Annual 1 Report i JO Victorian Multicultural Commission Professor Trang Thomas, Chairperson September 1996 The Hon. Jeff Kennett, MLA Premier Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Arts 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Dear Premier, Under the requirements of Section 13 of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1993,1 have pleasure in reporting on the operations of the Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission (now known as the Victorian Multicultural Commission) for the period 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996. Yours faithfully, Professor Trang Thomas VIC. J05NT DEPT. INFO. CENTRE 1 7. OCT 1996 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Telephone: (03) 9651 6884 Facsimile: (03) 9651 2624 VMC ANNUAL REPORT 1996 VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 1996 VM• VICTORIAN MULTKUlTUMCl COMMIS StO N © Victorian Multicultural Commission VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL ISSN 0812-566X COMMISSION Commissioners: Prof. Trang Thomas (Chairperson) Mr Hass Dellal Dr Colin Rubenstein Mr Carlo Furletti (resigned April 1996) Ms Regina Fuster Mr Danny Kong Ms Eugenia Moraitis (Deputy Chairperson) Mr Max Pettelin (appointed June 1996) Mr Stefan Romaniw (appointed June 1996) Ms Priscilla Steele Staff: Ms Larraine Guldner Ms Mylinh Pham Postal Address: 1 Treasury Place East Melbourne, 3002 Office Location: Level 3 1 Macaurthur Street East Melbourne 1996 Annual Report Design and Layout Petros Kosmopoulos Printed By: Metro Printing ANNUAL REPORT 1996 0NTENTS1 TOPIC PAGE INTRODUCTION 5 OVERVIEW 6-7 VMC COMMISSIONERS 8-9 VMC STAFF 10 MEETINGS 10 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 11 MULTICULTURAL VICTORIA INQUIRY 12-14 ECPAC 15 PREMIER'S DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL 15-16 COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS 16 VMC SMALL GRANTS 16-17 SPONSORSHIP 17 REGIONAL VISITS 18 MAU 18 IMSAC 18-19 FECCA CONFERENCE 19-20 ECCV 20 UN MEDIA AWARDS 20 NEWSLETTER 21 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 21 FUTURE DIRECTIONS 22 FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1995/96 22 APPENDIX A - SMALL GRANTS 1995/96 LISTING 23-27 APPENDIX B - MAJOR ADDRESSES 28 VMC • RCrauMNW.TKULIUUIminimi ANNUAL REPORT 1996 VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION MEMBERS VMC Commissioners: Pictured top (from left to right): Ms Eugenia Moraitis, Professor Trang Thomas, Mr Hass Dellal, Ms Priscilla Steele, Mr Stefan Romaniw (appointed June 1996), Dr Colin Rubenstein, Ms Regina Fuster, Mr Danny Kong. Pictured below (from left to right): Mr Carlo Furletti (resigned April 1996), Mr Max Petterlin (appointed June 1996) VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL COHMSSiON 1 NTRODUCTION The Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission was established by the Ethnic Affairs Commission Act - Number 26/1993 which was assented to on the 25th of May 1993. In March 1996, the Commission adopted the name the "Victorian Multicultural Commission" and it is anticipated that legislation will be presented to formalise that alteration in Spring 1996. A full-time Chairperson and seven part-time Commissioners were appointed by the Governor in Council fora four year term commencing on the 8th of September, 1993. In 1996, two new commissioners were appointed to fill a casual vacancy, bringing the total number of commissioners to nine. The objectives of the Commission are:- (a) To promote full participation by Victoria's ethnic groups in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the Victorian community; (b) to promote access by Victoria's ethnic groups to services made available by governments and other bodies; (c) to encourage all of Victoria's ethnic groups to retain and express their social identity and cultural inheritance; (d) to promote co-operation between bodies concerned with ethnic affairs; (e) to promote unity among Victoria's ethnic groups; and (f) to promote a better understanding of Victoria's ethnic groups within the Victorian community. Çfe •MC •NERAUM HULTKUITUUI CTWAOW ANNUAL REPORT 1996 o VERVIEW ] i * "V rt I ,1- r Í ri Premier Jeff The activities of the Commission in 1995/96 were characterised by Ken nett, Minister] significant achievements and highlights. Phil Honeywood, and Professor Trang The Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1993 has provided the Thomas at the Commission with a clear set of objectives and functions and the Commission launch of the has proved itself an effective and credible conduit between the government 'Multicultural and people of diverse cultural backgrounds in Victoria. Victoria Inquiry' After extensive consultations and investigations, the Commission completed its "Multicultural Victoria Inquiry" in October, 1995. A set of five publications and 140 recommendations were presented to the Premier. It is hoped that the results of the Inquiry will assist government departments in their planning and implementation of policies which will make services in multicultural Victoria a benchmark model in Australia. Another highlight of the year was Melbourne hosting the Federation of Ethnic Councils of Australia Conference. The Commission was proud to be the principal sponsor of this major event. Over 500 delegates from across Australia and New Zealand attended the conference and had an opportunity to witness the richness and vitality of Melbourne. VMC Throughout the year, the Commission worked closely with all government departments, providing advice on their programs, as well as bringing to ANNUAL their attention the special needs of certain groups of Victorians. The REPORT 1996 Commission had a clear commitment to ensure that culturally appropriate services were available to all Victorians. The Commission assisted the Office of the Governor in its communications with our multicultural community. Working closely with the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and other State Multicultural Affairs Commissions also enhanced the Commission's role in fulfilling its objectives. Commissioners took part in several meetings and were consulted extensively about Commonwealth legislative changes which were of concern to the community. The Commission extended its international connections during the year. Members of the Commission were invited to China, the Middle East and Europe to discuss best practices and models of managing cultural diversity. In March 1996, the Government announced the change of the name of the Commission to "Victorian Multicultural Commission". The change was welcomed by the ethnic community as it allows all communities to feel that they are part of our society and emphasises that the Commission's role is to serve all Victorians. Two new Commissioners were appointed in June 1996 to strengthen the level of expertise within the Commission. After three years since its establishment, the Commission has gained a great deal of confidence and trust from the many culturally diverse communities of Victoria. It has carried out its functions effectively and has been successful in maintaining cohesion and harmony in our multicultural society. There has been a significant increase in the frequency that individuals and organisations approaching and consulting the Commission during the year. The success of the Commission was recognised by the government when the announcement was made that the Commission's grants program would be doubled for the year 1996/ 97. The Commission is proud of its record and looks forward to another successful year in serving the people of multicultural Victoria. VMC •«ero*« MHLTia»Tx«Ai comum ANNUAL REPORT 1996 MC COMMISSIONERS MM Professor Trang Thomas « (Full time Chairperson) Professor Thomas is an academic and consulting psychologist, with special interest in the quality of life of older people and has published several international and national papers. She has been seconded from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where she was Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research. Professor Thomas is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is on numerous boards and committees at both national and state levels. «wtt- Mr Hass Dellal (Deputy Chairperson from June 1994 - December 1994) Mr Dellal was appointed Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation in 1989, an organisation established to promote a strong commitment to Australia as one people drawn from many cultures. mm Dr Colin Rubenstein »» (Deputy Chairperson from January 1995 - June 1995) Dr Rubenstein is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Monash University. Dr Rubenstein also has a long history of prominent professional and community involvement in the area of multiculturalism and ethnic affairs. He was senior consultant to the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs which made major recommendations to the Federal Government. Dr Rubenstein has written and spoken frequently in support of measures to expose and contain racism in Victorian society, including analysing the benefits of racial hatred legislation. He has appeared widely on radio, television and in the print media. Mm» Mr Carlo Furletti «ss®«« (Resigned March 1996) Mr Furletti is practicing lawyer with extensive experience with Australians from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and particularly, within the Italian community of Victoria. His areas of interests include the operation and application of laws to ethnic communities and seeking resolutions to problems caused by the increase in numbers of elderly migrants. Mr Furletti became a member of the Templetowe Province in the Legislative Council in March 1996. VMC ANNUAL REPORT 1996 mí*®¡; Ms Regina Fuster *< <••»«> (Deputy Chairperson from July 1995 - February 1996) As well as being a part-time Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commissioner, Regina is also a member of the