.1 1988 f • to investigate the characteristics of local of human service, particularly in the planning and government employment and the sources and delivery of services. conditions of labour supply. Access and Equity’ requires federal departments The study will assist Local Government to to gather information on the needs of their ethnic address a range of issues which act as clientele, to monitor the effectiveness of their impediments to flexibility and mobility. It also actions, to give more emphasis to the awareness proposes some possible approaches to counter of cultural differences and the use of community these impediments, taking into account factors languages, and to consult with ethnic communities relating to education and training, staff appointment in the planning stages. practices and the changing nature of occupations. Also at the state level, the Victorian Govern In 1987-88 Councils are expected to receive ment’s commitment to a Social Justice Strategy untied financial assistance grants of some $640 incorporates elements of the access and equity miliion. The main