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MARIBYRNONG CITY COUNCIL

Multicultural Policy2012-2017

02

Arabic

Amharic

Chin

Dari

Vietnamese

Mandarin

03

Message from the Mayor 04

Message from the CEO 05

Purpose 06

Legislative Context 07

Multicultural Maribyrnong 08

Consultations 10

Framework and Vision 12

Values 13

Commitments and Priorities 14

Objectives 15

Accountability 22

Glossary of Terms 23Appendix 1 25

Multicultural Think Tank Attendance List 25

Appendix 2 26Community Consultation Results 26

Annual Multicultural Action Plans and Summary Policy Together with the community, Council will develop annual Action Plans to implement this five year Multicultural Policy. The current Action Plan is inside the back cover. A Summary version of this Policy is available in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Amharic, Chin and Dari. For copies of an Action Plan or Summary Policy, or if you would like this information in an alternative format, please contact Council’s Diversity Planner on 9688 0200 or [email protected] or visit www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Images Images in this Policy feature local people and places and are used with the permission of those photographed or their guardians.

Disclaimer: Although all due care has been taken in the preparation of the Multicultural Policy and Action Plan 2012-2017 and its contents, Maribyrnong City Council does not accept any liability for any statement, opinions, errors or omissions contained herein. Any fees quoted are subject to change without notice. Event details are subject to change without notice. All information has been collected in accordance with privacy information guidelines.

MARIBYRNONG CITY COUNCIL MULTICULTURAL POLICY 2012-2017

[ Contents

04

It is with great pleasure that I present Maribyrnong City Council’s 2012-2017 Multicultural Policy. Council is proud to represent such a multicultural community that has long been home to thousands of migrants and refugees. Council acknowledges the benefits multiculturalism has brought and continues to bring to the City. It also acknowledges that multicultural communities often face challenges that Council has a role in addressing appropriately.

For these reasons, I am pleased to deliver a Policy that not only celebrates the contributions made by people with multicultural backgrounds, but supports their wellbeing and commits Council to working with all community members to create a just, fair and harmonious City.

Migration patterns are likely to continue as new communities arrive in Australia and in the City of Maribyrnong. We look to the future with optimism and through this Policy, will actively respond to the needs of our multicultural community.

This Policy provides platforms for how Council will communicate, celebrate, support, advocate, and partner with community organisations and all levels of government to improve service delivery for all people who live, work, study or play in our City, regardless of their cultural background and identity.

I’d like to thank the many individuals, groups and service providers who contributed to the development of this Policy by openly talking to Council staff, completing surveys and attending workshops.

Together, we look forward to meeting the commitments and objectives outlined in this Policy and enjoying the benefits for our whole community.

Cr Catherine Cumming Mayor


[ Message from the Mayor

05

The Multicultural Policy 2012-2017 was developed in consultation with community members, service providers and organisations, as well as our own staff. I extend my sincere thanks to all of those who took the time to tell us what council’s priorities should be for our multicultural community.We are immensely proud of the work we have achieved in our multicultural community in the past years. This work has often been undertaken in conjunction with other organisations and individuals as well as colleagues in Local, State and Federal governments.

We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with others as the City of Maribyrnong enters an exciting period of change that will see rapid expansion and development across the municipality. We recognise that during this time of change it is vital that we continue to ensure the City of Maribyrnong is welcoming of all who live, work and visit the municipality.

Vince Haining Chief Executive Officer


[ Message from the CEO

06

The purpose of our Multicultural Policy and annual Multicultural Action Plans is to support and celebrate the City of Maribyrnong as a multicultural community, harness the social, cultural and economic benefits of our multicultural advantage and help reduce racial and religious discrimination. It will inform the quality of and access to Council services for multicultural communities and commits Council to working internally with its own staff and systems, and externally by engaging meaningfully with the community. This is a whole of Council Policy that applies to all departments and all community members with multicultural backgrounds, regardless of their faith, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, immigration status or income. Its corresponding annual Action Plans will address issues facing each of these groups and be developed in consultation with the community.

Council acknowledges there are differences in migrant groups within our community (e.g. humanitarian migration/refugees, students, new and emerging migrant communities, more established migrant communities etc.) and intends to develop actions to ensure each of these groups feel a true sense of belonging in our municipality.

Aboriginals and Torres Strait IslandersAboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are an important part of our City’s multiculturalism. Due to the substantial gap between the health, employment, education and life expectancy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, the relationship Indigenous people have with this land and waters and their role as the land’s traditional owners, Council supports the needs of its Indigenous communities under its Indigenous Policy and Action Plan.

BackgroundCouncil’s previous policy supporting multicultural communities was the 2006-2011 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Policy and Action Plan. From 2006-2011 a number of initiatives were implemented across Council that changed the way people with multicultural backgrounds participated in community life and were supported and celebrated by Council. Many of these achievements will continue in the coming years. In 2011 Council decided to develop yearly Multicultural Action Plans rather than a five-year plan to acknowledge the changing community.

Seven pieces of legislation and policy have been introduced at Federal, State and Local levels since the last Council policy was written. These are outlined on the following page and have been incorporated into this Policy to guide its annual Action Plans together with relevant future policies or legislative changes. Only those International documents to which Australia is a signatory have been included.


[ Purpose

07


The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006As a public authority for the purposes of Victoria’s Human Rights Charter, Maribyrnong City Council is required to consider 20 legislated human rights when making laws, developing policies and delivering programs and services. This Policy has been developed in consideration of those rights included in the Charter. The implementation of this Policy through its Action Plans will avoid limiting these human rights and promote many of them, including the right to:

� recognition and equality before the law;

� freedom of thought conscience, religion and belief;

� freedom of expression;

� peaceful assembly and freedom of association;

� protection of families and children;

� take part in public life; and

� cultural rights.

[ Legislative Context

International � UN Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951

� UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1996 � UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity 2001

National � Racial Discrimination Act 1975 � Human Rights Framework 2010

� The People of Australia - Australia’s Multicultural Policy 2011

Maribyrnong City Council � Maribrynong City Council Plan 2009-2013

� Human Rights & Social Justice Framework 2012-2016 � Multicultural Policy 2012-2017

Victorian � Victorian Racial & Religious Intolerance Act 2001

� Victorian Charter of Human Rights & Responsibilities Act 2006 � All Of Us - Victoria’s Multicultural Policy 2009

� Equal Opportunity Act 2010 � A Fairer Victoria 2010

� Multicultural Victoria Act 2011

08


The City of Maribyrnong is proudly one of the most multicultural municipalities in Victoria. Since the last policy was written in 2006, the City has continued to be a popular destination for people new to Australia and is home to many organisations and groups that support multicultural communities across the Western metropolitan region. It is important to recognise that the City of Maribyrnong was multicultural even before European colonisation. The area was a significant meeting place for the tribes and clans of the Kulin Nation and in particular the Marin-balluk clan of the Woi wurrung language group. Since the beginning of European colonisation in Melbourne in the early 1800s, there has been a constant flow of migrants from all over the world to the area we now know as the City of Maribyrnong.

Many of the people arriving from 1950s-1980s were refugees seeking asylum from war and its aftermaths and the subsequent arrival of their family members. The 1950s-1960s saw a significant wave of post-war migration from Europe to the area. The migration of overseas-born people settling in the City in the 1970s-1980s came to Australia from South-East Asia, mainly Vietnam. The City of Maribyrnong’s Vietnamese community remains a significant cultural group.

The last decade has seen a substantial increase in the number of small, new and emerging cultural groups in the municipality. This is partially due to the focus of Australia’s humanitarian/refugee intake program, an increase in the size of Australia’s skilled migration program and the demand for international students for Australian Universities.

[ Multicultural Maribyrnong

09

“We were in Nicholson St when women noticed that an Indian little boy who spoke no English was wondering alone. A Polynesian and then an Arab lady stopped him and we went all around looking for the parent. It took us half an hour but we all lent a hand.”

Consultation participant


Today in Multicultural Maribyrnong Since 2007 there has been a large increase in residents born in India, Vietnam, China, Burma, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. The top six countries of birth for new arrivals to the City between 2010 and 2011 were India, China, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Burma and Sri Lanka.

As of 2011, our community represents 147 overseas countries, with 40% of residents born outside Australia. The top five countries of birth for residents are Vietnam, India, China, United Kingdom and New Zealand. Almost 70% of residents have at least one overseas born parent (for 58%, both parents were born overseas).

64% of our community follow one of 84 different faiths or spiritualities. The top five are Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.

119 languages are spoken in the City of Maribyrnong. The top five are Vietnamese, Cantonese, Greek, Mandarin and Italian. 10% of residents have limited English fluency and in 45% of households, at least two languages are spoken.

Throughout these waves of migration from an ever-increasing number of countries, Maribyrnong City Council has welcomed all new arrivals and been at the forefront of providing them with a broad range of services and supports.

The City of Maribyrnong has long-held a reputation as a vibrant and resilient multicultural community that is welcoming to people new to Australia who, in turn, offer the benefits of their culture through local businesses and community celebrations. Parts of the City are extremely popular with people from all over Melbourne and those visiting from interstate and overseas. People come to the City for the diversity of food available and the festivals, events and arts programs that celebrate multicultural communities, new and established.

Council uses statistics from the ABS 2011 Census, Social Statistics and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to plan its services. Please note many migrant groups (in particularly newly arrived refugees) are significantly undercounted as they are less likely to complete the Census. Many are unfamiliar with the process and come from countries where providing information to authorities can have disastrous consequences. For this reason, Council researches information from a range of sources, including government reports, settlement services and local service providers.

10


The process to develop this Policy and its first-year Action Plan included three stages:

Stage 1:Multicultural Think TankIn November 2011, Councillors, Council’s CEO, General Managers and Council officers heard from 14 representatives of community groups and organisations, educational institutions and State and Federal government agencies at a Think Tank to help guide the direction of this Policy. Discussions focused on the impact of current Federal and State multicultural policies, Council’s legal requirements, new research, key issues affecting Victorian multicultural communities and identifying themes for future vision and planning. A list of attendees is in Appendix 1.

Stage 2:Community ConsultationsFrom February to April 2012, the community were asked to provide input into the Policy and year 1 Action Plan through two surveys; one for community members and one for service providers. Culturally-specific focus groups were also conducted across the municipality. The community survey was completed by 227 people aged 14 to 76 years, from 39 different countries and who have been in Australia from two months to all their lives. See Appendix 2.

Most people felt equally connected to the broader community as to their own cultural group and were satisfied with how Council manages services and facilities. The areas people were least satisfied with or knew least about will be addressed in the annual Multicultural Action Plans over the next five years, as will the issues that respondents identified as being in the top five for multicultural communities: Community safety; Learning opportunities, Education and Training; Employment; Healthy and affordable food; Getting around easily. The Action Plans will also focus on what respondents identified as making them feel most like they belonged to the local community. For example, the top response was having opportunities to meet people from other cultural backgrounds.

[ Consultations

11


Organisations providing services and support to local multicultural communities were asked to complete the service provider survey. The 26 responses identified strengths and gaps in Council’s work with multicultural communities, what Council can do to improve work in this area and how well it represents and considers multicultural communities. These responses were incorporated into this Policy and will help guide the annual Action Plans. Community consultations with individuals, groups, organisations and service providers will continue throughout the life of the policy to make sure the Action Plans reflect the community’s needs.

Stage 3:Stakeholder WorkshopsIn April 2012 two workshops were held, one with Council staff and one with representatives from key community organisations. The purpose was to review the community consultation data and discuss priority actions for Council to address identified issues. Both groups made it clear that improving communication and partnership between Council departments and between Council and local agencies should be a priority.

Council’s Multicultural Policy is divided into the below areas:

1. Framework

2. Vision

3. Values

4. Commitments

5. Priorities

6. Objectives

7. Accountability

12


FrameworkCouncil’s Multicultural Policy is framed by the Principles of Multiculturalism as expressed in the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011. These state that regardless of background, all Victorians and Victorian institutions: � are entitled to mutual respect and

understanding regardless of their diverse backgrounds;

� should promote and preserve diversity within the context of shared laws, values, aspirations and responsibilities;

� have shown that they can work together to build a positive and progressive future and this co-operation is to be encouraged so as to enhance Victoria as a great place in which to live;

� are equally entitled to access opportunities and participate in and contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political life of the State;

� have a responsibility to abide by the State’s laws and respect the democratic processes under which those laws are made;

� should be united in a shared commitment to Australia and to community service;

� should recognise Victoria’s diversity as an asset and a valuable resource benefiting Australia.

VisionCouncil has a vision of the City of Maribyrnong as a diverse, vibrant and proud City focused on local places, local people and where opportunities to improve health and wellbeing through education, services and participation in community life are accessible to everyone.Council sees itself as representing a multicultural City where cultural diversity is part of everyday life. We live and work in harmony and the community is well connected. Each person feels that they belong to the wider community and is free to express their own culture and identity.

Council values its multiculturalism and collaborates with the community, government and service providers to ensure equal access, participation and contribution to the social and economic life of the City.

[ Framework and Vision

13


Active Engagement and InclusionCouncil will actively engage and encourage multicultural communities and individuals to participate in the life, activities and decision making in the City.

AdvocacyCouncil will bring the needs and achievements of its multicultural communities to the attention of government, business and other organisations, in order for them to be responded to or celebrated.

EqualityCouncil will treat everyone equally and award them every human right and responsibility, regardless of their cultural background, faith, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, immigration status or income.

Equity and AccessibilityCouncil will work to make the City a fair place by addressing restrictions or barriers to accessing services, opportunities and resources.

PartnershipCouncil will seek to strengthen the trust and confidence of its community. We will work closely with groups, organisations, businesses and communities to achieve a shared vision.

RepresentationCouncil takes its obligations to the community seriously. Council will strive to ensure that all activities are planned, designed and implemented in the public interest by balancing and responding to changing needs, strengths and opportunities in a sustainable manner.

RespectCouncil will respect all people, ideas, beliefs and lifestyles and treat all people with dignity.

Transparency and AccountabilityCouncil will ensure all its processes, decisions and actions are carried out in an honest and transparent way, and open them to regular public monitoring and scrutiny.

[ Values

“I like the fact that every community that has settled in Maribyrnong has brought or added some great, wonderful culture and positive value to our community as a whole. We are learning from one another. I feel great when I see this wonderful multicultural neighbourhood. It makes me feel safe.”


14


CommitmentsCouncil is committed to: � Promoting respect, understanding and support

for all community members and advocating for their needs, regardless of their cultural and ethnic background or identity.

� Leading opportunities that celebrate cultural diversity, strengthen relationships between different cultural groups and the broader community and address racial and religious discrimination.

� Providing services to all people with multicultural backgrounds and measuring their accessibility and effectiveness.

� Supporting, celebrating and harnessing the contributions of multicultural communities as everyone’s business, both within Council and in the community.

PrioritiesThe research and consultations carried out in the development of this Policy led to the identification of the following key priority areas that Council will use to guide its work between 2012-2017: � Support multicultural communities to be active

in the community and understand their rights and responsibilities.

� Improve Council’s capacity to meet changing community needs and provide meaningful and practical support to multicultural communities by linking people to Council and community-run services.

� Use approaches that are collaborative and involve partnerships between all levels of government, service providers and the community.

� Adopt methods of communication that include simplified written, visual and sound-based approaches and actively engage multicultural communities in their development and delivery.

� Continue to strengthen a sense of community belonging among people with multicultural backgrounds by creating pathways that engage them in the life of the City.

� Develop Council’s capability to respond to different community needs and develop evidence-based practice across all Departments.

[ Committments and Priorities

“I love how welcome I feel in Maribyrnong. I love that my child gets to mix with children from other cultures”.


15


[ Objectives

[ Participation

[ Prosperity

[ Amenity

[ Advocacy

[ Capability

Council’s objectives are categorised into the work it will do to improve participation, prosperity, amenity, advocacy and capability for people with multicultural backgrounds.

16


ParticipationThe opportunity to participate in and contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political life of the community is a fundamental right for all people.

We will:

� Promote participation in all areas of community life as an important way of enhancing community wellbeing.

� Provide services that consider the needs of people with multicultural backgrounds.

� Make decisions in collaboration with the community.

� Work together with community groups and service providers to build capacity around responding to issues affecting multicultural communities.

� Build our understanding and respect of a practical meaning of multiculturalism through continual community engagement.

� Contribute to resourcing community groups and organisations to help them maintain their operations.

� Invest in sustainable projects that assist new and emerging multicultural communities build relationships with local groups and services.

� Support initiatives that bring together new and established multicultural communities, as well as the broader community, to encourage intercultural understanding and shared experiences.

� Regularly meet in person with multicultural community groups and service providers to ensure current and emerging needs are identified and addressed.

� Create opportunities for people with multicultural backgrounds to volunteer in the local community.

[ Objectives

17


ProsperityStrengthening economic stability and equitable access to education, training and employment opportunities is critical to people’s achievement of a sustainable quality of life and provides opportunities to contribute to community.

We will:

� Make the most of Maribyrnong’s multicultural advantage in all areas, socially, culturally and economically.

� Work with the community to build a positive and progressive future for people with multicultural backgrounds.

� Contribute to a prosperous future for the community by facilitating and advocating for non-discriminatory access to education, training and employment, health and support services and affordable housing.

� Support and advocate for investment and job growth in local industries.

� Promote multiculturalism as an asset and valuable business resource to local industries and within Council.

� Link multicultural communities (particularly youth and females with refugee backgrounds) with agencies providing education, training and employment opportunities.

� Promote Council as a place of employment to people with multicultural backgrounds.

� Keep up to date about issues impacting multicultural communities so that services and programs can reflect changing needs.

� Work with Local, State and Federal government and service providers in a whole of government approach that better integrates and streamlines services.

18


AmenityAccessible places, open spaces, transport, community facilities, services and shopping centres improve the community’s health, sense of wellbeing and belonging. They increase people’s ability to easily participate in community life and organise their own activities.

We will:

� Provide safe and accessible places where people can meet and take part in social activities.

� Promote Council services and facilities to all multicultural communities.

� Develop vibrant cultural precincts that reflect the cultural diversity of our community.

[ Objectives

19


AdvocacyAdvocacy and speaking up on behalf of others helps to ensure that issues impacting multicultural communities are highlighted, addressed and that relevant levels of government stay informed about emerging service development and delivery needs.

We will:

� Develop initiatives in partnership with legal centres and other agencies to support people’s understanding of their rights and responsibilities and work towards a community with shared values and aspirations.

� Advocate on behalf of our multicultural communities to State and Federal government departments.

� Assist multicultural communities to advocate on their own behalf and to encourage others in the community to do so.

� Work collaboratively with non-government agencies to build capacity around issues impacting the most vulnerable people in multicultural communities.

� Build partnerships at the community, Local, State and Federal government levels to strengthen the ways we support multicultural communities.

� Aim for a streamlined, whole of government approach that enables services and programs to respond to and reflect changing community needs.

20


CapabilityCouncil recognises that our ability to work effectively for multicultural communities is critical to mutual respect and understanding and will take measures to prevent discrimination and ensure equal access to resources and services.

We will:

� Develop the capability of Council’s staff by providing cultural competency training and best practice tools and resources.

� Aim to achieve a workforce that represents and reflects our multicultural community.

� Consider multiculturalism in the development, delivery and evaluation of all of Council’s programs and services.

� Improve communication and awareness across Council about programs and initiatives focused on or accessible to multicultural communities.

� Thoroughly evaluate our work with multicultural communities.

� Provide qualitative and quantitative evidence that measures the outcomes and effectiveness of Council’s programs and services for multicultural communities.

� Ensure Council’s communication strategies include social media and in-person approaches.

� Actively promote Council services to improve community understanding of Council’s role and what it provides.

� Develop partnerships with internal and external service providers to enhance the health and wellbeing of marginalised multicultural groups who do not access mainstream services.

� Ensure the rights of multicultural communities are upheld by assessing decision making processes to ensure they comply with our human rights obligations.

� Support multicultural groups to apply to Council and other grant programs.

[ Objectives

21


22


[ Accountability

This Policy will be subject to ongoing evaluation, including annual reports to Council on its implementation and achievements. The objectives within this Policy will be addressed progressively. It is important that Council maintains ongoing engagement with multicultural communities and service providers that support them. This will enable Council to remain accountable to its community and keep up to date on important and emerging issues and new community groups.

Annual Multicultural Action Plans will align with this Policy and be publically available. Each one will be developed in consultation with community members, service providers and Council staff. The Policy itself will be reviewed in 2017, when a new policy in support of the City’s multicultural communities will be developed with the community.

“The inclusive nature of many of the cultures here is great. Most are keen to involve others in their ceremonies, festivities and share their views.”


23


AboriginalsPeople who are Indigenous (native) to Australia. The Federal Government defines an Aboriginal person as someone who is of Aboriginal descent, identifies as an Aboriginal person and is accepted as an Aboriginal person by the community in which he or she lives.

Asylum SeekerSomeone who had to leave their own country because they were in danger and could not receive protection from their own government, often because of their religion, ethnicity or political opinion. An asylum-seeker is someone who says they are a refugee, but whose claim has not yet been definitively evaluated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

City of MaribyrnongThe local government area joining Braybrook, Footscray, Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Seddon, Tottenham, West Footscray and Yarraville.

CultureThe way of life of a particular society or group; its customs, language and values. In this context, a person may have a particular culture or belong to a cultural group based on their or their family’s original country or region. For example, Vietnamese or Dinka culture.

Diversity Difference. In this context, the characteristics that make individuals, people and population groups different from each other. These can include age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, religion and sexual orientation as well as education, profession or marital and income status.

Established Multicultural CommunitiesCommunities made up of people with multicultural backgrounds who have been living in Australia for approximately 15 years and are generally well settled into the community.

Immigration StatusA person’s visa situation. For example, whether they are an Australian citizen, permanent or temporary resident, on a work or tourist visa or awaiting a decision to be made by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

IndigenousPeople who are native to a particular land and are the land’s original and first residents and owners.

LocalWithin the City of Maribyrnong.

Local GovernmentThe third level of government (after Federal and State governments), also known as councils, municipalities, cities, shires or towns. The State government defines the powers of local governments under the Victorian Local Government Act 1989, and decides what geographical areas those governments are responsible for. There are 79 local government authorities in Victoria.

Maribyrnong City CouncilThe local government authority responsible for the City of Maribyrnong. Council is made up of 7 Councillors who are democratically elected for a four year term. A Chief Executive Officer reports to the Councillors and is the administrative head of the organisation who implements Council services, programs and events.

MigrantSomeone who chooses to leave their own country to live in another country and are mostly accepted as permanent residents. Migrants can choose to return to their home country of origin if they choose to do so.

MunicipalitySee ‘City of Maribyrnong’.

[ Glossary of Terms

24


Multicultural

Having many cultures. A multicultural society is one that respects people’s right to their culture, faith and identity and where people are treated as equal regardless of their cultural background.

Multicultural CommunitiesLocal groups made up of individual people with multicultural and/or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. People whose family or they themselves were born outside Australia and mostly, whose first language is not English. Non-multicultural communities are considered the mainstream community.

Multiculturalism The idea that cultural diversity is recognised, celebrated and does not require assimilation (being the same). Multiculturalism is achieved through equality, a shared sense of belonging and tackling disadvantage among people with multicultural backgrounds.

New and Emerging Communities Communities made up of people who have been in Australia for approximately 5 years and generally, came to Australia as asylum seekers, refugees or the family members thereof.

RefugeeA refugee is an asylum seeker who has been accepted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), or another country as a refugee according to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees which defines a refugee as someone who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”

A refugee cannot return to their country of origin due to their fears of persecution. Some countries provide refuge until it is safe for them to return home. Others allow them to stay permanently.

ResidentsPeople who live in the City of Maribyrnong.

Service providersOrganisations or agencies that provide people with services such as health care, counselling, advocacy and legal, education and employment advice.

Social JusticeThe pursuit of equal rights and equal opportunity for all people. Social Justice seeks to balance the impact social and economic inequalities have on people experiencing it and the wider community.

Torres Strait IslandersPeople who are Indigenous or native to the islands of the Torres Strait are known as Torres Strait Islanders. The Torres Strait Islands are 274 small islands in the waterway separating Australia and New Guinea, and are mostly part of Queensland.

VolunteerA person who provides help or work to a group, organisation or agency without being paid or receiving financial reward.

WellbeingA good or satisfactory condition of existence, a state characterised by health, happiness and prosperity.

25


Multicultural Think Tank 28 November 2011 Attendance ListParticipants � African Think Tank (Board Member)

� Brimbank Maribyrnong Interfaith Network (Chairperson and Committee Member)

� Centre for Multicultural Youth (North West Region Coordinator)

� Ethnic Communities Council Victoria (Director)

� Monash University (UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations - Asia Pacific and Emeritus Professor of Sociology, School of Political and Social Inquiry)

� Municipal Association of Victoria (President)

� Municipal Association of Victoria (Multicultural Policy Adviser)

� Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (Director)

� Victoria Police (Footscray Community Liaison Officer)

� Victoria University (Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives)

� Victorian Local Government Association (President)

� Victorian Multicultural Commission (Chairperson)

� Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council (Elder)

Maribyrnong City Council representatives � Mayor

� Deputy Mayor

� Chief Executive Officer

� Director Community Wellbeing

� Director Infrastructure Services

� Director Corporate Services

� Manager, Aged and Diversity

� Diversity Coordinator

� Diversity Planner

[ Appendix 1

“I believe that this Council works effortlessly to represent and consider the multicultural communities within its area.”


26


Community Consultation ResultsThe below charts illustrate responses to questions asked in the Community Survey during consultations in early 2012. The 227 respondents were aged 14 to 76 years, from 39 different countries and have been in Australia from two months to all their lives.

[ Appendix 2G

amblin

g

Family or

domestic violen

ce

Dru

g and alcohol

abuse

Imm

igration

Men

tal health

Places to meet

Physical healthan

d fitness

Fun th

ings to do

Relation

ships

with police

Services for new

ly arrivedm

igrants an

d refugees

Access to affordable

housin

g

Racism

Un

derstand

ing rights

and respon

sibilities

Cultu

rallyspecific services

Gettin

g aroun

d easily

Healthy an

daffordable food

Em

plymen

t

Learn

ing opportu

nities

Comm

un

ity safety

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

What are the 6 most important issues for local multicultural communities? Please tick 6 responses only.

Ackn

owled

gmen

t ofdates th

at are significan

tto n

e (eg. Ram

adan)

Regu

lar inform

ationsession

s about

issues relevant to m

e

Leadersh

ip opportun

tiesfor m

e and people

in my com

mu

nity

Access to cu

lturally

specific services

Opportu

nities for m

e toraise issues w

ith Coun

cil

Access to gen

eral servicesth

at un

derstand m

e need

s

Seeing positive im

ages ofm

y cultu

re in the med

ia

Feeling free to express

my faith an

d cultu

re

Feeling com

fortable talking

to people from other

backgroun

ds

Celebrations an

d festivalsfor m

ulticu

ltural com

mu

nities

Opportu

nities to m

eet peoplefrom

other cultu

ral backgroun

ds

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

What are the 3 most important things to make you feel like you belong to this community? Please tick 6 responses only.

Maribyrnong City Council

Street Address: Cnr Hyde and Napier Streets, Footscray

Postal Address: PO Box 58, Footscray, 3011

Phone: (03) 9688 0200, Fax: (03) 9687 7793

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Are You Deaf, Speech or Hearing Impaired?Contact Council through the National Relay Service using one of the methods below. Once you are connected ask for 03 9688 0200.

133677 for TTY users 1300 555 727 for Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech) users www.iprelay.com.au for Internet Relay users.

Would you like Translating or Interpreting?Contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to contact Maribyrnong City Council on 03 9688 0200.

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