Tag Archive: events

  1. 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.

  2. Screenagers: growing up in a digital age

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    Is face to face conversation being overtaken by screen use in the modern household?

    Are you concerned about ‘losing’ your family to screens this Christmas?

    Parents in Maroondah had been speaking out about their struggle to navigate the complexities of parenting in a digital age. By way of response, EACH Health Promotion Team, Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) and Maroondah City Council presented a screening of award-winning documentary Screenagers: Growing up in a Digital Age at the Melba College Theatre on November 29 in Croydon, followed by a Q&A discussion with a panel of young people and experts.

    Screenagers highlights how families can struggle over digital media use. Psychologists, academics and brain scientists offer a deeper understanding of both the issue and the solution. The film combines smart insights and practical tips for raising happy, healthy, technologically-empowered teens.

    Over 120 people attended, with parents, teachers and young people eager to hear the panelists’ advice for navigating the complexities of living in a world where digital media is so prominent. Chaired by Zoe Francis, EACH Senior Health Promotion Officer, the panel comprised four young people, a mental health professional, a parent and a lawyer.

    Ms Francis emphasized that young people are not the only ones who are allured to digital devices and we are, in fact, all vulnerable to the emotional gratification that technology gives.

    “It is not an individual weakness. We are all neuro-chemically rewarded by the stimulation we get from our devices. Once we are aware of this, we are a step closer to making new choices,” said
    Ms Francis.

    Belinda Lo, Principal Lawyer at ECLC, said legal issues were also important to consider.

    “Teenagers are increasingly using screens to connect with their friends. Bullying and misuse of personal images are some of the problems that can arise, which can lead to getting into trouble with the law. Talking to young people about respectful online behavior helps to prevent these problems from occurring,” said Ms Lo.

    The panelists were unanimous that using a strengths-based approach to deal with family struggles over screen use or screen time was the way to go.

    Download the media release. 

    Tips for Parenting in a Digital Age: A Strengths-based Approach

    Be an open channel for communication

    Be interested, curious, patient and non-judgemental about what the young person is doing online.

    Allow young people to mentor you

    Ask young people to demonstrate what they are doing. Be respectful of it and take the opportunity to learn about their online world.

    Share digital entertainment time with young person

    Sharing time with young people online allows you to connect with them. It can be a very good opportunity to develop mutual respect and even for fostering more respect for screen time limits later on.

    Offer offline activities

    Ask the young person what they would like to do. Spend time doing what they might like to do, preferably outdoors.

    Model positive online behaviour

    You can’t have a conversation with your kids for crossing boundaries when you can’t put your own devices down.

    Be aware of your own use at night time in particular

    Research shows that screen media in the 90 minutes before bed has an adverse effect on sleep patterns.

    Hold honest conversations with kids about pitfalls and concerns

    If you are concerned about some aspects of the young person’s technology use, have a conversation about it. Choose a good time to share your concerns, like on the way to school or at the dinner table. Remember that humans respond better to reward than punishment.

    Use ‘I’ statements, rather than ‘you’

    ‘I am concerned…’ rather than ‘You are playing…’

     

    Source: Teens and Screens: How can adults respond effectively?, Zoe Francis, Senior Health Promotion Officer, EACH. http://www.each.com.au/teens-screens-forum-18th-may-2017/

  4. 43rd Annual General Meeting: Community Voice

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    The Hon. Martin Pakula MP, Attorney-General of Victoria was keynote speaker at Eastern Community Legal Centre’s (ECLC) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 22nd November. The event was an opportunity for ECLC’s community to reflect on a year of challenges, successes and exciting developments, including the launch of the Enhanced Entry Project.

     Attorney-General, The Hon. Martin Pakula MP

    Board Report: Janet Matton, Chairperson

      CEO’s Report: Michael Smith

    Enhanced Entry Project

    Community Voice: Dilnaz Billimoria

  5. EVENT: Respect Your Elders Indian Family Day and Community Forum

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    Join us for a Family Day about respecting elders and treating them with dignity.

    There will be representatives from a variety of services such as Victoria Police, Sheriff’s Office, Department of Human Services (DHS), Family Mediation Centre, Carers Victoria and much more!

    They will be providing information and helpful strategies on how to treat our elders respectfully.

    Saturday 11 November 2017

    10am – 2pm

    Room 1, 45 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley 3149

     

    Family members of all ages are encouraged to attend.

    Lunch and children play area provided.

    Register here.

    Download the flyer.

    This event is presented in partnership with IndianCare, Indian Senior Citizens Association Victoria, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Victoria State Government and Eastern Community Legal Centre.