Tag Archive: community

  1. Yarra Ranges community groups able to apply for multi-year funding

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    Eastern Community Centre’s ‘Hidden Voices’ initiatives was helped by Partnership Program funding from Yarra Ranges Council. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

    By Tyler Wright

    Community groups, not-for-profits and event organisers are now able to apply for funding of up to $40,000 a year through Yarra Ranges Council’s Partnership Program.

    Applications for the program opened on Saturday 1 October, with the funding stream for successful applicant flowing from 2023 to 2027.

    Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC), who was a successful applicant of the Partnership Program for 2018 to 2022, used the funding stream of $20,000 per year to provide legal advice on the ground in the Yarra Ranges and educating school children about sexting, cyberbullying and consent.

    “We’ve probably done about 14 workshops across seven schools in the last year alone on those issues across Yarra Ranges; and this funding really drives that kind of work in schools,” ECLC CEO Michael Smith said.

    Through the funding, and working alongside other community organisations, ECLC was able to respond to community need after the June 2021 storm event in the Yarra Ranges.

    “There’s always issues around insurance… the impact by the power issues, and sometimes there’s issues with neighbours and fences and things like that, but also there’s issues like family violence that might be either as a result of the storms or kind of exacerbated by that too,” Mr Smith said.

    ECLC also started their ‘Hidden Voices’ initiative this year, creating a space for sexual abuse survivors, family violence survivors and those impacted by mental health issues to tell their stories.

    Mr Smith said ECLC will be applying for the most recent Partnership Program, helping to continue work with young people in schools and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health organisations.

    “We’ve actually had really smooth referral options between us, as well as doing community projects that really helped the community, so we’re looking forward to continue to do that,” Mr Smith said.

    Yarra Ranges Council is encouraging community groups to apply for funding for projects that align with the council’s Health and Wellbeing and Creative Communities Strategies.

    “Grant applications take significant amounts of time and effort – they also go through a rigorous assessment by Council staff and an independent panel, and there’s heavy competition for this funding,” Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Councillor Jim Child said.

    “We get incredible proposals through all of our grant streams and we can only fund a fraction of these.

    “For the best chance of success, applications should demonstrate a strong alignment to Council’s strategies, meet the selection criteria, demonstrate a willingness to work collaboratively, and outline previous experience delivering Council funded initiatives. These are a must.”

    Applications for the Partnership Grant round will close on Tuesday 15 November 2022, with successful applicants to be announced in 2023.

    The first year’s funding will be delivered on 1 July 2023.

    To learn more about the application process, call Yarra Ranges Council’s grants team, or email grants@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

    Read the original article here:

    Yarra Ranges community groups able to apply for multi-year funding

     

  2. Feature article on Indianlink.com.au

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    Amplifying community voices on anti-racism

    Anti-racism ambassadors to educate community on advocacy techniques and strategies to help combat racism

    ByCarl Buhariwala

    In a new initiative to raise anti-racism awareness, Melbourne’s Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) is supporting culturally and linguistically diverse community leaders to become Anti-racism Ambassadors.

    It launched the ‘Amplifying Community Voices in the East’ (ACVE) program last year in partnership with the organisations IndianCare, the Centre for Holistic Health and The Communities’ Council on Ethnic Issues (CCOEI).

    The project supports community leaders by means of workshops focussing on challenging racism and sharing their voices and experiences of racial discrimination.

    While racism can be both obvious and insidious, a toxic societal disease that impacts all ages, genders, faiths and ethnicities, voicing experiences of individuals subject to racism helps others understand what’s unacceptable.

    At ACVE, the capacity building sessions were provided by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) and Democracy in Colour over the course of a year, and were developed in consultation with the leaders, providing them with knowledge on Australia’s Human Rights Framework, advocacy techniques and using their knowledge and lived experiences to speak out against racism. The participants developed strategies to help combat racism.

    Late in August, ECLC hosted an event to showcase its work on the ACVE project, coordinate a panel discussion with the ACVE Anti-racism Ambassadors, and to officially launch the Voices for Change – Action against Racism video (available here).

    A panel discussion with the five ACVE Anti-racism Ambassadors, Dr Chris Mallika Bhadra, Eva Lam, Dr. Neha Gogia (based in India), Ritu Dahiya and Houng Yu Ngee, facilitated by Saarah Ozeer from CCOEI provided the perfect platform for the community leaders to share their thoughts and personal experiences with the project and engage in dialogue with the community.

    The video offers education on what discrimination is and what a potential victim can do to address their concerns as it takes viewers through a scenario involving possible racial discrimination. The video will be available in select translations.

    ECLC CEO Michael Smith believes the project presents a great opportunity for leaders within the community to be equipped and empower others to challenge racism and amplify diverse voices across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

    “These leaders are experts on their community and their experiences of racism. Rather than speaking for them, we’re working together to amplify their own voices and influence positive change.” “The project builds on the close connections and trust that ECLC has built with diverse cultural and faith communities over many years”, he added.

    The core focus of the video is to educate community members on how to identify and report incidents of racial or religious discrimination or vilification.

    Dilnaz Bilimoria, community volunteer for CCOEI reminded attendees of the “need to educate all Australians to stand up and speak out about racist experiences”.

    “It is our responsibility to build capacity in people to have the confidence to address these issues immediately so that victims are not disadvantaged in the community,” she said.

    Dr Bhadra believes the project presented an important opportunity to raise the issue of racism for those who may not otherwise have a voice. “I want to create a platform for people who can’t speak for themselves, as racism is a big issue. If I can just help amplify the voice of just one person, I feel something is accomplished.”

    This project was funded by a grant from the Victorian Government “to increase cross-cultural understanding and fight racist attitudes and behaviours.” The Anti-Racism Ambassadors have now completed their training and look forward to participating in other speaking events organised across Melbourne’s East advocating for change.

    Paul Hamer MP (Victorian Member for Box Hill) commended the project participants and reminded us that “combatting racism requires strong advocates.”

    “It has been great to see how the ECLC’s Amplifying Community Voices in the East program has been able to build the capacity of community leaders from our culturally diverse communities to become Anti-racism Ambassadors,” he added.

    Under Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act, and Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act, it is unlawful to engage in acts involving racial or religious vilification. If you believe you have been subject to racial abuse, VEOHRC can help. The Commission can offer you free information about your rights and help you to resolve complaints within their jurisdiction. If you need extra help, they can refer you to the right organisations or guide you in the right direction.

     

    You can read the original article here 

  3. EVENT: Chinese Family Day – respecting elders

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    Join us for a Family Day about respecting elders and treating them with dignity. There will be speeches from a variety of services, providing information and helpful strategies on how to treat our elders respectfully. Family members of all ages are encouraged to attend!

    Date:           Saturday 14 April 2018

    Time:           9.30am – 1.30pm

    Venue:         Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill – in the Boyland Room & Visual Art Room

    Language:   Mandarin and Cantonese (with interpreters)

    Morning Tea provided

    Booking essential – please contact Chinese Community Social Services Centre on (03) 9898 1965.

    Download the flyer (.PDF)

    This event is supported by Eastern Community Legal Centre, Chinese Community Social Services Centre Inc., the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Victorian Government.