Cultural diversity
Presentations are available from the following events:
- 2016 From Multiculturalism to Inclusion Conference
- 2014 Opportunities for Partnerships Conference
- 2016 VLGMIN Forum: The Economics of Multiculturalism; Benefits, Barriers & Business
- 2015 VLGMIN Forum: Preventing violence against women
- 2014 VLGMIN Forum: Multicultural Arts
- 2013 VLGMIN Forum: Workplace Diversity: Workforce for the Future
- 2011 VLGMIN Forum: The Role of Local Government in Settlement & Multicultural Affairs
2016 From Multiculturalism to Inclusion Conference
The theme for this local government multicultural policy development conference was “From Multiculturalism to Inclusion”. Hosted by the City of Greater Dandenong, it featured keynote speaker Mariam Issa of Resilient Aspiring Women and focused on shifts from multiculturalism to ‘interculturalism’ and inclusion; diversity and intersectionality; social cohesion; the importance of language; identity and belonging; sector and governmental leadership on cultural diversity planning, and policy and practice examples from metropolitan and regional councils.
Conference details including speakers and their biographies can be found in the program (Word - 240KB), and presentations are below.
Exploring Policy Approaches: Specific, universal and mixed approaches to supporting multicultural communities
- Exploring policy approaches - Elissa McMillan, Community Planning Officer, City of Moonee Valley (PDF - 2.66MB)
- Exploring policy approaches - Ross Barnett, Multicultural and Aboriginal Strategic Planner, City of Whittlesea (PowerPoint - 2.61MB)
- The Geelong experience: Policies, Plans, People, Persistence, Principles - Jane Wager, Coordinator, Community Development Unit, City of Greater Geelong (PowerPoint - 10.2MB)
- Melton City Council: Intercultural approach - Diverse, confident and inclusive communities - Essan Dileri, Intercultural Development Officer, Melton City Council (PDF - 1.13MB)
Breakout sessions
Countering Racism & Islamophobia
- Australia@2015 - Prof. Andrew Markus, Monash University School of Philosophical, Historical & International Studies & author of Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion reports (PowerPoint - 3.20MB)
- Countering racism and Islamophobia in Bendigo - Natalie Jacobson, Coordinator Inclusive Communities, City of Greater Bendigo (PowerPoint - 18.1MB)
- Countering racism and Islamophobia in Darebin - Mandy Bathgate, Coordinator, Equity and Diversity Unit, Darebin City Council (PDF - 377KB)
Diversity within Diversity
- Cultural diversity - Dr Alpha Lisimba, Senior Advocate, Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (PDF - 594KB)
- Intersectionality in practice - Petr Svoboda, Social Policy Officer, City of Moreland (PDF - 993KB)
- Living the Rainbow: How do we support individuals to interweave their religious, cultural, sexual and gendered selves in order to achieve psychospiritual health? - Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council and Deakin University School of Health and Social Development (unable to attend; not presented at the conference) (PowerPoint - 1.23MB)
Social Cohesion, Welcoming Cities & Victoria’s Community Resilience Unit
- Victoria’s Community Resilience Unit - Mark Duckworth, Chief Resilience Officer, Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.
- Welcoming Cities - Aleem Ali, National Manager, Welcoming Cities (PDF - 3.70MB)
Countering Islamic State ideology
- Countering ISIS ideology - Maryum Chaudhry, Youth Engagement Officer, Islamic Council of Victoria(ICV) & Omar Haniffa, President; United Sri Lankan Muslim Association of Australia, and ICV youth representative (PowerPoint - 564KB)
- Creating change - Katharina Verscharen, Coordinator, Youth & Family Services, City of Greater Dandenong (PDF - 2.88MB)
Sector and Governmental Leadership in Social Policy & Inclusive Economic Growth
- Employment among cultural-diverse young people - Soo-Lin Quek, Manager of Knowledge and Advocacy, Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY).
- Multiculturalism and inclusive growth - Prof. Paul Smyth, University of Melbourne School of Social and Political Sciences (PowerPoint - 79.7KB)
Cultural Identity, Religion, Language & Belonging
- Culture Identity, Religion, Language and Belonging - Helen Heath OAM, Development Officer, City of Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network (PDF - 140KB)
- Social cohesion and community resilience at Hume - Romany Amarasingham, Coordinator Community Development, Hume City Council, with Mohammed Yusuf, Hume Interfaith Network Youth Ambassador.
2014 Opportunities for Partnerships Conference
The theme for this local government multicultural development conference was opportunities for partnerships, both intergovernmental and with non-government organisations and the community sector. This event focused on the municipal role in settlement planning, social cohesion and access and equity.
Read the Opportunities for Partnerships conference report (Word - 2.28MB).
Fatima Shama's keynote address
Plenary presentations
- Role of local government in multicultural policy - Fatima Shama (PowerPoint - 5.13MB)
- A local government sectoral view - Cr Bill McArthur, MAV President (Word - 22KB)
- Koories in council - Lidia Thorpe (PowerPoint - 192KB)
- An Australian Government perspective - Bernadette Ryan (Word - 52KB)
- Multicultural affairs and government in Victoria - Hakan Akyol (PowerPoint - 4.12MB)
- Partnerships in the multicultural community sector - Irene Bouzo (PowerPoint - 3.11MB)
- Welcome to Wyndham (PowerPoint - 1.45MB)
Breakout A: Settlement planning
- City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Settlement Planning Committee (PowerPoint - 7.15MB)
- Diversitat - Promoting access and equity (PowerPoint - 4.08MB)
- Settlement planning, local government and the west - Brimbank Council (PowerPoint - 4.71MB)
- Wyndham Community & Education Centre (PowerPoint - 7.95MB)
Breakout B: Social cohesion
- COGB Mosque Application Experience - City of Greater Bendigo (PowerPoint - 20.8MB)
- National Anti-Racism Strategy local government and social cohesion project - Human Rights Commission (PowerPoint - 4.73MB)
Breakout C: Access and equity
- Access and equity in City of Ballarat (PowerPoint - 8.55MB)
- Wodonga's journey towards access and equity (PowerPoint - 1.41MB)
- Working in partnership with Greater Shepparton's multicultural community (PowerPoint - 32.1MB)
2016 VLGMIN Forum: The Economics of Multiculturalism; Benefits, Barriers & Business
This Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network (VLGMIN) forum brought together current research and case studies about harnessing the economic benefits of multiculturalism.
These benefits include more skilled labour, job generation, economic growth and innovation, improved regional development and increased community reach.
Presenters and participants also discussed the barriers to legal and meaningful employment for multicultural communities; such as discrimination and complex systems; and council collaborations with corporations and industry.
The forum was facilitated by Rafael Epstein and generously hosted by the City of Greater Geelong, in partnership with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV), Welcoming Cities and the MAV.
Conference details including speakers can be found in the program (PDF - 204KB), and below are some of the presentations given at the forum:
- Key Note Speech – Bruce Marshall, ACEcD Chair, Victorian State Practitioners Network for Economic Development Australia (PowerPoint - 3.46MB)
- Qualified But Not Recognised – Sam Afra JP and Robert Gruhn, ECCV (PowerPoint - 1.54MB)
- Freedom Partnership Project: Slavery-free councils through advocacy and action – The Salvation Army (PDF - 324KB)
- Chai Khana Social Enterprise Tea House Project – supported by Diversitat in Geelong (PowerPoint - 1.58MB)
- Small Towns, Big Returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill – A joint AMES and Deloitte Access Economics Report (PDF - 1.03MB)
- CALD Education and Employment Pathways (CEEP) Program – Frances Salenga and Clare Bennett, City of Ballarat (PowerPoint - 2.92MB)
- Good practice ideas through council, community & business partnerships – City of Moreland (PowerPoint - 3.62MB)
- Sunshine Pho Fever: Breaking down barriers into benefits for Sunshine businesses - Simon McCuskey, Place Manager, Sunshine Town Centre, City of Brimbank (PDF - 4.95MB)
- Welcoming Cities - Welcome to Australia - Aleem Ali, National Manager, Welcoming Cities (PDF - 78.2KB)
2015 VLGMIN Forum: Preventing violence against women
The theme for this forum was 'Preventing Family Violence in Multicultural Communities'.
Participants heard national, state and local perspectives; workshopped the difference between prevention, intervention and response approaches to family violence; and were presented with a showcase of the initiatives being undertaken at a local government level to address violence against women in multicultural communities.
This forum was hosted by Brimbank City Council, open to council and community agency staff and attracted almost 100 delegates.
2014 VLGMIN Forum: Multicultural Arts
In 2014, the Forum focused on arts and culture themes in partnership with the Cultural Development Network and Multicultural Arts Victoria.
It was held on Thursday 30 October at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka and hosted by the City of Ballarat.
2013 VLGMIN Forum: Workplace Diversity: Workforce for the Future
This annual forum discussed research findings that show people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are significantly under-represented in the local government workforce.
It covered workforce profile and planning, the benefits of a culturally diverse workforce, EEO and human rights perspectives, and current good practice.
We once again partnered with the VLGMIN to deliver the forum.
See the presentations from the 2013 VLGMIN Forum:
- Advantages of a culturally diverse workforce (PowerPoint - 1.39MB)
- Gaps in employment services for highly disadvantaged CALD job seekers (PowerPoint - 695KB)
- Gaps in employment services for highly disadvantaged CALD job seekers (Word - 46KB)
- Local government workforce perspective (Word - 37KB)
- MAV Victorian local government careers 2013 (PDF - 4.06MB)
- The role of local government in settlement and multiculturalism (Word - 285KB)
- Think different, act different (PowerPoint - 118KB)
- Why promote cultural diversity in local government (PowerPoint - 147KB)
- Workplace diversity - Moreland City Council case study (PowerPoint - 785KB)
- Workplace diversity - What's in it for all of us? (PowerPoint - 4.35MB)
2011 VLGMIN Forum: The Role of Local Government in Settlement & Multicultural Affairs
The VLGMIN background paper on The role of local government in settlement and multiculturalism (Word - 285KB) was prepared by Myriad Consultants.
The resource was produced following the VLGMIN annual forum hosted by Monash Council held in September 2011 in partnership with the MAV.