CALD Stand for Council
The role of councils is to provide good local governance for the benefit and wellbeing of the whole municipal community, to prioritize the best outcomes for everyone in their community. Councillors must represent the interests of everyone in the community, taking into account the diversity of interests and needs in the community.
Councils can lead the development of inclusive, accessible and welcoming places, spaces, services and programs to enhance representation and participation from diverse groups, including migrants, refugees and other people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Stand For Council - Candidate Information Session – Civic engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Date: Monday 9 September 2024
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:15pm
Online only
MAV will be hosting a special session of our Stand for Council program for candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and those who wish to engage with diverse communities. You are warmly welcomed to come along, hear from leading organisations and former councillors, and connect with other potential candidates.
Our Keynote Speaker
Dr Fan Yang, Melbourne University Law School
Dr Fan Yang is a research fellow at Melbourne law school and ARC centre of excellence for automated decision-making and society. She studies technology and migration politics. Dr Yang will present recent and as yet unpublished research which has shown that about many people from first-generation migrant communities often lack political literacy and may not be prepared to make informed choices or fully participate in Australian democratic processes. The research shows that more needs to be done to promote civic education among migrant and culturally diverse communities.
Our Panel
Cr Seema Abdullah – Greater Shepparton City Council
Australia’s first Pakistani-born Muslim migrant councillor and former Mayor of Greater Shepparton, Cr Abdullah is an engaging leader, a champion of gender equality and diversity and inclusion. Over the last 30 years, Seema has worked nationally and internationally in various roles and sectors, including government, not-for-profit and corporate sectors and academia and boards. She has served on numerous boards and panels including the Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel. She has recently announced that she will step down from council to pursue new opportunities.
Bel Schenk – Coordinator, Welcoming Cities Victoria
Bel is a cultural development specialist working across local governments to help implement inclusion programs and policies. Understanding that local governments are best placed to understand community needs, she works to understand different approaches, including implementing the Welcoming Cities Standard.