DIAC Community Relations Funding Announced

Community Relations funding is available to help incorporated non-profit organisations address issues of cultural, racial and religious intolerance. Projects should target all people living in a community or local government area and promote respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.

In 2008, $1.5 million has been made available for Community Relations funding activities including $100 000 to assist smaller organisations. Under this new arrangement, amounts of up to $5000 will be available for smaller and less complex projects. Major projects will be allocated funding of between $5000 and $50 000.

Objectives of the Community Relations funding
The objectives of the Australian Government’s Community Relations funding include the promotion of:

· the importance of all Australians respecting one another regardless of cultural, racial or religious difference

· the fair treatment of all Australians, encouraging people to recognise that our interactions should be accepting of, and responsive to people’s backgrounds, circumstances, needs and preferences

· opportunities for people to participate in Australian society and to understand the rights and responsibilities that we share as part of that society

· a sense of belonging for everyone by helping communities work towards a peaceful, progressive and prosperous future

· understanding and acceptance by the broader community of Australia’s changing demographics.

How to apply
There are separate guidelines for small grants and for larger grants with a two-stage process used for this funding. Organisations are required to submit an Expression of Interest and those projects that are short-listed are invited to submit a supplementary application form. See: Community Relations Projects Expression of Interest form <http://www.harmony.gov.au/grants/_pdf/projects-eoi-form.doc> (3.9MB Word file).

Expressions of Interest should be lodged through the following email address:
communityrelationsfunding@immi.gov.au. The deadline for submitting completed applications and expressions of interest is 6.00pm Friday 23 May 2008.

For further information see the website: http://www.harmony.gov.au/grants/index.htm
or telephone: 1800 782 002 or email: communityrelationsfunding@immi.gov.au.

Youth radio: SYN 90.7 FM

Student Radio is thriving in Melbourne, and some of it is multicultural!

SYN (Student Youth Network) 90.7 FM syn.org.au
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/SYN/20627322080

I've asked if any SYN volunteers might be interested in DJing for the Refugee Week Celebrations, Fitzroy Wednesday 25 June, and I've given them my mobile and Maggie's landline.

Prospective disc-spinners will probably want to know more about when the music might be required, who'll be in the audience, what equipment will be set up, and how their work will need to fit in with other entertainers and speakers, etc.

Yarra Settlement Forum Minutes of Meeting March 25 Fitzroy Town Hall Chair Nelum Minutes Maggie
Present
Name	Organisation
Maggie Abdelmalak	North Yarra Community Health
Heather Stock	Fitzroy Learning Network
Colleen Duggen	Fitzroy Learning Network
Nelum Buddhadasa	City of Yarra
Chrisoula Kanaris	The New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre
Steve O'Malley	Metropolitan Fire Brigade
Julie Palmer	NMIT - YAMEC
Meg Johnston	NMIT YAMEC Volunteer
Jonathan Aitken	NYCH
Kerry Wise	Jesuit Social Services
Tim Watson	City of Yarra
Amira Rahmanovic	Multicultural Centre for Women's Health (MCWH)
Apologies
Collette Bacash	New Hope Migrant Refugee Centre
Richard Williams	JSS
Karyn Adams	JSS
Business
Nelum welcomed all attendees with an Acknowledgement of Country. Refugee Week 15 - 21st June. An organising committee be formed to plan event. - Maggie to convene meeting Date not yet confirmed.
Multicultural Centre for Women's Health - Amira Rahmanovic Provided background on organisation. Targets all women from CALD backgrounds - specially industry with high employment rates of CALD women, including hospitality and textiles Provide community workshop program - free Modules include: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Occupational Health and Safety; Mental Health and Well being; Drug and Alcohol; Gambling; Safe use of medicines; Financial 15 bilingual educators employed - some with medical backgrounds Sessions run over 6 workshops Folders containing translated materials provided 4 weeks notice for booking sessions preferred Cross-cultural training available at cost They have the 'largest' multilingual library in Victoria available to people who are members Community workshop sessions can be provided at ANY time of the day. Working Groups: Transitions: have continued to meet and are now establishing a clearer understanding of transitions impact from one benefit to another Youth: members of the Youth group presented at the 'Young people, crime and community safety: engagement and early intervention conference New Families: Agenda for next forum will include Driving School, Driving Program and Dinka School
Meeting Close

Cross-culture courses starting 1st May 08

Cross-cultural communicator training courses
Call for people working in their local community across Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond estates
8 weeks x 4 hours of ACCREDITED NMIT TRAINING plus an extra 20 hours volunteer community placement
Courses are free. Participants will receive a certificate at the end of training.

Thursday morning: 1 May – 18 June 08
OR Saturday morning: 3 May – 21 June 08

please contact Kerry Wise on 0447 338 033 or kerry.wise@jss.org.au

3ZZZ 92.3FM, Wednesday 9 April with Olivia & Murugi

Radio 3ZZZ 92.3 FM, Wednesday 9 April 2008, 7-8am

• Local agencies: What do they do?


• How can they use radio to publicise their projects/campaigns/programs?


• How can 3ZZZ encourage more guests and volunteers to get involved in 'Starting Out' and other innovative programs on 3ZZZ?

Jambo Australia!
This is Starting Out on radio 3ZZZ. On the program today ... (see details below). AND We want you! So please have a listen, and if you'd like to know more about getting involved please give us a call (phone 9415 1923) at the end of the program. (Repeat in Swahili.)

Draft schedule
All times are approximate & interviews are subject to change at any time.

7am: Introduction by Murugi & Olivia.

7:05: Phone interview with Colette Bacash, Settlement Support Worker, New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre, see http://www.nhf.org.au/Text/1096527700968-6170/About-the-NHMRC

Discus "Information Sessions for Newly Arrived African Women" e.g.

• 16 April: Health & Nutrition at AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College) Cromwell Street, Collingwood
• 23 April, Health & Nutrition, North Yarra Community Health Centre, 365 Hoddle Street, Collingwood (near Johnston Street).

7:15: About us; and any news from old friends.

7:30: Oxfam's Brendan Ross

The story behind Oxfam's recent Refugee Realities exhibition.

7:40: Ms Dee Basinski from VicHealth.

VicHealth runs many projects about Mental Health & WellbeingDiscrimination and Violence and the links between violence against women and mental health. To quote:

Intimate partner violence is responsible for more ill-health and premature death in Victorian women under the age of 45 than any other of the well-known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking; 58% of the health impact experienced by women is anxiety and depression.

VicHealth has developed a public health model for the prevention ofviolence against women, which classifies interventions as primary, early intervention and intervention. More at: http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Content.aspx?topicID=115

And also, to mark next week’s World Health Day (Monday 7 April), comedian Akmal Saleh and former Premier, Steve Bracks, will launch a TV commercial, that has been produced by the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre (SMRC), featuring high profile celebrities and community leaders from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, as part of their Family Men Don’t do Family Violence campaign to prevent the incidence of family violence. Akmal Saleh said:

I've put my name and face to this campaign because I believe that hearing from other men, like me, that family violence is not on, will help the message get through. I’m often making jokes, but family violence is no laughing matter. The campaign title is true – family men don’t do family violence.

7:53: Ending.

What's coming up 'Starting Out' in two weeks?
Starting Out is sponsored by the City of Yarra.
Call us now: 9415 1923.

8.00: 3ZZZ Greek Youth program.

See also Yarra Settlement Forum blog

Yarra Settlement Forum February Minutes

Please click on title to be redirected to the minutes.

INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR NEWLY ARRIVED AFRICAN WOMEN

When: Every Wednesday from April 16 to June 4
Location: City of Yarra
Time: 12.00 - 2.00pm
Lunch Included

Sessions include information on:

· Health & Nutrition
· Finances & Budgeting
· Child & Family Safety
· Parenting
· Australian Law & Government


Date
Presentation
Location
16 April
Health & Nutrition

AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College)
Cromwell Street, Collingwood

23 April
Health & Nutrition
North Yarra Community Health Centre
365 Hoddle Street, Collingwood
(near Johnston Street)

30 April
Parenting
AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College)
Cromwell Street, Collingwood

7 May
Parenting
AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College)
Cromwell Street, Collingwood

14 May
Australian Laws
Neighbourhood Justice Centre
241 Wellington Street, Collingwood

21 May
Finances & Budgeting
AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College)
Cromwell Street, Collingwood

28 May
Child & Family Safety
Royal Children’s Hospital
Ella Latham Meeting Room
1st Floor, Flemington Road
Parkville

4 June
Understanding Australian Government
AMES Collingwood (Collingwood Secondary College)
Cromwell Street, Collingwood


This is a project of the New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre working in partnership with:

· AMES Collingwood
· City of Yarra
· Ecumenical Migration Centre
· Fitzroy Legal Centre
· Neighbourhood Justice Centre
· North Yarra Community Health Centre
· Royal Children’s Hospital
· Australian Lebanese Welfare Association

Colette Bacash Chrisoula Kanaris Elleni Beshe
9510 5877 9376 5244 9416 0044