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Contents

FOREWORD 2

LETTER TO THE PREMIER 7

INTRODUCTION 8

VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS 9• Staff, Meetings, Expenditure 10

VMC FORWARD PLAN 2002-2003 11

VMC PRIORITY ACTIVITIES 2003-2005 12

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM 13

• Funding Categories 13

• New Programs and Partnerships 14

• Funding Sub-Committee 15

• Grants Assessment Process 15

• Summary 15

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CONSULTATIONS 16

• Whole of Multicultural Affairs Performance Reporting 16

• Analysis of Local Government’s Response to CulturalDiversity in Victoria 17

• Victoria’s Awards for Excellence inMulticultural Affairs 18

• Summary 19

COMMISSION MEETINGS, OPERATIONS AND

ASSIGNMENT OF PORTFOLIOS 20

• Commission Meeting Locations 20

• Sub-Committees 20

• Reporting 20

• Seeking Advice 21

• Attendance Register 22

• Operations and Assignment of Portfolio Areas 23

• Summary 23

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES 24

• Strategies 24

• Publications 24

• Media 25

• Cross-Cultural and Government Communication 25

• Response to Temporary Protection Visa Issues 25

• Launches 26

• Events 26

• Summary 27

MONITORING COMMUNITY NEEDS

AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY 28

• Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria 28

• Responding to Crisis Situations 28

• Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week 29

• Summary 29

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GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES 30• Valuing Cultural Diversity Policy Statement 30

• Departmental Engagement 31

• Community Council Against Violence 32

• Housing Advisory Council 32

• Office of Seniors 32

• Department of Premier and Cabinet 33

• Department for Victorian Communities 33

• Victorian Law Reform Commission 33

• Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs 33

• Office of the Commonwealth Games 34

• PACMAC 34

• LOTE, ESL and Multicultural Education 34

• LOTE Analysis 34

• After Hours Ethnic Schools 35

• Arts Victoria 35

• Family Court of Victoria 35

• HIV/Hepatitis C Project 35

• Department of Justice Inventory Project 35

• Crime Prevention Victoria and theEthnic Communities Project 35

• Parliamentary Inquiry into Oaths and Affirmations 36

• The Immigration Museum 36

• Australia Day Council 2003 36

• MACLEM 36

• MACCALD 36

• Ethnic Enterprise Advisory Council 37

• Summary 37

YOUTH 38

• Co-opted Youth Members 38

• Ethnic Youth Consultations 39

• Ethnic Youth Website Program 39

• AFL Multicultural Participation Program for Victoria 39

• Summary 39

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE CHALLENGES 40

APPENDICES 41

1. Building and Facilities Improvement Grants 41

2. After Hours Ethnic Schools Grants 42

3. Multicultural Festivals and Events Grants 44

4. Multicultural Senior Citizens OrganisationalSupport Grants 50

5. Organisational Support Grants 58

6. Community Partnership Grants 64

7. Community Strengthening Grants 65

8. Migrant and Refugee Women Support Grants 66

9. Community Heritage Grants 67

10. Other Grants 68

11. Victoria’s Awards for Excellence inMulticultural Affairs Recipients 2002 69

Foreword The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) experienced a very productiveand busy year throughout 2002-03.

The VMC worked tirelessly to advance its objectives and functions as specified inthe Victorian Multicultural Commission Act 1993. Principally, this involved thedual task of providing independent advice to the State Government, andbringing together Victorians of diverse cultural, linguistic and religiousbackgrounds, with the objective of building cohesive and harmoniouscommunities.

The Commission’s motto, ‘Victoria: a successful community, rich in diversity, opento the world,’ remains an unequivocal statement of how we see ourselvescollectively as Victorians. Victoria’s cultural diversity and inherent communityharmony has contributed to our success as a State, and ultimately, to our outlookon the world.

During the reporting period, the Commission proactively addressed andresponded to the needs of Victoria’s diverse communities, advocating forimprovements in the delivery of government programs and services andengaging in significant policy reform.

Through the VMC’s direct collaboration with the Victorian Office of MulticulturalAffairs (VOMA) and participation in the Whole of Multicultural AffairsPerformance Reporting framework, the VMC continued to act as a true conduitbetween Government and the ethnic communities of Victoria.

During this process, the VMC established direct contact with ethnic communitiesand agencies in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne, on nine occasions,to ascertain the communities’ needs and expectations of State Government.

The Commission also undertook to consult with ethnic communities and localgovernment stakeholders through the Analysis of Local Governments’ Responseto Cultural Diversity in Victoria. This independent project was commissioned bythe VMC, with advice provided by the Victorian State Government, local councilsand the ethnic community sector.

The Project Reference Group provided advice and expertise throughout the life ofthe project; it comprised representatives from the Municipal Association ofVictoria (MAV), the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), the VictorianLocal Government Multicultural Issues Network (VLGMIN), the Community andSocial Planners Network (CASPN), the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria(ECCV), the Migrant Resource Centre Victorian Directors Group, and theDepartment for Victorian Communities, through the Victorian Office ofMulticultural Affairs (VOMA) and the Local Government and Regional ServicesDivision.

The project report, ‘Access, Services, Support, Respect: Local Governments’Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria’, highlights the achievements ofmunicipal councils with respect to their responsiveness to cultural diversity, andprovides recommendations, best practice principles and a proposed standardsframework for improved service delivery to a culturally diverse Victoria. Therecommendations are based on the findings of the eight communityconsultations held across Victoria and a survey of the 79 Victorian local councils.

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The Premier hosted the celebratory dinner marking the 30th anniversary of diplomaticrelations between Australia and China in December 2002.

Minister Pandazopoulos received the offerings at a Hindu festival in September 2002.

The Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Kaye Darveniza MLC, attended many ethniccommunity functions during the reporting period.

Minister Pandazopoulos and the Premier met with many ethnic media representativesduring the Multicultural Media Expo in March 2003.

“Out of four million Victorians, onemillion were not born in this country.We originate from more than233 different countries, speak over182 languages and celebrate around116 faiths.

Victoria is one of the most diverse andharmonious societies in the world, andMelbourne is recognised as one of thegreat multicultural cities. This is anachievement that we are incrediblyproud of.”George Lekakis, Chairperson,March 2003.

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In addition to the consultations for the Whole of Multicultural AffairsPerformance Reporting and the Analysis of Local Governments’ Response toCultural Diversity in Victoria, the VMC undertook many ethno-specificconsultations during the reporting period. These consultations providedopportunities for the needs of emerging communities, in both rural/regionalVictoria and metropolitan Melbourne, to be articulated and subsequentlyconveyed to the relevant departments and/or agencies.

One of the highlights of the reporting period was the implementation of theCommission’s new ‘Community Building’ grants program. The CommunityBuilding program involved the development and delivery of three new fundingcategories, which were funded and co-auspiced by the Community Support Fund(CSF). A total of $1 million was provided to the VMC to support 49 ‘CommunityStrengthening’ programs, 40 ‘Migrant and Refugee Women Support’ programsand 19 ‘Community Heritage’ programs for the first time under this new grantsprogram. Prioritising the provision of these grants to support small and emergingethnic communities was a highlight of the VMC’s achievements. An evaluation ofthe program will enable the Commission to ascertain its effectiveness in duecourse.

Additionally, through the existing grants program, $1,765,217 was provided tosupport a total of 1,419 ethnic community projects, festivals and events andorganisations during the 2002-03 period. These grants enabled ethniccommunities to participate equally in the life of Victoria, while maintaining theirunique cultural and religious heritage.

The Commission also coordinated many community engagement activities tohighlight and celebrate cultural diversity in Victoria. The Commission wasparticularly pleased with the results of the inaugural, statewide, ‘Celebrate OurCultural Diversity Week’, 17-23 March 2003.

In partnership with the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria, SpecialBroadcasting Service (SBS), the Department of Education and Training (DE&T),the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), and the StrategicCommunications and Government Information branch of the Department ofPremier and Cabinet, an exciting schedule of events unfolded.

Highlights included Victoria’s first Multicultural Media Expo at Federation Square,the multimedia, anti-racism competition for Victorian primary and secondarystudents, the ‘Beyond Tolerance to Respect’ gala dinner, and the sponsorship ofaround 70 community and school events during and around Celebrate OurCultural Diversity Week.

Evaluation of the key components of the Week revealed it to be a great success,and with the support of both the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Steve Bracks MP,and the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister Assisting the Premier onMulticultural Affairs, Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week will be held againnext year, from 17-23 March 2004.

During the reporting period, the Commission also established ‘Victoria’s Awardsfor Excellence in Multicultural Affairs,’ which were hosted by the Governor JohnLandy MBE and the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Steve Bracks MP, at GovernmentHouse on Thursday, 5 December 2002.

The inaugural Awards integrated a range of categories recognising the efforts ofindividuals and organisations in promoting and harnessing Victoria’s multiculturaladvantage. Again, due to the great level of success that the Awards programachieved, Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs will beorganised on an annual basis.

Furthermore, during the 2002-03 period, in cooperation with the Protocol andSpecial Events branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, theCommission hosted several important celebrations marking milestones in themulticultural calendar, including a number of national days. The celebrationmarking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and thePeople’s Republic of China, and the International Women’s Day function wereboth highlights.

Victoria continues to be enriched by its cultural and religious diversity. One of theGovernment’s key messages has been that diversity continues to be underpinnedby a unifying commitment to our laws and institutions. In addition, the activepromotion of mutual respect and harmony, through policies such as ‘ValuingCultural Diversity’, ensure that all Victorians are treated with fairness andequality, and are afforded the same opportunities to participate in the State’ssocial and governmental institutions.

The Commission’s call for sustained population growth and respect for ourState’s cultural and linguistic diversity are certainly important hallmarks of theGovernment’s future agenda, as articulated in its ‘Population and Diversity’ policy.

The Commission is also pleased that the Government has made the commitmentto enact a Multicultural Affairs Act for Victoria. The Commission views thisdevelopment as particularly important, because as our society evolves andembraces change, the need to review our legislative, policy, program and servicedelivery frameworks, and where appropriate, to modify or replace these,becomes fundamental to the ongoing cohesiveness of Victoria’s multiculturalsocial fabric.

In broad terms, the proposed Multicultural Affairs Act should aid in theacknowledgment and promotion of a vibrant and culturally diverse Victoriansociety. It is the view of the Commission that the Act should also enshrine a rangeof important principles that promote mutual respect for cultural and linguisticdiversity and community harmony, while also incorporating the Whole ofMulticultural Affairs Performance Reporting framework. The Commission viewsthe process of engaging the community directly to assist in the proposed Act’sdevelopment as an essential element of this legislation. The need to develop themechanisms for government agencies to deliver services in appropriate ways isalso very important in a diverse society. An enhancement of the Commission’sroles and functions, which have not been reviewed for the past ten years, mustalso be considered within the context of formulating the new Act.

In conclusion, the Commission is pleased to present this report, which highlightsthe key achievements for the 2002-03 reporting period. The VMC has engagedethnic communities, and worked collaboratively with many government agenciesand ethnic community sector organisations to realise our goals; the goodwillexperienced in the community is a testament to these achievements.

The VMC recognises that the future of Victoria continues to depend largely onour ability to promote economic development and innovation in harnessing theskills of people who derive from more than 200 culturally and linguisticallydiverse backgrounds. By continuing to build on the goodwill and strengths of ourdiversity as a society, and developing caring and cohesive communities, allVictorians will share the benefits – socially, culturally and economically.

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Women from many different nations celebratedInternational Women’s Day with the ACTU President,Sharan Burrow, and the lady Commissioners at theMelbourne Town Hall, 20 February 2003.

Victorian Multicultural Commission

Level 15, 1 Spring Street

Melbourne 3000

Telephone: (03) 9208 3185

Facsimile: (03) 9208 3179

Website: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

October 2003

The Hon. Steve Bracks MPPremier and Minister for Multicultural Affairs1 Treasury PlaceEAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002

Dear Premier,

In accordance with Section 13 of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Act (1993), I have great pleasure in reporting onthe Commission’s operations for the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003.

Yours sincerely

George LekakisCHAIRPERSON

Introduction

This report aims to address the abovepriorities and issues, highlight theachievements of the VMC during 2002-03, and to demonstrate ourvision for Victoria.

The VMC’s objectives and functions, as stated in the VictorianMulticultural Commission Act (1993) are:

Objectives

■ To promote full participation by Victoria’s ethnic groups in the social,economic, cultural and political life of the Victorian community

■ To promote access by Victoria’s ethnic groups to services made available bygovernments and other bodies

■ To encourage all of Victoria’s ethnic groups to retain and express their socialidentity and cultural inheritance

■ To promote cooperation between bodies concerned with ethnic affairs

■ To promote unity among Victoria’s ethnic groups

■ To promote a better understanding of Victoria’s ethnic groups within theVictorian community.

Functions

■ To ensure that the objectives of the Commission are met to the maximumextent that is practicable

■ To investigate, report and make recommendations to the Minister on anyaspect of ethnic affairs referred to it by the Minister

■ To advise the Minister on factors inhibiting the development of harmoniouscommunity relations and on barriers to the participation of Victoria’s ethnicgroups in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the Victoriancommunity

■ To consult with relevant bodies and people to determine the needs of Victoria’sethnic groups

■ To maintain and further develop harmonious community relations between allrelevant groups in the context of Victoria’s culturally diverse society.

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Mr. Abdiaziz Farah Ms. Naomi Ngo

Victorian Multicultural Commissioners 2002–2003

Mr. George Lekakis, Chairperson Mr. Sam Aziz Mr. Joe Caputo

Co-opted Youth Members

Dr. Stanley Chiang Mrs. Melba Marginson Mrs. Vicki Mitsos

Mr. Joe Pavlovic Ms. Dalal Smiley Mr. John Zika

Staff

During the course of the year, the VMC has been most capably supported by thefollowing dedicated staff:

Sam Afra Administrative Assistant (until December 2002)

Jenny Ashby Senior Policy Adviser – Local Government Project

Neil Meka Policy Adviser (until January 2003)

Bianca Nelson Public Relations Adviser

Rhonda Peterson Executive Assistant

Mylinh Pham Grants Manager (until October 2002)

Isha Scott Grants Manager (from October 2002)

Grace Sindoni Administrative Assistant (from December 2002)

The Commission has also employed part-time and casual staff as required.

Meetings and Attendance

The Commission held 11 full-day meetings between July 2002 and June 2003.

Expenditure

Salaries and associated salary costs (including Commissioners’ fees) $537,143

Operating Expenses $339,976

VMC Community Grants Program $1,765,217

CSF Community Building Grants Program $1,000,000

TOTAL $3,642,336

VMC Forward Plan2002-2003

The focus of the Victorian Multicultural Commission throughout the 2002-03reporting period was largely governed by the development and implementationof the Forward Plan. This planning document placed an emphasis on thefollowing priorities:

1. Enhancing the existing VMC grants program and setting priorities for thefunding of new and emerging communities, women’s programs andenhancing grants to senior citizens;

2. Developing and implementing the proposal for the VMC’s new CommunityBuilding grants program;

3. Engaging and supporting ethnic communities across regional and metropolitanVictoria, particularly emerging communities;

4. Conducting an analysis of local government in Victoria, with respect to servicedelivery to culturally and linguistically diverse communities;

5. Developing and hosting Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in MulticulturalAffairs;

6. Assigning portfolio responsibilities to Commissioners to ensure strategicmanagement of the Commission’s official operations;

7. Engaging in the State Government’s Whole of Multicultural AffairsPerformance Reporting framework;

8. Enhancing the VMC’s communication strategies and improving the in-housecommunications capacity; and

9. Monitoring community needs, promoting multicultural affairs and Victoria’sdiversity as one of its greatest assets.

The Commission is pleased to report that the 2002-03 Forward Plan hasbeen implemented across all operational areas.

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VMC PriorityActivities 2003-2005

Overview

The focus of the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s work during the 2003-2005 period will be largely governed by the revised Forward Plan, whichwas developed in February 2003 and endorsed by the full Commission in August 2003.

This plan places emphasis on achieving eight priorities, which aim to:

1. Promote and assist in the formulation of the new Multicultural Affairs Act;

2. Reinforce the role of the VMC as a conduit between ethnic communities andthe Government, principally through community consultation and the Wholeof Multicultural Affairs Performance Reporting framework;

3. Deliver a community grants program that supports, builds and strengthensVictoria’s multicultural communities;

4. Publish the report titled, ‘Access, Services, Support, Respect: LocalGovernment’s Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria’, and facilitate theimplementation of the recommendations;

5. Enhance recognition of the VMC’s role and responsibilities;

6. Recognise and reward individual and organisational contributions to theadvancement of community harmony and multicultural affairs through theAwards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs;

7. Promote respect for people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgroundsand acknowledge the United Nations International Day for the Elimination ofracial discrimination, through ‘Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week’; and

8. Promote community harmony and assist in developing the potential ofVictoria’s ethnic communities through a range of initiatives and programs that:

■ Promote the social, cultural and economic benefits that our cultural andlinguistic diversity brings to Victoria;

■ Encourage leadership development;

■ Assist young people from diverse backgrounds to maintain their linguisticand cultural identities;

■ Encourage the participation of CALD communities in the Arts; and

■ Investigate government responses to migrant and refugee women inVictoria.

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CommunityGrants Program

During the reporting period, the Victorian Multicultural Commission continued tomanage a number of funding programs to assist ethnic and community-basedorganisations with programs and activities that respond to the needs of culturallyand linguistically diverse communities.

In 2002-03, the Government allocated $2.8 million to the VMC’s CommunityGrants Program, which included the following categories:

■ Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grants, assisting ethnic communityorganisations to undertake minor upgrades to buildings they own(Appendix 1).

■ After Hours Ethnic Schools Grants, supporting after hours ethnic schoolswith school-based professional development programs for teachers(Appendix 2).

■ Multicultural Festivals and Events Grants, supporting major festivals,conferences and special ethnic community events that encourage theparticipation of the broader community in celebrating and valuing culturaldiversity, while also promoting awareness of cultural diversity, communitycontributions, mutual respect and understanding. Grants under this categoryhave also been provided to support activities addressing a major issue througha conference or special event (Appendix 3).

■ Multicultural Senior Citizens Organisational Support Grants, supportingethnic senior citizens clubs to hold regular social and community supportactivities (Appendix 4).

■ Organisational Support Grants, providing financial assistance for thegeneral costs associated with running community organisations (Appendix 5).

■ Community Partnership Grants, supporting the development anddocumentation of innovative responses to community issues, which could beadopted as best practice models by other communities and/or regions. TheCommission was pleased to continue its partnership with the AdultMulticultural Education Service (AMES), which funded several partnershipprojects in the reporting period (Appendix 6).

■ Community Building Program: Community Strengthening, Migrant andRefugee Women Support and Community Heritage GrantsIn the reporting period, the Commission was pleased to pilot the newCommunity Building grants program. With the support of the CSF, whichco-auspiced the Community Building program, the VMC was allocated anadditional $1 million for the three new grant categories (Appendices 7, 8and 9).

In the reporting period, the Commission received a large number ofapplications for these new streams of funding, and a total of 108 ethniccommunity organisations were supported.

The Commission has noted that the continued success of these new programsis reliant upon ongoing and substantial support from the CSF, and regardssecuring the ongoing funding as one of the most crucial areas of the VMC’swork in the immediate term. This is particularly important to multiculturalaffairs within the context of the Government’s overall policy of ‘GrowingVictoria Together’.

Following the successful outcome of the VMC’s submission to the CSF forfurther funding, the Community Building program guidelines will be reviewedand the program re-established for 2003-04.

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New Programs and Partnerships

The VMC is pleased to report that it has achieved the priorities of funding newand emerging communities, women’s programs and enhancing support forsenior citizens throughout the reporting period.

The VMC’s grants program was significantly enhanced, with the establishment ofthe new Community Building program. The Commission was particularly pleasedto implement this new program with the support of the CSF, while also allocatingan additional $250,000 from the State Government to ethnic communitiesthrough the general grants program.

In addition to the funds provided by the CSF, the Hon. John Thwaites, DeputyPremier and former Minister for Health, negotiated the sum of $355,000 fromthe Department of Human Services Home and Community Care (HACC) program.These additional funds enabled the VMC to double the grants allocated to ethnicsenior citizens groups, automatically supplementing existing grants on a twice-yearly basis for the next two years.

In the 2002-03 period, the VMC was also pleased to support a number ofinnovative partnerships. A highlight included the City of Kingston’s ‘Access andEquity’ project. This project focused on increasing the participation of CALDwomen through collaborative endeavours.

In keeping with the VMC’s high standards of access and equity, to ensure that allcommunities maintained equality of opportunity to the VMC’s Community GrantsProgram, during the reporting period, information sessions were conducted inmetropolitan Melbourne and throughout regional Victoria. Information aboutthe funding opportunities, the guidelines for funding and the application processwere communicated to participants attending these information sessions duringOctober 2002, and also made available on-line, at the local offices of State Members of Parliament, at the VMC’s office and by mail to groups on theVMC’s database.

The information sessions and communication served to increase ethniccommunities’ understanding of the application and assessment processes andassist their subsequent applications to be effective. Consequently, in the 2002-03 period, a very high number of diverse community organisations received funding through the VMC’s Community Grants Program.

There were two funding rounds for the Multicultural Festivals and Events grants.Submissions were assessed according to the guidelines and recommendationsbased on the merit of the applications. Recommendations from the Commissionwere periodically submitted to the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, the MinisterAssisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, for approval. All other grantsprograms were advertised in September, with the closing date remaining 30 November, and announcement of successful applicants occurring in June ofthe following year.

Further refinements to the Community Grants Program are planned for the 2003-04 period to enhance the VMC’s capacity to deliver responsive programs to ethnic communities in Victoria.

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The City of Kingston’s ‘Access and Equity’ project wasone of the highlights of the new partnerships during2002-03.

VMC Grants Funding Sub-Committee

The Funding Sub-Committee, comprising Commissioners Aziz, Pavlovic, Mitsos,Smiley, Zika and Marginson, met to consider and make recommendations forgrant applications received during the funding rounds in 2002-03.

A Grants Review Sub-Committee, including Commissioners Pavlovic, Marginson,Zika and Lekakis, in addition to the VMC Grants Manager, was also establishedto consider the existing grants guidelines and recommend changes.

In 2003-04, the Funding Sub-Committee will continue to assess applicationsperiodically, and will also review and develop new criteria to improve the grantsprogram guidelines.

VMC Grants Assessment Process

The VMC’s decision-making process for community grants remains a transparentone. During the reporting period, a sub-committee of Commissioners workedtirelessly with the Grants Manager to develop and reform the guidelines for thegrants program, assessing and adapting the criteria with diligence to ensure thatthe process continued to be a fair and equitable one.

At the conclusion of each funding round, the Grants Manager undertook theprocess of categorising the applications in terms of their eligibility and adherenceto the relevant guidelines. The Funding Sub-Committee met as often as requiredto examine every application, and to rate each one individually in terms of thequality of the expected outcomes and relevance to the program guidelines.

Recommendations made by the Funding Sub-Committee were considered andendorsed by the full Commission, before being delivered to the Minister Assistingthe Premier on Multicultural Affairs and the Premier for approval.

Summary of Community Grants Program

■ The Commission provided a total of $1,765,217 in grants to supportcommunities during the reporting period;

■ The new Community Building grants program was successfully established andimplemented, including the three categories of Community Strengthening,Community Heritage and Migrant and Refugee Women Support grants;

■ A total of $1 million was allocated to the VMC for the Community Buildingprogram;

■ The Commission was able to double the grants allocated to ethnic seniorcitizens groups with funding provided through the Department of HumanServices HACC program, and these grants were made recurrent for three yearscommencing in 2002-03;

■ The Commission engaged and supported a number of innovative partnerships;

■ The Funding Sub-Committee was reactivated to assess and makerecommendations for improvements in the Community Grants Program duringthe reporting period, and ensured that the assessment and recommendationprocess remained transparent.

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CommunityEngagement andConsultations

As part of the community engagement and consultation agenda, theCommission hosted a number of community consultations across metropolitanand regional Victoria to address the needs and concerns of ethnic communitiesstatewide.

Consultations were conducted as specified in the Forward Plan 2002-03, and also on a needs basis, for example, in response to the Bali bombings anddeclaration of war against Iraq. During the reporting period, the Commissionconsulted, on around 40 separate occasions, with a substantial number of ethniccommunity groups.

The VMC’s community consultation program was also enhanced by the Whole ofMulticultural Affairs Performance Reporting framework, and the Analysis of LocalGovernment’s Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria.

The Whole of Multicultural Affairs Performance Reporting frameworkconsultations were held with ethnic community representatives and stakeholdersin Ballarat, Box Hill, Dandenong, Geelong, Mildura, Prahran, Preston, Sheppartonand Sunshine.

The Analysis of Local Governments’ Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoriaconsultations were held with ethnic community representatives and localgovernment stakeholders in the Cities of Ballarat, Greater Geelong, Kingston,Latrobe, Maribyrnong, Mitchell Shire, Moreland and Whitehorse.

The VMC also met with over 200 representatives of ethnic communities and/orcommunity associations in support of their events/activities during the reportingperiod.

The Commission continued to work in partnership with state governmentdepartments and statutory bodies to facilitate consultation with ethniccommunities. The VMC was represented and assisted with the facilitation of thefollowing community consultations:

■ PACMAC community consultation, western metropolitan region;

■ Victorian Parliamentary Reform Committee, Review of Oaths and Affirmationsand Justices of the Peace (JPs);

■ Crime Prevention Victoria, Weapons Campaign;

■ Environmental Protection Authority, Strategic Planning consultation; and

■ The Office of Seniors, CALD Seniors Roundtable.

Whole of Multicultural Affairs Performance Reportingframework

The Commission was encouraged by the renewed enthusiasm across governmentportfolios to develop policies and programs that respond to a diverse Victoriancommunity. The VMC continued to support the efforts of governmentdepartments and agencies to be responsive to ethnic communities by providingadvice, facilitating the linkages and providing advocacy and support to allworthwhile endeavours.

During the 2002-03 reporting period, the Whole of Multicultural AffairsReporting framework was implemented. The VMC played a fundamental role inthe facilitation of the community consultations and the reporting components ofthis framework.

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During March, George Lekakis, the otherCommissioners and Jenny Ashby facilitated thecommunity consultations for the Analysis of LocalGovernments’ Response to Cultural Diversity Project.

In April 2003, the VMC coordinated nine community consultations, incollaboration with the Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs, to gauge thecommunity’s perception of state government’s responsiveness to culturaldiversity.

Sections of departmental annual reports identifying the work done by each stategovernment department in response to Victoria’s cultural diversity were providedto more than 3,500 ethnic community organisations.

Feedback was sought through the nine community consultations held acrossVictoria, in Sunshine, Preston, Geelong, Shepparton, Mildura, Dandenong,Ballarat, Box Hill and Prahran. Feedback was also invited via formal submissionsto the VMC, which could be done in confidence until Friday, 9 May 2003, afterwhich comments were compiled and key issues identified.

At the time of the annual report’s publication, a report on the findings of thecommunity consultations and recommendations for each governmentdepartment was being finalised.

Analysis of Local Governments’ Responseto Cultural Diversity in Victoria

In Victoria there are 79 councils and shires accountable to diverse metropolitan,regional, rural and indigenous communities. They provide a broad range ofinfrastructure, economic and community services.

In June 2001, with the launch of the Census data, it became clear that Victoriais, in fact, one of the world’s most culturally diverse societies. The Census dataindicated that at the time of collection, more than 40 per cent of Victorians wereborn overseas or had at least one parent who was born in another country.

The VMC has remained committed to ensuring that the provision of culturallyappropriate and sensitive services is a reality throughout Victoria, and theAnalysis of Local Governments’ Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria isreflective of this commitment.

In 1992, the Victorian Government examined local government practices inrelation to cultural diversity as part of the Local Ethnic and Municipal AdvisoryCommittee (LEMAC) Report.

In 1994, the VMC undertook the Multicultural Victoria Inquiry on behalf of theState Government. One of the key areas of concern raised by ethnic communitiesin the Inquiry’s community consultation process related to the performance oflocal government with regard to cultural diversity.

In February 2002, Commissioners George Lekakis, Joe Caputo and Dalal Smileywere assigned to develop the project proposal to conduct an analysis of localgovernments’ response to cultural diversity in Victoria.

The project proposal and plan was developed in March 2002, which wassubsequently supported by the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister Assistingthe Premier on Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Bob Cameron MP, the formerMinister for Local Government, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV),Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), Local Government MulticulturalWorkers Network, and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV).

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Members of the Local Government Project ReferenceGroup met regularly during the reporting period tooversee the project.

A Reference Group comprising representatives from the following organisationswas established to develop the terms of reference and initiate the project:

■ the Community and Social Planners Network (CASPN);

■ the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV);

■ the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV);

■ the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA);

■ the Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network (VLGMIN);

■ the Victorian Multicultural Commission; and

■ the Department for Victorian Communities through the Local Government andRegional Services Division and the Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs(VOMA).

The five key areas of the Local Government Project included a survey of all 79councils in Victoria, a demographic analysis, eight community consultations inmetropolitan and rural Victoria, case studies and the development of a standards framework.

‘Access, Services, Support, Respect: Local Governments’ Response to CulturalDiversity in Victoria’, the report on the project findings and recommendations, atthe time of the annual report’s publication was to be formally launched by theHon. John Pandazopoulos MP at the Municipal Association of Victoria’s annualconference on Friday, 17 October 2003.

Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs

Commissioners endorsed a proposal to consolidate a range of existinggovernment awards that recognise the contributions of individuals and agenciesto the development of community harmony and the advancement ofmulticultural affairs in Victoria.

A sub-committee comprising Commissioners Vicki Mitsos, Sam Aziz, Dr. StanleyChiang, Joe Pavlovic and George Lekakis developed guidelines for the awardcategories to recognise worthy volunteer, community, government and business initiatives.

The categories for which nominations were established included:

Award for Meritorious Service in the Community, recognising theoutstanding achievement of an individual or community group;

Premier’s Award for Community Harmony, recognising the outstandingachievement of an individual or organisation that has developed programs,strategies or activities, which have furthered cross-cultural harmony in Victoria;

Business Corporate Award, recognising inclusive practices and/or initiatives bya business or corporation that utilises and promotes Victoria’s multiculturaladvantage;

Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Awards, recognising excellence inservice delivery in the specified portfolio areas of Aged Care, the Arts,Community Services, Education, Emergency Services, Employment, Health, LocalGovernment, Planning, Regional Development and Tourism;

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On Monday, 2 December, the Governor of Victoria,John Landy MBE, hosted the VMC’sAwards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairsat Government House.

Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committee Awards(PACMAC), acknowledging police members who have demonstrated exemplarycommitment to the development and enhancement of harmonious relationsbetween police and CALD communities;

Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Awards, recognisingachievement in multicultural affairs by an organisation, an individual and a young person;

Victorian Multicultural Commission Print Media Awards, recognisingexcellence in the reporting of multicultural affairs in the print media.

The State Government has continued to provide its full support of the Awardsprogram. The Governor John Landy MBE and the Premier of Victoria, the Hon.Steve Bracks MP, hosted the presentation ceremony at Government House in December 2002. The Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP also presented awards to successful candidates.

For a full list of the successful candidates see Appendix 11.

At the time of this annual report’s publication, nominations for the Awards werebeing assessed and the presentation ceremony was scheduled for 10 December2003. The Awards presentation ceremony was to be hosted by the GovernorJohn Landy MBE and the Premier of Victoria at Government House.

Summary of Community Engagement and Consultations

■ The Commission consulted with many ethnic communities during thereporting period;

■ The Commission also met with representatives of over 200 communityorganisations individually;

■ Eight community consultations were conducted as part of the Analysis of LocalGovernments’ Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria Project;

■ Nine consultations were held to receive feedback for the Whole ofMulticultural Affairs Performance Reporting framework; and

■ The Commission continued to work in partnership with departments andstatutory bodies to facilitate effective community consultation with ethniccommunities.

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Chief Commissioner of Police, Christine Nixon,presented the award to Chief Inspector John Winther.

Commission MeetingLocations –Metropolitan/Regional Victoria

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The Commission held 11 full-day meetings between July 2002 and June 2003.

Commissioners endorsed the rotation of Commission meetings throughoutmetropolitan Melbourne and regional/rural Victoria to make the VMC morevisible and directly accessible to ethnic communities statewide.

Practical considerations were factored into the decision-making process for thelocations selected. This included the scheduling of meetings to coincide withexisting engagements and collaboration with Community Cabinet to also achievethe participation of Ministers and departmental staff.

Locations endorsed and visited by the Commission during the 2002-03 periodincluded Ballarat, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley. Outer metropolitan locationsidentified as priorities and visited were the Cities of Casey and GreaterDandenong, which sustain considerable numbers of newly emergingcommunities.

Additionally, during the reporting period, Commissioners continued toparticipate in community functions, consultations, events, conferences andseminars. In 2002-03, the VMC Commissioners attended more than 359community engagements collectively.

Sub-Committees

The VMC continued to establish sub-committees to implement much of its work.A number of the VMC sub-committees from the 2001-02 period remainedongoing, while others were created for task-based appointments. The VMC sub-committees during the 2002-03 period reported to the Commission regularlyon developments in areas such as the Community Grants Program and Victoria’sAwards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs.

During 2002-03, the following sub-committees were activated:

■ VMC Community Grants Funding Sub-Committee;

■ VMC Community Grants Review Sub-Committee;

■ Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs Sub-Committee; and

■ The Analysis of Local Governments’ Response to Cultural Diversity in VictoriaProject Reference Group.

Reporting

The Commission continued to meet on a monthly basis during 2002-03 todiscuss matters of importance in a full-day session. VMC agenda papers andminutes were forwarded to respective Commissioners in advance, summaries ofwhich have been displayed on the VMC website for the public’s information.

The Chairperson continued to report on a quarterly basis to the Premier, and ona monthly basis to the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs andthe Parliamentary Secretary.

The Chairperson also facilitated and formed part of many advisory bodies toaddress issues relating to the multicultural affairs portfolio across the Whole ofVictorian Government.

From top left: Commissioners Sam Aziz, Joe Caputo,George Lekakis, Co-opted Youth Members NaomiNgo and Abdiaziz Farah, Commissioners Vicki Mitsos,Joe Pavlovic, Dr. Stanley Chiang and John Zika.Absent: Commissioners Melba Marginson andDalal Smiley.

Seeking Advice

The VMC continued to invite representatives of departmental, federal andcommunity agencies to attend meetings and brief Commissioners on specificareas of expertise or responsibility.

In the reporting period, the following visitors participated in Commissionmeetings:

25 July 2002

Ms. Jenny Newcombe, Manager, Community Partnerships, Office of Schools,Department of Education and Training.

Mr. Bill MacDonald, ‘Best Start’ Project Coordinator, Department of HumanServices.

Mr. Chris O’Neil, Communications Adviser, Communications and Informationbranch, Department of Premier and Cabinet.

29 August 2002Ms. Elizabeth Jensen, Director, Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs.

26 September 2002Mr. Savas Augoustakis, Multicultural Adviser, Victoria Police, Senior ConstableRobin Sharp (Div 4), and District Inspector Graham Wigg, regarding theNeighbourhood Watch initiative.

Ms. Elizabeth Jensen, Director, Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs, regardingdevelopments in the Language Services Strategy.

25 October 2002Cr. David Vendy, Mayor, and Mr. David Miller, General Manager, City and CulturalDevelopment, Ballarat City Council, regarding the Council’s plan to attractmigrants to the region as part of a broader population and growth strategy.

19 December 2002Mr. Stephan Kerkyasharian, Chairperson, Community Relations Commission for aMulticultural NSW, regarding the development and implementation of thePrinciples of Multiculturalism Act 2000 (NSW).

Ms. Sharon Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU),regarding plans for the International Union Women’s Conference,20 February 2003.

1 March 2003Ms. Jenny Ashby, Project Officer, Analysis of Local Governments’ Response toCultural Diversity in Victoria, regarding progress with the project.

27 March 2003Ms. Elizabeth Jensen, Director, Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs, regardingthe Language Services Scholarship program.

27 May 2003The Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister Assisting the Premier on MulticulturalAffairs, regarding the development of the Multicultural Affairs Act for Victoria.

Elizabeth Jensen, Director, Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs, regardingactivities such as the Online Health Translations Directory, Language ServicesStrategy and publication, ‘The People of Victoria’.

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Commission Meeting Attendance Register

Commissioner Number of Meetings Attended

Mr. George Lekakis 11

Mr. Sam Aziz 11

Mr. Joe Caputo 8

Dr. Stanley Chiang 10

Mrs. Melba Marginson 6

Mrs. Vicki Mitsos 10

Mr. Joe Pavlovic 11

Ms. Dalal Smiley 8

Mr. John Zika 11

Co-opted Youth Members

Mr. Abdiaziz Farah 6

Ms. Naomi Ngo 8

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CommissionOperations andAssignment ofPortfolio Areas

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PortfoliosThe assignment of portfolio areas to Commissioners, which involved tapping intothe existing pool of knowledge and areas of interest, has continued to prove asuccessful and responsive way of meeting the communities’ needs and the VMC’spriorities. The portfolio areas for 2002-03 included:

Portfolio CommissionerAged Care Dr. Stanley ChiangEmerging Communities and Melba Marginson, Vicki MitsosPartnership Building and John ZikaCommunity Relations George LekakisInternational Relations Sam Aziz, Joe Caputo

and John ZikaLanguage Services Vicki MitsosLocal Government Joe Caputo and Dalal SmileyReligious Harmony Joe Pavlovic and Dalal SmileyIndustrial Relations George LekakisWomen’s Affairs Melba MarginsonYouth Affairs Co-opted Youth Members

Abdiaziz Farah and Naomi Ngo

During the reporting period, individual Commissioners informed the VMC ondevelopments in each of the portfolio areas, according to the priorities of theVMC at each planning phase.

The portfolio areas allocated to Commissioners were revised during the forwardplanning for 2003-05, and were re-established with the focus being placed onstate government portfolios.

The portfolio areas that were re-established for the 2003-05 period are as follow:

Portfolio CommissionerDepartment of Human Services (DHS) Dr. Stanley Chiang and John ZikaDepartment of Education and Training (DE&T) Melba MarginsonDepartment for Victorian Communities (DVC)

& Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) George LekakisDepartment of Sustainability and

Environment (DSE) Vicki MitsosDepartment of Primary Industries (DPI) Joe CaputoDepartment of Justice (DOJ) Sam AzizSport & Recreation Joe PavlovicYouth Affairs Co-opted Youth Members

Abdiaziz Farah and Naomi Ngo

Summary of Commission Meetings,Operations and Assignment of Portfolio Areas

■ Consultation with ethnic communities continued during 2002-03, with thefocus placed on emerging communities and ethnic groups residing in the outermetropolitan and regional areas of Victoria;

■ Three sub-committees comprising VMC Commissioners were activated;

■ The Commission fulfilled its mandatory reporting obligations to the VictorianState Government as required;

■ A selection of high profile visitors with specialist expertise and/or programresponsibility regularly attended Commission meetings; and

■ The Commission met in several locations in Melbourne and regional Victoria toengage ethnic communities and agencies statewide.

CommunicationsStrategies

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The Commission reviewed its existing communications strategies with a view toimproving the in-house communications capacity and enhancing the publicrelations portfolio during 2002-03.

The Commission is pleased to report that an ongoing Public Relations Adviser wasappointed during the reporting period to fulfil these aspects of the VMC’s work.

This review found that a key priority for the Commission was the establishmentof a full-time Communications and Event Coordinator, to develop and implementcommunications and public relations activities in line with the VMC’s priority objectives.

The VMC’s communication activities have been designed to keep ethniccommunities up-to-date with government and community sector developments,and to encourage their participation in programs and activities.

During the 2002-03 period, the VMC continued to produce the publication,Multicultural Victoria, to communicate important initiatives and also highlightethnic community milestones and achievements.

The VMC’s website also remained an important communication tool, providingregular updates on issues of importance to ethnic communities and a medium forthe promotion of community activities, and opportunities for participation indepartmental and agency engagements.

In collaboration with Glen Waverley Secondary College, the VMC also developedand launched a new website for Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week –cultural diversity.vic.gov.au. This website provided information about the UnitedNations International Day for the Elimination of Racism on 21 March annually, aswell as the activities occurring during and around the Week, the opportunity toregister events and to participate in a range of activities.

The VMC plans to develop a ‘multicultural hub’ as part of the website upgradesin 2003-04. This will enable ethnic community organisations to anchor links fromthe VMC’s website to their respective websites, essentially utilising theCommission’s website as a central point for the exchange of information acrosscommunities and the Government.

Publications

The VMC coordinated and produced a number of high quality publicationsduring the reporting period. These included:

■ 2001-02 Annual Report to the Premier;

■ Multicultural Victoria Winter – Spring 2002 edition, featuring the findings ofthe 2001 Census of Population and Housing; and

■ Multicultural Victoria Summer – Autumn 2003 edition, featuring the inauguralCelebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week and Victoria’s Awards for Excellence inMulticultural Affairs.

Media

Throughout 2002-03, the VMC participated in media relations activities bothproactively and reactively. The VMC circulated media releases on issues ofimportance and interest to ethnic communities, while also responding tonegative and/or inaccurate media coverage. Examples included:

■ ‘Responding to the Needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Victorians’,media release from the Chairperson, 26 February 2003, promoting the Analysisof Local Government’s Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria communityconsultations; and

■ ‘Calling for Calm and Compassion’, media release from the Chairperson, 25 March 2003, in response to the declaration of war against Iraq.

The VMC Chair and Commissioners also participated in media interviews on many occasions throughout the reporting period, including live interviews onSBS Radio.

The VMC maintained regular liaison with representatives of the ethnic media andwas involved in the planning phase of Victoria’s first Multicultural Media Expoduring Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week, which was held on18 March 2003.

The Multicultural Media Expo engaged members of the ethnic media and stategovernment communications practitioners, facilitating dialogue, establishingcontacts and increasing the overall use of the ethnic media as an effective vehicleto communicate with different ethnic communities.

Cross-Cultural and Government Communication

During 2002-03, the VMC again played an important role as the conduitbetween ethnic communities, the Premier and Ministers, governmentdepartments, agencies and the media.

Through the publications, websites, mail-outs, community engagements,ministerial connectedness and advocacy roles, the Commission facilitatedeffective dialogue across government and ethnic communities, and assistedorganisations with a range of forums and information sessions.

Response to Temporary Protection Visa Issues

The VMC worked in a proactive manner to pursue concerns and issues affectingTemporary Protection Visa (TPV) Holders. In particular, the VMC Chair continuedto meet and work with representatives of the Timorese Community, the VictorianFoundation for the Survivors of Torture and Trauma (VFST) and Legal Aidregarding the plight of Timorese TPV holders.

Meetings with representatives of government also continued to exploreappropriate policy responses to the TPV issues.

At the time of the annual report’s publication, the VMC was considering theestablishment of an appropriate mechanism to inquire into TPV and refugeepolicy issues.

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One of the highlights of Victoria’s inaugural Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week was the firstMulticultural Media Expo at Federation Square onTuesday, 18 March.

Launches

The Commission officially launched or co-launched many programs and activitiesduring the reporting period. Highlights included:

■ Australians Against Child Abuse, launch of the second phase of the ‘EveryChild is Important’ campaign, 14 August 2002;

■ Celtic Nations Inc, the ‘Inaugural Celtic Nations Dinner’, 24 August 2002;

■ Linlithgow Centre for the Older Person, launch of the ‘Multicultural Program’,5 September 2002;

■ Austcare, launch of ‘Austcare Refugee Week’ and the ‘Connections Exhibition’,7 October 2002;

■ Victorian Arabic Social Services, launch of ‘Access to Justice Strategy 2002’,31 October 2002;

■ Mid-West Area Mental Health Service, launch of ‘I Feel So Sad…It Breaks MyHeart’, a Report on Carers, 25 November 2002;

■ Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health, launch of ‘Addressing the Needs ofRefugees and Humanitarian Entrants in Victoria – An Evaluation of Health andCommunity Services’, 10 December 2002;

■ Indian Music Association, launch of the ‘Rising Sun Concert’, 25 January 2003;

■ Launch of the inaugural Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week, Glen WaverleySecondary College, 17 March 2003;

■ Peoples of Burma in Melbourne, launch of the ‘Community Needs Study’,15 April 2003; and

■ Russian-Link, the ‘Third Annual Literary Competition Awards’,27 June 2003.

Events

The Commission coordinated or contributed to the coordination of the followingevents during the reporting period:

Victorian Community Events

■ Bali Musical Tribute, 29 October 2002, Sidney Myer Music Bowl;

■ Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs, 2 December 2002,hosted by the Governor John Landy MBE and the Premier; and

■ The International Women’s Cultural Evening, 20 February 2003, hosted by theVictorian Multicultural Commission and Australian Council of Trade Unions.

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National Days/Community Events

■ FIFA World Cup Finalists State Reception, 4 July 2002;

■ India Independence Day State Reception, 16 August 2002;

■ Turkey Independence Day State Reception, 28 October 2002;

■ Lebanon Independence Day State Reception, 21 November 2002;

■ State Reception for His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, 12 November 2002; and

■ The 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Australia and ChinaCelebratory Dinner, 9 December 2002, hosted by the Premier, and featuringthe Hon. Gough Whitlam AC, QC.

Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week, 17-23 March 2003

■ Official Launch by the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, 17 March, Glen WaverleySecondary College;

■ Multicultural Media Expo launched by the Premier, 18 March, FederationSquare;

■ Multimedia Competition Awards hosted by the Hon. Liz Beattie MP,Parliamentary Secretary for Education, 20 March, Federation Square; and

■ The ‘Beyond Tolerance to Respect’ gala dinner, hosted by the Premier, 21 March, Melbourne Convention Centre.

Summary of Communications 2002-03

■ The Commission released a number of successful publications;

■ The Commission’s media relations activities were enhanced, resulting inpositive and regular media coverage, and the positioning of the VMC as areliable, independent authority on multicultural affairs;

■ The Commission participated in a number of community launches, whichassisted to further strengthen the VMC’s public profile;

■ The Commission continued to advocate on behalf of TPV holders; and

■ The Commission facilitated dialogue between ethnic communities,government departments, agencies and service providers, and assisted withthe coordination of many community activities.

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MonitoringCommunity Needsand Promotingthe Benefits ofVictoria’s Culturaland LinguisticDiversity

With the overall aim of facilitating greater community harmony and socialcohesiveness, over the past year the Commission worked to promote the social,cultural and economic value of Victoria’s multicultural composition and heritage.

Through publications, forums, conferences, the consultative process and theCommunity Grants Program, the Commission has continued to demonstrate thatVictoria’s cultural and linguistic diversity provides benefits across all spheres of society.

Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria

The VMC continued to work cooperatively with the Ethnic Communities’ Councilof Victoria (ECCV) on a range of issues.

The ECCV is one of the major stakeholders in the area of multicultural affairs,and in addition to representatives of the Council regularly meeting withCommissioners and the VMC Chair, the VMC Chair also addressed the ECCVexecutive and general meetings throughout the reporting period.

In 2002-03, the ECCV was directly involved in the Analysis of Local Governments’Response to Cultural Diversity in Victoria project, and provided advice regardingappropriate responses to community issues such as the Bali bombings anddeclaration of war on Iraq.

Responding to Crisis Situations

Bali Bombings

After the terrorist bombings in Bali on 12 October 2002, the Commission wasswift in establishing a committee of community leaders representing the Iraqi, Kurdish, Chaldean, Assyrian, Islamic and Arabic-speaking communities of Victoria.

The Commission continued to meet with this committee to monitor and respondto concerns as they arose, and collaborated with Victoria Police and the EqualOpportunity Commission Victoria to coordinate appropriate actions.

Furthermore, the VMC participated in the coordination of the Bali memorialservice held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Tuesday, 29 October 2002. Thisevent brought together the families and friends of lost and missing persons, andthe wider Victorian community in a display of unity, courage and resilience.

War in Iraq

Following the declaration of war in Iraq in March 2003, the Commission fast-tracked applications from Iraqi, Kurdish, Chaldean, Assyrian, Islamic andArabic-speaking community groups for grants under the Community Buildingand Organisational Support programs.

Eleven community organisations received funding from the VMC to implementtheir own community strengthening action plans in light of the war. Amongst the special funding allocations was a grant to the Islamic Society of Victoria for the establishment of an incident reporting and referral help-line.

Additionally, with the funding provided by the VMC, the Islamic Society ofVictoria was able to appoint a part-time grief counsellor to address issues withinschools in the North Melbourne area and broader Islamic community.

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Above: The Gamelan Balinese Orchestra performedat the Bali Musical Tribute.

“This year, we have marked theUnited Nations International Day forthe Elimination of Racial Discriminationby celebrating what makes this Stateunique; our cultural diversity. To achievea society free of racism and intoleranceit is clear that all Victorians have animportant and equal part to play.Victoria is recognised as one of theworld’s most culturally diverse andharmonious societies; this is anachievement we are proud of. Celebrate our cultural diversity and assist Victorians across our State tomove beyond tolerance to respect,”the Hon. Steve Bracks MP, Premierof Victoria, March 2003.

page 29

The Commission also maintained liaison with the key community leaders andwelfare organisations on a weekly basis to enable appropriate and timelyresponses to the needs of the communities most impacted by the war in Iraq.

Furthermore, the Commission remained in contact with Victoria Police and theEqual Opportunity Commission Victoria, seeking and providing advice relating tothe war and its impact on these communities in a proactive manner.

The Commission was also represented on a committee comprisingrepresentatives from the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria, the EthnicCommunities’ Council of Victoria, Jewish Community Council Victoria and theIslamic Council of Victoria, which developed and implemented strategies againstracism and vilification during the war in Iraq.

Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week

The Commission was pleased to adopt a leading role in the developmentand establishment of the inaugural ‘Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week,’17-23 March 2003.

During this Week, a range of activities and events were coordinated across theState in celebration of Victoria’s diverse cultural composition. Highlights includedVictoria’s first Multicultural Media Expo, the Digital Media Competition andAwards for primary and secondary students and the ‘Beyond Tolerance toRespect’ gala dinner.

Through the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Grants Program, the StateGovernment provided more than $70,000 to support around 70 communityassociations and schools across Victoria to hold their own Celebrate Our CulturalDiversity Week activities.

Overall, Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week attracted the participation ofthousands of Victorians across the State. It was also noted as a great success bythe Premier of Victoria and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. SteveBracks MP, who reported on the initiative to the Victorian Parliament thefollowing week.

The Commission is pleased to report that following the success of the inauguralCelebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week, this will be an ongoing, annual eventfocused on promoting respect for people of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Summary of Monitoring Community Needs and PromotingDiversity

■ The Commission continued its close collaboration with the EthnicCommunities’ Council of Victoria;

■ The Commission coordinated the inaugural Celebrate Our Cultural DiversityWeek, 17-23 March 2003, and supported community organisations andschools to hold their own activities; and

■ The VMC continued to monitor the ethnic community’s needs, and to respondproactively to crisis situations to maintain community harmony.

Register your activities and events at www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au

Celebrate our Cultural Diversity

17-23 March 2003

International Day for the

Elimination of Racism 21 March 2003

Government,Departments andAgencies

Valuing Cultural Diversity Policy Statement

On 31 October 2002, the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister Assisting thePremier on Multicultural Affairs launched a new statement of principles centredon ‘Valuing Cultural Diversity’.

Valuing Cultural Diversity is based on the four main principles of promoting rightsand respect for Victoria’s diversity as outlined as a priority of the StateGovernment in the ‘Growing Victoria Together’ framework. These includevaluing diversity, reducing inequality, encouraging participation and promotingthe social, cultural and economic benefits of Victoria’s diversity.

As part of the Whole of Government approach to Multicultural Affairs, theValuing Cultural Diversity framework applies to activities undertaken by all stategovernment departments, and aims to ensure that all Victorians share equality ofopportunity, are treated fairly and with respect, and can freely participate inVictoria’s social and governmental institutions.

Through the Valuing Cultural Diversity framework, a greater focus will be placedon strengthening language learning in schools, and more support will beprovided to emerging ethnic communities, women’s organisations and groups inrural areas.

Access to interpreting services and translated materials across the StateGovernment will also be improved, and awareness of rights and equalopportunities promoted. Additionally, support will be given to multiculturaltourist and arts events, and a population policy is also being developed.

The Valuing Cultural Diversity policy aims to ensure that information continues to reach all Victorians through the use of appropriate media and other outlets,and to promote the economic benefits of cultural diversity at the business andstatewide level.

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Minister Pandazopoulos with the team ofGlen Waverley Secondary College studentsand staff who designed and constructedwww.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au – the officialCelebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week website.

Departmental Engagement

The Victorian Multicultural Commission was represented on many externalcommittees during the reporting period to ensure that discussions continued tobe inclusive of, and sensitive to, the perspectives of culturally and linguisticallydiverse communities.

Some of the external committees on which the VMC was representedthroughout 2002-03 included:

■ Albury/Wodonga Multicultural Advisory Committee;

■ AUSTCARE;

■ Board of the Council for Adult Education;

■ Community Council Against Violence;

■ Community Jobs Program Advisory Committee;

■ Community Safety Month;

■ Council of the Victorian School of Languages;

■ Crime Prevention Victoria;

■ Family Law Courts Multicultural Committee;

■ Housing Advisory Council;

■ Immigration Museum Advisory Committee;

■ MFB Executive CALD Consultative Committee;

■ Ministerial Advisory Council for Culturally and Linguistic Diversity;

■ Ministerial Advisory Council on LOTE, ESL and Multicultural Education;

■ Neighbourhood Watch Pilot Project Group;

■ Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committee (PACMAC);

■ Transurban Advisory Committee;

■ Victorian Human Rights Education Committee; and

■ The Victorian Refugee Week Committee.

The VMC also attended a number of government and departmental committeemeetings throughout the reporting period, including:

■ Australia Day Committee;

■ Community Support Fund Advisory Committee;

■ Department for Victorian Communities;

■ Commonwealth Games CALD Social Inclusion Sub-Committee;

■ Department of Education and Training;

■ Department of Human Services;

■ Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Indigenous Affairs;

■ Department of Justice;

■ Department of Premier and Cabinet;

■ Former Department of Natural Resources and Environment;

■ Immigration Committee Advisory Panel;

■ Law Reform Committee; and

■ Multicultural Arts Victoria.

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Celebrations marking the 150th Anniversaryof Victoria Police commenced on Wednesday,8 January with a State Reception at Queens Hall,Parliament House. Above: The Chief Commissionerof Police, Christine Nixon, and Commissioners JoeCaputo, Sam Aziz and Vicki Mitsos.

The Commission also collaborated with a range of agencies and statutory bodies,including:

■ The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission;

■ Adult Multicultural Educational Services;

■ Australia Council of Trade Unions;

■ Australian Red Cross;

■ Business Councils and Chambers of Commerce;

■ Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues Network;

■ Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria;

■ Melbourne Festival;

■ Metropolitan Fire Brigade;

■ Royal District Nursing Service;

■ SBS (Special Broadcasting Service);

■ The Australian Football League;

■ The Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria;

■ The Health Services Commission;

■ Victorian Council of Social Services;

■ Victorian Association of Migrant Resource Centres;

■ Victorian Soccer Federation;

■ VITS Language Link; and

■ Victoria Police.

Community Council Against Violence

The VMC Chair was appointed to the Community Council Against Violenceduring the reporting period, and participated in the development of the Council’sforward planning process.

Housing Advisory Council

The VMC continued its involvement with the Housing Advisory Council duringthe reporting period to review the needs of CALD communities in relation tohousing, and provide recommendations for improved service delivery.

Office of Seniors – Department of Human Services

The Commission co-hosted a roundtable with the Office of Seniors on 25 July2002. A series of important recommendations emerged from this roundtable.and subsequent meetings with the Director of the Office of Seniors focused onimplementing many of the recommendations that emerged from the roundtable.

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Department of Premier and Cabinet

The VMC worked with several branches within the Department of Premier andCabinet on a collaborative basis. During 2002-03, some of these branchesincluded:

■ Office of the Premier;

■ Office of Women’s Policy;

■ Organisational Development;

■ Protocol and Special Events;

■ Strategic Communications and Government Information; and

■ The Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Department for Victorian Communities

The VMC collaborated with a number of units within the new Department forVictorian Communities, including:

■ Corporate Communications Unit;

■ DVC Communications Network;

■ Office of Local Government;

■ Office of the Commonwealth Games; and

■ The Office of Youth.

Victorian Law Reform Commission

The Commission co-hosted a roundtable with the Victorian Law ReformCommission on 23 August 2002, to address the issue of sexual violence in ethnic communities.

This consultation was particularly successful, giving rise for the consideration ofseveral important issues, including:

■ The need for data collection about the prevalence of domestic/sexual violencein Victoria;

■ The need for appropriate service delivery models; and

■ The need for an ethno-specific community education campaign.

Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs –Language Services

The VMC Chair and Commissioner, Vicki Mitsos, continued to meet with theDirector, Deputy Director and Senior Policy Advisers within the Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs to discuss language service initiatives during the reporting period.

Initial discussions centred on the design and implementation of a statewidetraining service to ensure that all government agencies are trained on theappropriate use of interpreters.

Some other important issues that have been addressed through these meetingsincluded the need for uniform information to be disseminated publicly regardingthe availability and use of interpreter services.

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Office of the Commonwealth Games

In January 2003, the VMC Chair attended a CALD social inclusion sub-committeeto plan CALD Community participation in the Commonwealth Games.Subsequent discussions and consultation with representatives of the Office of theCommonwealth Games occurred throughout the reporting period, and, at thetime of the annual report’s publication, plans to include Commonwealth Gamesactivities in future Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week celebrations were being explored.

Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committee(PACMAC)

The Victoria Police and VMC continued to jointly chair PACMAC to:

■ Assist communities to understand and value the work of the police force;

■ Ensure that police members understand and appreciate the needs of ethniccommunities; and

■ Assist in securing harmonious relationships within and between communities,and between communities and the police.

During the reporting period, PACMAC assisted in the development of the newMulticultural Strategy for Victoria Police. It also endorsed a review of the existingMulticultural Liaison Officer program and coordinated a report regarding policerecruitment.

Following the Bali bombings and declaration of war in Iraq, PACMAC played acrucial role in monitoring and maintaining community harmony. PACMACbecame the direct link between Victoria Police, the VMC, Equal OpportunityCommission Victoria and the ethnic community sector during these moststressful times, ensuring that appropriate action and advice was taken to protectand maintain community harmony in Victoria.

LOTE, ESL and Multicultural Education Branch (LEM)Department of Education and Training (DE&T)

The VMC continued to collaborate with LEM on issues relevant to languageeducation throughout the reporting period.

LOTE Analysis

On 13 August 2001, the former Minister for Education, the Hon. Mary DelahuntyMP, established an analysis of LOTE to examine policy directions, languagelearning targets, resources and increased choices for students.

The LOTE analysis delivery has been part of an overall analysis of curriculumprovision, which was undertaken as part of the implementation ofrecommendations arising from the Report of the Ministerial Working Party,‘Public Education: the Next Generation’.

During reporting period, the VMC Chair continued to attend meetings of theLOTE Analysis Committee to finalise the report of the analysis, including thefindings and subsequent recommendations.

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The steering committee comprised Members of Parliament, representatives fromthe Department of Education and Training, the Victorian Curriculum andAssessment Authority, the Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs, the VictorianMulticultural Commission, the Modern Languages Teachers’ Association ofVictoria, school principals and community leaders.

The report, ‘Languages for Victoria’s Future’, is downloadable free of chargefrom sofweb.vic.edu.au/lem/lote/lreport.

After Hours Ethnic Schools

Early into the reporting period, the VMC Chair met with representatives of theDepartment of Education and Training regarding the after hours ethnic schoolsgrants program and the need to enhance the VMC’s funding capacity for thisprogram. The subsequent enhancement to the Grants Program of $70,000 in thereporting period enabled the VMC to provide additional funding to after hoursethnic schools in Victoria, to support after hours ethnic schools with school-based professional development programs for teachers.

Arts Victoria/VMC Grants Assessment Panel

The Grants Manager participated on the Arts Victoria Local Festivals AssessmentPanel during the reporting period. The panel considered around 20 applicationswithin the funding round.

Family Court of Victoria

During the reporting period, the Commission co-hosted the Family Court of Victoria’s community consultation reviewing services to CALD communities.The Commission was also represented on the Family Court Network Project Committee.

HIV/Hepatitis C Project

The VMC was involved in the selection for the preferred service provider for theMulticultural HIV/HEP C project. This project was funded by the Department ofHuman Services.

Department of Justice – Inventory Project

The VMC continued to actively participate in the development of the Departmentof Justice’s Inventory Project during the reporting period. A range of initiativesare to be undertaken across all DOJ portfolios with regard to this project.

Crime Prevention Victoria and the Ethnic CommunitiesProject

The VMC continued to participate on this important committee, which at thetime of the annual report’s publication was monitoring the development ofseveral strategies to address the participation of CALD communities inemergency services and the Neighbourhood Watch program.

The VMC also jointly sponsored the ‘Multicultural Perspectives of Crime andSafety’ research project undertaken by Crime Prevention Victoria, which aims tobetter understand the experiences and perceptions of people from CALDbackgrounds. The information obtained through this project is important to the development of responsive crime prevention initiatives and communitysafety programs.

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The steering committee responsible for the Multicultural Perspectives of Crimeand Safety project also approved funding to address some of the key issues thatemerged from the research, including:

■ Piloting three language-specific Neighbourhood Watch projects;

■ A CALD Emergency Services and 000 project in partnership with the newlyformed Emergency Services Commission; and

■ An AMES Language Module for low-level English learners, about the role ofthe emergency services and crime prevention in Victoria.

Furthermore, the Commission co-hosted a community consultation with Crime Prevention Victoria regarding the State Government’s Weapons Campaignon 29 August 2002.

Parliamentary Inquiry into Oaths and Affirmations

The Commission co-hosted a community consultation in conjunction with theEthnic Communities’ Council of Victoria on 29 August 2002 to address the issuesof oaths and affirmations in the Victorian Judiciary System. A range of importantissues were raised and noted from this consultation.

The Immigration Museum

The VMC Chair continued to participate in the Immigration Museum AdvisoryCommittee and the Station Pier Project Sub-Committee during the reportingperiod.

Australia Day Council

The VMC was formally involved in the coordination of the affirmation ceremonyheld as part of the Australia Day celebrations in January 2003.

Ministerial Advisory Council on LOTE, ESL andMulticultural Education (MACLEM)

This Council continued to provide advice to the Minister for Education andTraining on the provision of LOTE, ESL and Multicultural Education programs inVictorian schools throughout the reporting period. Chaired by the ParliamentarySecretary for Multicultural Affairs, MACLEM comprises representatives from theEthnic Schools’ Association of Victoria, the Victorian Multicultural Commission,language teacher associations and other relevant organisations.

Ministerial Advisory Council for Cultural and LinguisticDiversity, Department of Human Services (MACCALD)

The Ministerial Advisory Council for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (MACCALD)continued to provide advice to the respective Department of Human ServicesMinisters, the Hon. Bronwyn Pike MP, Minister for Health, and the Hon. SherrylGarbutt MP, Minister for Community Services.

Chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, this Councilcontinued to inform the planning and delivery of human services throughoutVictoria in a manner that is responsive and appropriate to our cultural andlinguistic diversity.

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The 20 members of MACCALD were appointed for two-year terms, whichcommenced on 1 October 2001. During the reporting period, the Ministersspecifically requested advice regarding:

■ The planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of human services to ensurethat these services are responsive to the needs of persons from culturally andlinguistically diverse backgrounds and their communities;

■ The development of strategies to ensure that an awareness of multiculturalissues increasingly informs the activities of the Department of Human Servicesand funded service providers, and is integrated into planning and servicedelivery; and

■ Support and facilitation of the whole of Victorian Government approach toMulticultural Affairs by proposing strategies for enhancing inter-agency andinter-sectoral collaboration and communication.

Commissioner John Zika represented the Commission on MACCALD during thereporting period.

Ethnic Enterprise Advisory Council

On 18 September 2001, the Minister for Small Business, the Hon. MarshaThomson MP, launched Victoria’s Ethnic Enterprise Advisory Council.

During the reporting period, the Council provided advice to the Government onthe export capability of Victorian businesses, while also acting as a catalyst fornew export opportunities which capture the diversity of Victorian businesses.

This Council comprises business people with experience relevant to supportingethnic businesses and building on Victoria’s export base. This includes experiencespanning education and training, commercial law, food exporting,manufacturing, export/business advice, engineering, bilateral businessassociations, medical and community activities, amongst many other areas of expertise.

The Hon. Kaye Darveniza MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier forMulticultural Affairs, continued to chair the 18 member Ethnic EnterpriseAdvisory Council in 2002-03. The VMC provided ongoing input into theconsiderations of the Council.

Summary of Government, Departments and Agencies

■ The Commission collaborated with many government departments andagencies on a number of initiatives of importance to culturally and linguisticallydiverse communities;

■ The Commission was represented on a number of external committees toensure that Victoria’s ethnic communities maintain representation; and

■ The Commission continued to work with PACMAC to further developharmonious relations between the community and the Victoria Police, and toenhance the ability to respond to crisis situations.

Youth Co-opted Youth Members

As part of the Commission’s key priorities in the previous reporting period, theCommission sought and received the nominations of two Co-opted YouthMembers. The former Minister for Youth Affairs, the Hon. Justin Madden MP, andthe Hon. Monica Gould MP facilitated the nomination and selection process, with extensive support from the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues.

The two Co-opted Youth Members, Ms. Naomi Ngo, and Mr. Abdiaziz Farah, areboth dedicated individuals who have made a significant contribution to theCommission during the reporting period. While the VMC has continued toprovide independent advice to the Government on multicultural affairs,consulting broadly with ethnic communities and service providers, and promotingthe benefits of cultural diversity, the Co-opted Youth Members have attendedregular Commission meetings and provided advice that has enhanced thecapacity of the Commission to respond to youth issues.

At the time of the annual report’s publication, the Commission was seeking toinclude the appointment of three Co-opted Youth Members for two-year termswithin the context of the new Multicultural Affairs Act. The Commission viewsthis objective as integral to enhancing the VMC’s ability to engage and advocatefor CALD young people.

Abdiaziz Farah

Abdiaziz is a recently arrived migrant of Somali origin. He is the current Presidentof the Australian Somali Students’ Association and the Program Coordinator ofthe only Somali Community Television Network on Channel 31.

Since his arrival at the end of 1997, Abdiaziz has been an active member of thecommunity. He has particularly worked towards enhancing the well-being andstatus of CALD young people, promoting social harmony and multiculturalism.

In his own community, Abdiaziz has taken a proactive position. He has continuedto identify gaps in the assistance available to Somali high school students,particularly for those considered to be disadvantaged socio-economically.

Abdiaziz also played a key role in establishing the Somali Students Issue Networkand in developing its constitution towards incorporation. Additionally, he is alsoa founder of the Horn of Africa Young People’s Network.

Naomi Ngo

Naomi is currently working as a Youth Coordinator at the VietnameseCommunity in Australia, Victoria Chapter. Here, Naomi has conducted researchprojects concerning the needs of young Vietnamese people and undertaken arange of community development activities.

Naomi is a former Coordinator of the Western Young People’s IndependentNetwork (WYPIN), which is based in Footscray. Naomi’s role largely centred onyouth advocacy and public awareness raising activities. Naomi has been able toeffectively transfer her skills in these areas across into her role as a Co-optedYouth Member.

Naomi has also carried out youth work with the Melbourne Juvenile JusticeCentre, developing and facilitating the program ‘Addressing Issues’, whichprovided the young men with the opportunity to voice their issues of concern.She has also undertaken research projects for the Key Centre for Women’s Healthand John Byrne and Associates.

At the time of the annual report’s publication, the Co-opted Youth Memberswere in the process of developing a number of programs for the Commission,including youth activities and educational programs to run throughout CelebrateOur Cultural Diversity Week 2004.

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Abdiaziz Farah and Naomi Ngo.

Ethnic Youth Consultations

The involvement and collaboration of the two Co-opted Youth Members in theCommission’s community engagement and consultation programs ensured thesuccess of the VMC’s youth consultations throughout the reporting period.

During July 2002, the Co-opted Youth Members met with young people from awide range of ethnic backgrounds, including Chinese, Eritrean, Vietnamese,Cambodian and Somali youth, to consult on issues of importance to them.Education, access to sport and recreation programs, facilities and activities, andemployment opportunities were all raised as issues of concern and prominenceto the young people through these consultations.

Ethnic Youth Website Program

In the previous reporting period, the Ethnic Youth Website Project wasdeveloped, with funding from the Victorian Government, the VMC and VICNET(State Library of Victoria), to provide training for CALD young people to developmultilingual websites for their respective communities.

A series of workshops were coordinated across Victoria to provide training toyoung people of Latin American, African, Koori, Tongan, Greek, Canadian,Vietnamese, Romanian, Ukrainian, migrant and refugee backgrounds.

The Commission is pleased to report that during the 2002-03 period, the grantsfor ongoing training for the Ethnic Youth Website participants enabled manyCALD young people and their communities to come ‘on-line’ and link togetheracross the world wide web.

The website was registered within the reporting period and can be viewed atwww.vicyouth.org. This website will continue to be developed in collaborationwith the young people involved in the project during 2003-04.

AFL Multicultural Program for Victoria

The Commission met with representatives of the Australian Football League andFootball Victoria on 3 April 2003 regarding a joint proposal for the developmentof a Multicultural Football Participation Program for Victoria.

It is planned that this key initiative involve AFL clubs hosting new and emergingethnic community groups, facilitating their participation in Australian RulesFootball at various levels.

Encouraging participation in the AFL by newly arrived young refugees will be aspecific focus of this project.

Summary of Youth

■ The Co-opted Youth Members contributed significantly to the VMC andenhanced its ability to respond to youth issues during the reporting period;

■ The Co-opted Youth Members worked with the Commission to develop andestablish innovative youth programs and activities;

■ A number of community consultations with CALD young people weresuccessfully conducted with the assistance and advice of the Co-opted YouthMembers;

■ Through the Ethnic Youth Website Project, many ethnic communities andCALD young people developed community websites, and registered these onone unified site; and

■ The Commission began to collaborate with the AFL and Football Victoria toassist in the development of the proposed Multicultural Football ParticipationProgram for Victoria.

Conclusion The Victorian Multicultural Commission is proud of its achievements during itssecond year in office. As an advocate for the Victorian people, the VMC hascontinued to maintain our independence and to respond to the community’sneeds in a timely and appropriate manner.

The Commission has also continued to provide advice to the Government andgovernment agencies on a broad range of important multicultural affairs issues.

We have worked to strengthen the essential links between the Commission andthe various community and government agencies, actively participating in theWhole of Multicultural Performance Reporting process and pursuing reformacross local government through the Analysis of Local Governments’ Response toCultural Diversity in Victoria project.

Most importantly, the VMC has continued to gain the trust and understanding ofthe hundreds of ethnic community groups and associations throughout Victoria.This has enabled the VMC to act as a true conduit between the ethniccommunity sector and government at all levels, and to communicate the criticalissues facing CALD communities in Victoria today.

The Commission’s profile and credibility had developed and strengthenedthroughout the community, at all levels, by working diligently with ethniccommunities and proactively communicating issues across the whole of theVictorian State Government.

The Chairperson, George Lekakis, Commissioners and staff of the VMC wish toacknowledge and thank the Premier and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, theHon. Steve Bracks MP, the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs,the Hon. John Pandazopoulos MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary forMulticultural Affairs, the Hon. Kaye Darveniza MLC, for their continued supportthroughout the year.

Finally, the VMC would like to thank its community partners, governmentagencies and the wider Victorian community for their support and participationin programs and activities throughout the reporting period. The Commissionrecognises that without the goodwill and dedication of ethnic communities,community organisations, government departments and agencies, many of theinitiatives and successful outcomes highlighted in this annual report could nothave come to fruition.

Future Challenges

While the multicultural affairs portfolio received consistent support from themajor political parties and government institutions within Victoria during 2002-03, there remains much work to be done to ensure that all Victorians haveequality of opportunity and are able to participate fully in the life of this State.

The establishment of the new Multicultural Affairs Act for Victoria presents anumber of opportunities for the Commission and community stakeholders toinfluence and shape social policy that will further our aspirations as a dynamicand culturally diverse society. In the future, the Commission will engage ethniccommunities, associations and agencies, primarily through communityconsultation, following the release of a discussion paper in February 2004.

The VMC will also continue to enhance its functions to better serve the needs ofethnic communities in Victoria, and to advocate and represent their interestsacross government at all levels.

The Commission’s ‘open door’ policy remains unchanged. The Chairperson andCommissioners re-affirm their commitment to being accessible to ethniccommunities and other key stakeholders. The VMC looks forward to workingwith the Government and the community sector to achieve its vision of buildinga successful community, which is rich in diversity and open to the world.

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BUILDING AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT GRANTS 2002-03

Alkataeb Association of Victoria 7500Ararat Chinese Heritage Society Inc 1000Association of Ukrainians in Victoria – Noble Park Branch 4000Association of Ukranians in Victoria – Geelong Branch 5000Australian Association of Kastorians ‘Kastoria’ Inc 4000Australian Irish Welfare Bureau Inc 6000Australian Slovenian Cultural & Sports Association ‘Ivan Cankar’ Geelong Inc 4000Ballarat Italian Association Inc 1000Central Community Centre Inc 8000Cephalonian Society of Victoria – “O Kefalos” 6000Chabad House of Malvern/Toorak Inc 2000Chinese Fellowship of Victoria Inc 3000Chios Brotherhood Korais of Melbourne and Victoria Ltd 900Circolo Pensionati “Don Bosco” Inc 5500Croatian Media Association Inc (CMA) 4000Cultural Centre of Florinians (“Aristotelis”) 4000Cyprus Greek Orthodox Community of “Apostolos Andreas” Sunshine 5000Dar Alawdy Community Centre Inc 4000Dutch Australian Community Council Ltd 1550Eastern Districts Polish Association 4000Ethiopian Social Club Inc 7000Fiji Islamic & Cultural Society of Victoria Inc 5000Filipino Australian Friendship Association of Geelong 500Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc 5000Greek Cypriot Parent & Youth Club Western Suburbs of Melbourne Inc. 5000Greek Orthodox Community of Clayton Ltd 3000Greek Orthodox Community of Frankston and Peninsula Inc 5000Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland 5000Greek Orthodox Community of Mildura & District 6000Greek Orthodox Community of Thomastown, Lalor, Epping and Districts Inc 4000Greek Orthodox Community of Wangaratta Incorporated 5000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Dimitrios” Ascot Vale, Senior Citizens Group 8000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Raphael” Bentleigh, Senior Citizens’ Group 5000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Virgin Mary” Bendigo – District Inc 4000Greek Pontian Community of Melbourne 6000Greek Senior Citizens Association of St Gregorios Inc 2000Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin (Kingston) and Districts 4000Hogar Espanol De Victoria 8000Italian Social Club Swan Hill Inc 3000Jewish Cultural Centre & National Library Kadimah 3000Lao Elderly Association Inc 5000Maltese Cultural Association of Victoria 3000North Victorian Buddhist Association Inc 3000Oakleigh Soccer Club 5000Palesviaki Enosis of Melbourne & Victoria Inc. 4000Pammessinian Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria Ltd 5000Pansamian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victioria Pythagoras 2000Philanthropic Society of Kaloneri Siatista Inc 2000Polish Association of Ballarat Inc 1000Polish Association of Kingsville and Ladies Auxilliary Inc 3000Polish Sporting, Recreation and Community Association Inc 4000Pontiaki Estia Senior Citizens 4000Quang Minh Temple 3000Returned & Services League of Australia (Victorian Branch) Hellenic Sub Branch Inc. 4000Serbian Orthodox Church Community “St Nicholas” 7000Serbian Parish Youth Club “Branko Radicevic” Geelong 4000Slovenian Australian Cultural & Sport Association Planica Springvale Inc 1500St John of Kronstadt Russian Ethnic Community Organisations Society Inc 7500Sunshine Cypriot Orthodox Community of Apostolos Andreas Inc 2500Victorian Arabic Social Services Inc 7000Yugoslav-Australian Workers Centre ‘Brotherhood Unity’ Inc 2250

TOTAL BUILDING AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT GRANTS $253,700

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1:VMC CommunityGrants Program –Building andFacilitiesImprovement Grants

Appendix 2:VMC CommunityGrants Program –After Hours EthnicSchools Grants

AFTER HOURS ETHNIC SCHOOLS GRANTS 2002-03

Afghan Australia Philanthropic Association Inc. 600Afghan Australian Association of Victoria Inc 800Al Sadeq Education and Charity Association Inc 1000Al-Amen Iraqi Association Inc 600Al-Ansaar Islamic Association Inc 2000Albanian Community School 800Antonine Sisters V.P.A 2000Armenian Mesrob Mashdotz School 800Association for Vietnamese Culture Studies Inc 2000Associazione Culturale L’Aurora 2000Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre Deer Park 800Australian Kurdish Community Inc 1000Australian Romanian Community Welfare Health & Services Associationof Victoria Inc. 800Bayswater-Boronia Templer School 1000Cambodian Chinese Friendship Association of Victoria 2000Chabad House of Malvern/Toorak Inc 600Chabad Institutions of Australia Inc 2000Chinese Association of Victoria Inc 2000Chinese Culture School Inc 2000Chinese Fellowship of Victoria Inc 2000Clayton Chinese Christian School 600CO.AS.IT. ItFlian Assistance Association 2000Collingwood Turkish Welfare Association Inc 1000Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne Inc. 1000Croatian Ethnic School – Bartol Kasic Inc 1000Croatian Primary School Inc. 600Cyprus Greek Orthodox Community of “Apostolos Andreas” Sunshine 600Dandenong Parish School, Russian Orthodox Church (Abroad) 1000Eelam Tamil Association Victoria Inc 2000Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria Inc 14580Greek Language School “Mathesi” 2000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lord” Coburg, Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Community of Clayton Ltd 650Greek Orthodox Community of Dandenong School of St Panteleimon School 1000Greek Orthodox Community of Frankston and Peninsula Inc 800Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland 1550Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria School 2000Greek Orthodox Community School of Mentone 1000Greek Orthodox Community School of Shepparton & District 600Greek Orthodox Parish of “Panagia Soumela” East Keilor, Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Andrew’s” Forest Hill, Greek School 1500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Athanasios” Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Dimitrios” Ascot Vale, Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Nektarios” Fawkner, Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Nicholas” Yarraville, School 1500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Vasilios” Brunswick, Greek School 2000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Trinity” Richmond, Greek School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lady To The Temple”North Balwyn, School 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord” Lalor –Thomastown, Greek School 1000Hamerkaz Shelanu Inc 1500Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin (Kingston) and Districts 1000Hong Bang Vietnamese Ethnic School 1700Islamic Association of Australia 800Islamic Society of Victoria 1000Jose Gervasio Artigas Spanish Language School 2000Keysborough Vietnamese Language Centre Inc 1000Khmer Education Centre 1000Korean Language School of Melbourne 1000Lao Community of Victoria Inc 500Luzviminda Association of Filipino Women in Victoria Inc 1000Maarefa 1500

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Macedonian Cultural Educational Society “Roco Racin” Melbourne Vic Inc 600Mang-Non Vietnamese Language School Association 1000Mavragani Greek Language School 800Melbourne Chinese Baptist Church 2000Newport Islamic Society 800North Melbourne Somali Language and Cultural School Inc 1000North Victorian Buddhist Association Inc 1000Omiros College 2000Oromo Islamic Light School 1000Paedia College 1000Polish Association in Melbourne Inc 800Polish Community Council of Victoria Inc 2000Portuguese Cultural Centre of Melbourne Inc 800Richmond South Yarra Chinese Parents Association Inc 2000Russian Orthodox Sunday School 1000Salaam Australia Council Association Inc 600See Yup Chinese School 2000Serbian Orthodox Church & School Community St Stefan 1000Sinhala Language and Cultural School 1000Slovenian Australian Cultural & Sport Association Planica Springvale Inc 600Society for Asian Languages & Arts Inc 1016Somali Inter-Riverine Community Development Association Inc 600South Eastern Romanian Ethnic School 1000Springvale Chinese Ethnic School Parents Committee Inc. 2000St Anthony’s Greek School Sunshine 1000St Catherine’s College 1500St George Assyrian Language School 600St John’s Greek Orthodox College 1000St. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek School 1000Standard Chinese Language School 1000Sudanese Community Association of Australia Inc 2000Sudanese Community Association of Victoria Inc 500Te Roopu Aatawhai Inc 500Te Roopu Aatawhai Inc 1000The Greek Orthodox Community of “St Paraskeve” St Albans, School 1000The Pushkin Lyceum 2000The Thai Language School of Melbourne 1000Ukranian Community Saturday School 1000Ukranian School Council of Victoria 2000Vedanta Society of Australia 1000Victorian Tamil Cultural Association 800Vietnamese Community in Werribee 1000Vietnamese Ethnic School of Broadmeadows 1000

TOTAL AFTER HOURS ETHNIC SCHOOLS GRANTS $136,296

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Appendix 3:VMC CommunityGrants Program –MulticulturalFestivals and EventsGrants

Around 70 ethnic communityorganisations and schools weresupported through this grantsprogram to hold activities and eventsduring and around the inauguralCelebrate Our Cultural Diversity Weekin March 2003. Celebrate OurCultural Diversity Week grantsaccount for an additional $66,800 inthe Multicultural Festivals and Eventsgrants for 2002-03.

MULTICULTURAL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS GRANTS 2002-03

15/15 Film Festival Inc 2000Afar Community Association of Victoria Inc 800Afghan Asylum Seekers Association in Australia 800Afghan Khodaye Khedmat Garran 800Afghan Support Group 1500Afghan Support Group 900AGAPI Care Inc 1000Al Kamal Arabic School 1500Al-Amen Iraqi Association Inc 1000Alawi Islamic Association of Victoria Inc 600Albanian Australian Community Association Inc 1500Algethour Cultural Association Inc 2000Alkataeb Association of Victoria 600Anglo-Indian Australasian Association of Victoria Inc 1000Antipodes International Inc 2000ARAFEMI 2000Armenian Aginian School 800Armenian Cultural Society Hamazkaine Gomidas Chapter 800Armenian Relief Society Naytri Chapter Inc 800Art Is...Festival 1500Arthritis Foundation of Victoria Inc 500Ashburton Traders Association Inc.- Ashburton Community Festival 1000Asian Business Association Of Whitehorse Inc 1000Asian Television Australia Association Inc. 1000Associated Netherlands Societies in Victoria Inc 2000Association of Greek Elderly Citizen Clubs of Melbourne & Victoria 2000Association of Ukrainians in Victoria – St Albans 800Association of Ukrainians in Victoria – St Albans 600Associazone Letteraria Italo Australiana Scrittori 500Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault 2000Australia Thailand Association Inc 1000Australian – Romanian Community Development Group Inc 500Australian Albanian Community 1000Australian Arab Multicultural Association Inc 1000Australian Cyprian Sports & Social Association 500Australian Friends of Turkey Inc 1800Australian Greek and Cypriot Senior Citizens Club of Melbourne Inc 1400Australian Indian Innovations Inc 4000Australian Inter-Cultural Society Inc 2000Australian Macedonian Youth Association ‘Nikola Karev’ Inc 800Australian Nadur Association Inc 600Australian Somali Society 2000Australian Somali Students Association Inc 1500Australian Southern Sudanese Support Group Inc 1000Australian Turkish Association Inc 1000Australian Turkish Association Inc 800Australian-Greek Resource and Learning Centre (RMIT University) 800Azad Gharidian Dance Inc 500Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council 2000Balwyn High School 1000Bangladesh Samity Inc 1000Banyule City Council 1800Bayside Employment Skills Training Inc 800Beit Jala Palestinian Association 800Bendigo Australia Indonesia Klub Inc 250Bendigo Chinese Association Inc 500Bendigo Chinese Association Inc 600Bendigo Easter Fair Inc 2000Bendigo Festival of Cultures Inc 4000B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission Inc 2500Bocce Federation of Victoria Inc 500Boroondara Chinese Senior Citizens Association Inc 500Braybrook & Maidstone Neighbourhood House Association Inc 500

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Brimbank Humanitarian Network 1000Broadmeadows Health Service 1500Broadmeadows Secondary College 1000Brunswick Secondary College 1000Brunswick Secondary College 1000Brunswick Sri Lankan Community Group 500Celtic Nations Inc 1500Central American Community Ethnic Community Organisations andInformation Centre Inc 1000Centre for Awate Studies & Information Services 800Centre for Citizenship and Human rights, Deakin University 1000Centre For Equity and Innovation the Early Childhood (CEIEC),The University of Melbourne 900Centre for Philippine Concerns – Australia Inc 700CERES Environment Park 2000Chabad House of Malvern/Toorak Inc 1500Chabad Institutions of Australia Inc 1000Chabad Institutions of Australia Inc 600Chao Feng Chinese Musical Orchestra 700Chinese Association of Victoria Inc 500Chinese Women’s Association of Victoria Inc 500Chinese Xinjiang Senior Citizens Association Inc 500Chollo Community of Australia 800Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Mildura and Sunraysia 800Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Werribee Inc 2000City of Darebin – Arts and Cultural Development Branch 2000City of Darebin – Arts and Cultural Development Branch 1000City of Kingston 4000City of Port Phillip 2300City of Stonnington 2000City of Whitehorse 1800City of Whittlesea 1000CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association 1500Coburg West Primary School 1000Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne Inc. 800Community Radio Federation (Community Radio 3CR) 800Co-ordinating Chilean Committee of Victoria 1700Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliation Regions 2000Cosmic Harmony Foundation Inc 1000Council of Turkish Associations of Victoria 2000Cultural Association for Hellenic Women of Victoria Inc 600Cultural Centre of Florinians (“Aristotelis”) 2000Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc 2000Dar Alawdy Community Centre Inc 2000Department of Education, Employment and Training 5000Disability Advocacy & Information Service Inc 1400Doutta Galla Community Health Service Inc 800Eaglehawk Dahlia Festival Inc 1000East Doncaster Secondary College 800Eelam Tamil Association Victoria Inc 1000Eritrean Community in Australia 800Ethiopian Community Association in Victoria Inc 2500Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria 5000Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria 3500Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc 500Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc 1000Ethnic Public Broadcasting Association of Victoria 5000Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria Inc 5000Eumemmering Secondary College – Endeavour Hills Campus 1000Federation of Chinese Associations (Vic) Inc 5000Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria Inc 1000Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria Inc 1500Federation of Indian Women’s Association of Australia (FIWAA) 600Federation of Indo-China Ethnic Chinese of Australia Inc 800Federation of Macedonian Senior Citizens Groups of the Northern Regionof Victoria Inc 800

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Federation of Macedonian Senior Citizens Groups of the Northern Regionof Victoria Inc 500Federation Panepirotic Union of Melbourne and Victoria 1000Fiji Islamic & Cultural Society of Victoria Inc 1000Fiji Sangam Association of Victoria 500Fiji Sangam Association of Victoria 500Filipino Australian Senior Citizens Advisory Council in Australia Inc 700Finnish Society of Melbourne Inc 500Fitzroy Chinese Residents Association Inc 750Footscray Asian Business Council 2500Footscray Community Arts Centre Ltd 1000Frankston Susono Friendship Association 800Geelong Ethnic Communities Council Inc 5000Giovani 2000 800Gippsland Migrant Resource Centre 3000Glen Eira Secondary College 1000Glen Waverley Secondary College 2500Glenorchy Primary School 400Greek Community of Keilor and Districts 500Greek Community of Northcote, City of Darebin & Districts Inc 2000Greek Community of Northcote, City of Darebin & Districts Inc 1200Greek Cypriot Parent & Youth Club Western Suburbs of Melbourne Inc. 800Greek Orthodox Community of Broadmeadows and Districts Inc 800Greek Orthodox Community of Dandenong & District 700Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland 500Greek Orthodox Community of Hobsons Bay Inc, Seniors Club 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “Panagia Soumela” East Keilor 600Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Athanasios” Springvale, Senior Citizens Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Cross” Box Hill and Districts,Elderly Citizens Club 1800Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lord” – Coburg Youth Group 2000Greek Senior Citizen Association of Moorabbin Inc 1800Greek Senior Citizens Club of Flemington & Kensington Inc 1200Guthrie Street Primary School 1000Halkidikeon Association Aristotele the Stageritian 800Hamerkaz Shelanu Inc 1000Hamlyn Banks Primary School 1000Hands For Hope Inc 600Heathmont East Primary School & Waverley Meadows Primary 1000Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin (Kingston) and Districts 800Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin (Kingston) and Districts 1200Hellenic Orthodox Community of Geelong Inc 800Hepburn Springs Swiss/Italian Festa Inc 1000Hindu Satsang Mandal of Victoria 500Hindu Society of Victoria (Inc) 2000Hispanic Latin American Festival & Cultural Association 4000Hmong Australia Society of Australia Inc 1500Hogar Espanol De Victoria 800Hogar Espanol De Victoria 800Hungarian Community Co-operative Association Inc 600In One Voice Festival Committee 800Indian Association of Roxburgh Park 500Indian Music Association 600Inner Western Region Migrant Resource Centre Inc 250Inner Western Region Migrant Resource Centre Inc 1500Inner Western Region Migrant Resource Centre Inc 800Institute for Judaism and Civilisation 1000Institute for Slovenian Studies of Victoria Inc 800Iranian Society of Victoria Inc 800Irymple South Primary School 300Islamic Council of Victoria 1000Islamic Girls and Women’s Group 800Islamic Society of Victoria 1800Italian Senior Citizens Club of Bundoora Inc 2000Jewish Community Council of Victoria 2000

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Jewish Cultural Centre & National Library Kadimah 1000Jewish Museum of Australia Inc 5000Jose Gervasio Artigas Spanish Language School 800Kainga Tuvalu Victoria Inc 800Kala Kruthi 1000Klabb Ghannejja Maltin Inc 500Kurdish Association of Victoria 1000Kurdish Resource Centre of Victoria Inc 1000Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club Inc 2000League of Maniates and Friends of Melbourne and Victoria “I Mani” Inc 500Logomua Fono Samoa Inc 600Lowicz Vocal Dance Ensemble 500Macedonian Community Welfare Association Inc. 600Macedonian Women’s Social Club of Whittlesea Inc 1000Madeira Folk Dancing ‘Perola Do Atlantico’ Inc 500Madeira Folk Dancing ‘Perola Do Atlantico’ Inc 1000Maltese Literature Group 600Manchester Primary School – Mooroolbark Heights Secondary 1000Manningham City Council 800Marrn-Ak Association Inc 600Melbourne Irish Festival Committee Inc 1000Melbourne Linh Son Buddhist Congregation Inc 1000Melton South Community Centre Inc 500Migrant Information Centre 1000Migrant Information Centre 800Migrant Resource Centre North West Region 800Milpara Community House Inc 1000Monash University Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society 3000Monash University International Student Services 800Moongala Women’s Community House 800Moreland City College 1000Moreland City College 1000Moreland City Council 2000Moreland Turkish Educational and Social Affairs Centre Inc 500Mount Beauty Music Muster Inc 1000Mount Waverley Secondary College 800Mullauna Secondary College 300Multicultural Arts Victoria 2000Nang Hong 800National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters 2000National Celtic Folk Festival Inc 1000National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research – La Trobe University 800National Union of Greek Australian Students 500North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association Inc 1000North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association Inc 1500North Melbourne Somali Language and Cultural School Inc 800North Richmond Community Health Centre 3000Northern Metropolitan Multicultural Seniors Club Network Inc 800Nunawading Primary School 1000Oakleigh Soccer Club 2000Omiros College 2500Oromiyaa Cultural and Recreational Club 1000Oromo Community Association in Melbourne Inc 1500Pacific Island Council of Victoria Inc 500Pacific Island Youth Alive 800Palestinian Charity Association of Victoria Inc 800Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria ‘Leonidas’ Inc 1000Panmacedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria 2000Pantrifilian Association of Melbourne and Victoria Inc 500Papua New Guinea Students Society of Swinburne 1000Philanthropic Society Nomo Kavalas Agios Silas 1500Philipino Elderly Association South East Region Victoria Inc 800Philippine House Foundation Inc 500Prahran Chinese Womens Association of Australia Inc 500PTOLEMEI Association of Greek Senior Citizens From Egypt & Middle East 500

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Red Cliffs Folk Festival Inc 1500Reservoir Greek Elderly Citizens Club Inc 500Richmond Asian Business Association Inc 3000Ringwood Highland Games Inc 800Roller Sports Victoria Inc 300Rosebud Primary School 1000Rotary Club of Mooroopna Inc 2000Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale Inc 1500Royal District Nursing Service – Helen Macpherson Institute ofCommunity Health (“RDNS Institute”) 800Russian Link Inc 1000Russian Women’s Multinational Association “Ogonyok” 500Ruthven Primary School 1000Saint Paraskevi Melbourne & Victoria Brotherhood of Lesbos 1000Samoan Advisory Council of Victoria Inc 500Samoan Advisory Council of Victoria Inc 500Samoan Advisory Council of Victoria Inc 500San Donato Association Inc 1100Sangam (Community) Association Inc 1000Serbian Orthodox Church & School Community St Stefan 1200Serbian Sisters Circle “Mother Jugovic” 500Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria Inc 800Shalom Association Inc 1000Shepparton Multicultural Hostel Inc Senior Citizens 500Sikh Society of Australia 800Sinhala Cultural & Community Services Foundation Inc 1000Society for Asian Languages & Arts Inc 1000Society for Asian Languages & Arts Inc 500Somali Community of Victoria Inc 2500Songkran New Years Festival Inc 1200Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre Inc ( CELAS) 2000Springvale Asian Business Association 1200Springvale Neighbourhood House 3000St Albans Business Group Inc 2000St Andrews Luqa Social Club 700St Aphrem Syrian Orthodox Church 1500St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School 1000St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School 1000St John of Kronstadt Russian Ethnic Community Organisations Society Inc 800St. Albans Good Friday Association Inc 500St. Paul’s Feast Committee West Sunshine 500Sudanese Community Association of Australia Inc 800Sudanese Community Association of Victoria Inc 800Sunshine Polish Charity Association Inc 800Tamil Australian Friendship Society Inc 1000Tamil Educational, Cultural and Charitable Association (TECCA) 500Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (Australia) Ltd 1000Tatura Italo Australian & Friends Inc 800The Alliance of Girls Schools (Australasia) Ltd 1000The Association of Hazaras in Victoria Inc 800The Association of Hazaras in Victoria Inc 800The Boite (Victoria) Inc 800The Bridge Youth Service Inc 1000The Brookside School 1000The Committee for Sri Lanka Inc 1000The Festa Group Inc 1000The Festa Group Inc 4000The Greater City of Dandenong Oromo Sports Club 1200The Korean Society of Victoria Australia Inc 800The Phap An Buddhist Centre Inc 600The Roxburgh Park Homestead Community Centre (Hume City Council) 1000The Roxburgh Park Homestead Community Centre (Hume City Council) 2000The United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of South Eastern Melbourne 1000The Victorian Chin Community Association Inc 500Tigrian Community Association in Victoria 2500Turkish Community Assembly of Victoria Inc 1000

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Ukrainian Arts and Culture 600Ukrainian Senior Citizens Club in Melbourne Inc 2400United Association of Greek Orthodox Communities and Parishesof Melbourne and Victoria 1000United Filipino Elderly Group 500United Nations Association of Australia 3000Vedanta Society of Australia 800Victoria Tamil Cultural Association Inc 1000Victorian Association of Tesol & Multicultural Education Inc 1000Victorian Assyrian Community Inc 1000Victorian Eritrean Community Association Inc. 2500Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Womens Coalition Inc 1200Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Womens Coalition Inc 2000Victorian Romano Pralipe Association 600Victorian School of Languages 1000Vietnamese Community in Australia – Victoria Chapter 2200Vietnamese Cultural Group of Brimbank 800Vietnamese Student’s Association of Victoria 1800Wangaratta Textile Arts Association Inc 900Wantirna Secondary College 1000Weerama Festival Committee Inc 1500Wellsprings for Women 800Western Suburbs Chinese Women’s Association Inc 1000Western Young People’s Independent Network 1000Westgate Tongan Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia 1000Williamstown Summer Festival Ltd 2000Women and Children’s Health (Centre for Child Community Health) 1500Wonthaggi Business & Tourism Association Inc 2500

TOTAL MULTICULTURAL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS GRANTS $425,950

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Appendix 4:VMC CommunityGrants Program –MulticulturalSenior CitizensOrganisationalSupport Grants

MULTICULTURAL SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS 2002-03

A.N.C.R.I Sezione di Melbourne 1400African Communities Elderly Association 500Agrupacion de Pensionistas Y Tercera Edad de Victoria Inc 2000Albanian Ladies Committee 500ANCRI Dandenong 900Arab Elderly Pensioners Group 800Arabic Muslim Women’s Social Support Group 400Arabic Senior Citizens Group 800Armenian Church (Senior Citizens) 1200Armenoro Senior Citizens Association Inc 1200Asklipios Greek Women’s Group 1200Assoc Marinai D’Italia Gruppo “M.O. Pugliesi” 1400Associazione Amica Pensionati Italiani Di Hawthorn 1000Associazione Arma Aeronautica 1200Associazione Laziali Pensionati Di Geelong Inc 1200Associazione Nazionale Combattenti Della Guerra Di Liberazione Inc 1200Associazione Nazionale Sottouficiali D’Italia 500Associazione Pensionate Lazialidi Monash Inc 1800Associazione Pensionati Ciociari e Laziali Australia Nel Mondo 900Associazione Piemontesi Victoria Inc 1000Associazone Pensionati Laziali Australia Inc 2000Australian & Herzegovian Community Club Brcko Melbourne 1600Australian Coptic Senior Citizens Club of Manningham 500Australian Croatian Senior Citizens Association Geelong Inc 2000Australian Croatian Senior Citizens Club (Vila Velebita) Broadmeadows 1200Australian Croatian Senior Citizens Club of Clifton Hill Inc 1000Australian Croatian Senior Citizens Club of Gladstone Park Inc 1000Australian Cyprian Social & Sport Association(Cyprian Community of Southern Suburbs Senior Citizens Club) 1800Australian Greek and Cypriot Senior Citizens Club of Melbourne Inc 1400Australian Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Mentone and Districts Inc 1200Australian Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Oakleigh Inc 2200Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association Inc 900Australian Greek Isolated Group Inc 700Australian Macedonian Disability Pensioner Group “Vardar” Melbourne 1000Australian Macedonian Senior Citizens Group Reservoir Inc 1200Australian Red Cross Victoria 500Australian Thornbury Pensioners Club Inc 600Australian Ukrainian Senior Citizens Fellowship “Golden Age” Inc 1000Australian Yugoslav Multicultural Pensioner Group 800Australian Yugoslav Pensioners Group 1400Avellino Circolo Pensioners of Springvale 1000Avondale Heights Senior Citizens Club 1000Ballarat Dutch 50 Plus Club Inc 1000Batmans Greek Elderly Womens Club 1200Bayside Italian Senior Community Club 500Benvenute Donne Broadmeadows Italian Women’s Group Inc 1000Berwick Greek Senior Citizens Club Inc 1000Bigla Senior Citizens Association Inc 1200Bitola Macedonian Senior Citizens Group Whittlesea Inc 2000Boroondara Camberwell Greek Senior Citizens Club 1200Boroondara Chinese Senior Citizens Association Inc 600Bosnian and Herzegovinian Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1200Box Hill Chinese Senior Citizens Club Inc 3200Brighton Greek Senior Citizens Association Inc 1400Brimbank Hungarian Senior Citizens Inc 1400Broadmeadows Greek Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1400Broadmeadows Turkish Senior Citizens Club 2000Broadmeadows Vietnamese Senior Citizens Club 1000Brunswick Greek Elderly and Pensioners Association Inc 2200Campbellfield Senior Citizen Centre Inc 500Cantazaro Senior Citizen’s Club of Monash 1200Casey Hungarian Senior Citizens Club Inc 3000Centre of Greek Ex-Servicemens Elderly Citizens Club of Darebin and District Inc 1600

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Ceylonese Welfare Organisation Inc 2000Chinese Senior Citizen’s Club of Manningham 1000Circolo Anziani Abruzzesi Senior Citizens Social Club Inc 2600Circolo Pensionati “Don Bosco” Inc 1600Circolo Pensionati Campani Italiano Di Clayton 2000Circolo Pensionati Casa D’Abruzzo Club 1200Circolo Pensionati del Reggio Calabria Club 500Circolo Pensionati della Comunita’ Vizzinese 1800Circolo Pensionati Italiani – Centro Sanitario Di Brunswick 1200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Airport West 1800Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Altona 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Ascot Vale Inc 1800Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Ballarat 800Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Belmont 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Carlton 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Clayton e Oakleigh 480Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Coburg 3000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Croydon 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Deer Park 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Essendon 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Footscray Inc 1600Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Gladstone Park 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Greenvale 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Kensington 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Kew/Hawthorn/Camberwell 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Knox 500Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Korumburra 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Kyabram 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Lilydale 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Mildura and Sunraysia 1600Circolo Pensionati Italiani di Moonee Ponds Inc 2400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Moreland 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Morwell 1200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Newport-Williamstown 1200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di North West Essendon Inc 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di North West Reservoir 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Nunawading/Box Hill Inc 1600Circolo Pensionati Italiani di Pascoe Vale Inc 1200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Port Melbourne 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Reservoir 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Richmond Inc 1100Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di San Marco in Lamis 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di St Albans 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di St Luca, Lalor, Thomastown 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani di St Mary Magdlen Chadstone 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Swan Hill 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Tullamarine 1200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Waverley 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Werribee Inc 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di West Brunswick 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Wonthaggi Inc 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani di Wyndham Inc 2200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Doutta Galla-Essendon 1000Circolo Pensionati Italiani East Keilor & Avondale Heights 2000Circolo Pensionati Italiani Merlynston 2200Circolo Pensionati Italiani Napoli Family Club 1400Circolo Pensionati Italiani St Mels Shepparton 1200Circolo Pensionati Laziali Brunswick Inc 1200Circolo Pensionati Multiculturale Di Greenvale Inc 1800Circolo Pensionati Pugliesi Inc 1000Circolo Ricreativo Associazioni D’Arma Italiane Inc 1000Circolo Ricreativo Pensionati Italiani Di St. Ignazio 1000Coburg Turkish Elderly & Pensioners Club 1400Collingwood Fitzroy Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 1400Collingwood Greek Elderly Womens Association 1000

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Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne Elderly Group 1000Cranbourne and District Greek Senior Citizens Inc 600Cranbourne Italian Senior Citizens Club Inc 1600Croatian Senior Citizens Club of Altona Inc 1000Croatian Senior Citizens Club of Footscray Inc 1000Croatian Senior Citizens Club St Albans Inc 1400Croatian Senior Citizens Group Keysborough Inc 3000Croydon Dutch Social Club Inc 600Cultural Centre of Florinians (“Aristotelis”) 700Cultural Vietnamese Women’s Association Inc 1000Cypriot Community of Eastern Suburbs-Elderly Citizens 1400Cyprus Senior Citizens Turkish Club Inc 1000Czech Pensioners Association Inc 500Dandenong and Endeavour Hills Club de Los Abuelos: Italo-Spanish Inc 700Darebin Greek Women’s Senior Citizens Group Inc 1400Diamond Valley Greek Senior Citizens Club 1400Dutch Australian Social Club ‘The Rocket’ 1000Dutch Australian Society Social Club Inc 860Dutch Independent Senior Citizens of Oz 800Dutch Women’s Club of Geelong Inc 1200Elderly Club of the Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria 2000Elderly Filipino Association of Australia Inc 1000Eltham Dutch Over Fifties Club Inc 1000Endeavour Hills Italian ‘Corona’ Senior Citizens Club 1000Eremia Greek Elderly Association of Port Phillip Inc 1200Ethnic Chinese Happy Age Association of Victoria Inc 2800Ethnic Discussion Club Inc 500Felaust Filipino Australian Elderly Citizen Group of Broadmeadows 1000Filipino Australian Senior Citizens Advisory Council in Australia Inc 2000Filipino Australian Senior Citizens of Victoria 1000Filipino Elderly Get Together Association Inc 1000Filipino-Australian Society, Melbourne’s Northwest Inc 1000Fitzroy Vietnamese Elderly Group 1000Footscray Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 2000Frankston Bosnian Elderly Club 1000Galini Greek Elderly Association of Port Melbourne Inc 1400Geelong Croatian Senior Citizens Association 1600Geelong Dutch 50 Plus Club Inc 1600Geelong Hungarian St Laszlo Senior Citizens Social Club Inc 1200Giuliani Senior Citizens Association of Geelong Inc 1600Glen Eira Italian Pensioners & Senior Citizens Club Inc 600Glenroy German Speaking Senior Citizens Club Inc 1000Glenroy Greek Elderly Group 1000Glenroy Italian Senior Citizen’s Centre Inc 1000Glenroy Maltese Senior Citizens Group Inc 1400Glenroy Polish Elderly Club Inc 1400Goce Delcev Senior Citizens Association 2000Golden Sun Disabled & Senior Citizens Association Inc 1400Greek Community over 50’s Elderly Citizens Club Inc 500Greek Cyprian Senior Citizens of Glen Eira Inc 1600Greek Cypriot Senior Citizens Club Whitehorse and District 1800Greek Elderly Citizens and Pensioners Club of Moonee Valley 1800Greek Elderly Citizens Club Caulfield Inc 1400Greek Elderly Citizens Club Highett 1000Greek Elderly Citizens Club Northcote Inc 2200Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Rosanna,Macleod and Surrounding District Inc 1400Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Manningham Inc 2000Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Maribyrnong & Districts 1200Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Maroondah Inc 600Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Mildura 1000Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Nunawading Inc 700Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Richmond 1400Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Werribee Inc 1200Greek Elderly Citizens of Clayton and District 1800Greek Elderly Club North Fitzroy & North Carlton 1200

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Greek Elderly Club of Geelong 1200Greek Elderly Club of the Bellarine Peninsula 2000Greek Elderly Group of Coburg and Pascoe Vale Inc 1400Greek Federal Organisation of Ex-Servicemen’s Reserve of Greece in Australia Inc 1200Greek Nazarene Senior Citizens Club Inc 1000Greek Orthodox Community of “St Paraskeve,” St Albans, Senior Citizens 1400Greek Orthodox Community of Broadmeadows and Districts Inc – Elderly Club 1000Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland, Elderly Citizens’ Group 700Greek Orthodox Community of Hobsons Bay Inc, Seniors Club 1000Greek Orthodox Community of Lalor, Thomastown, Epping and Districts,Women’s Group 400Greek Orthodox Community of Thomastown, Lalor, Epping and Districts Inc 2000Greek Orthodox Parish of “Axion Esti” Northcote, Senior Citizen’s Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “Panagia Soumela” East Keilor, Senior Citizens Group 1200Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Andrew’s” Forest Hill, Senior Citizens Group 1200Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Athanasios” Springvale, Senior Citizens Group 1400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Catherine” East Malvern, Elderly Citizens Group 1400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Constantine and Helen” South Yarra,Senior Citizens Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Dimitrios” Ascot Vale, Senior Citizens Group 1400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Eleftherios” Brunswick, Senior Citizens’ Group 1400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Eustathios” South Melbourne, Senior Citizens’ Group 800Greek Orthodox Parish of “St George” Thornbury, Senior Citizens 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Haralambos” Templestowe, Senior Citizens’ Group 1800Greek Orthodox Parish of “St John the Baptist” Carlton, Senior Citizens’ Group 800Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Nektarios” Fawkner, Senior Citizens’ Group 1200Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Raphael” Bentleigh, Senior Citizens’ Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Vasilios”, Brunswick, Senior Citizens’ Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Dormition of Our Lady” Altona,Senior Citizens Group 1400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Cross” Box Hill and Districts,Elderly Citizens Club 1800Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Trinity” Footscray, Elderly Citizens 800Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Trinity” Richmond, Elderly Citizens’ Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lady to the Temple”North Balwyn, Senior Citizens Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lord” –Coburg Senior Citizens Group 1200Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Three Hierarchs” Clayton, Senior Citizens’ Group 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord” Lalor –Thomastown, Senior Citizens Group 1000Greek Orthodox Senior Citizens Shepparton & District Inc 800Greek Pensioners and Elderly Citizens Social Club of Avondale Heights Inc 1400Greek Pensioners Club of North Fitzroy 500Greek Senior Citizen Association of Moorabbin Inc 1800Greek Senior Citizen Club of Airport West and District 1800Greek Senior Citizens Association of Malvern 1600Greek Senior Citizens Association of South Melbourne and Albert Park 1200Greek Senior Citizens Association of South Yarra and Districts Inc 1400Greek Senior Citizens Association of St Gregorios Inc 1000Greek Senior Citizens Box Hill 900Greek Senior Citizens Club Altona and Region Inc 1200Greek Senior Citizens Club Hawthorn 1400Greek Senior Citizens Club of Carnegie and Murrumbeena Inc 2400Greek Senior Citizens Club of Dandenong 2400Greek Senior Citizens Club of Flemington & Kensington Inc 1200Greek Senior Citizens Club of Frankston and Peninsula Inc 1800Greek Senior Citizens Club of Gladstone Park and Tullamarine Inc 1400Greek Senior Citizens Club of Monash Inc 2000Greek Senior Citizens Club of Prahran ‘St Demetrios’ 1400Greek Senior Citizens Club Red Hill and Mornington Peninsula “Panagia Kamariani” 2200Greek Senior Citizens of Glen Eira Inc 1400Greek Senior Citizens of North Balwyn & Districts 1400Greek Senior Women’s Club Hobsons Bay Inc 800Greek Seniors & Pensioners Association Clayton & District Inc 2000Greek Seniors 60 Walker Close Inc 500

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Greek Women’s Association of the Western Suburbs 600Greek Women’s Elderly Friendly Club Preston 1000Greek Women’s Senior Citizens Club of McKinnon ‘Rhea’ Inc 1400Green Gully Senior Citizens Social Club Inc 500Grupo Primavera Prahran Latin American Association Inc 1600Health & Wellbeing of Vietnamese Elderly Hobsons Bay Area 400Hellenic Association of Mornington Peninsula Aged Citizens Club Inc 2600Hellenic Stegi Friendly Elderly Citizen’s Club Inc 1800Horn of Africa Senior Women’s Program Inc 1200Hume Multicultural Social Support Group 500Hume Senior Citizens Vietnamese Group 1000Hungarian Senior Citizens Club of Greater Dandenong Inc 2000Hungarian Senior Citizens of Prahran & District Inc 1600Independent Hellenic Senior Citizens Association of Clayton Inc 1200Independent Italian Senior Citizens Club of Sunshine 800Independent Senior Citizens Club – Nunawading Inc 700Indian Senior Citizens Association Inc 1200Indochinese Elderly Assocation in the Eastern Suburbs Inc 1800Islamic Elderly Group Inc 1800Italian and Ethnic Senior Citizens Club of Flinders Inc 2400Italian Elderly Citizens Club Noble Park Inc 1400Italian Elderly Citizens Club of Thornbury 1400Italian Elderly Citizens Group Holy Spirit East Thornbury Inc 1200Italian Pensioners Association of Mill Park Inc 1400Italian Pensioners Club North Fitzroy Inc 1200Italian Pensioners Group of Keilor Inc 1400Italian Senior Citizens Club of Bundoora Inc 2000Italian Senior Citizens Club of Frankston 1400Italian Senior Citizens Club of Lalor & Thomastown 1400Italian Senior Citizens Club of Moorabbin Inc 1000Italian Senior Citizen’s Club of Preston Inc 3600Italian Senior Citizens Group Doncaster Inc 2400Italian Senior Citizens Recreation Group of Caulfield 1400Italian Speaking Senior Citizens Association of Epping 1200Italian Welfare Association of Whittlesea Senior Citizens Inc 1200Italian Women’s Association Lalor/Thomastown Inc 700Italian Women’s Health Group Fawkner/Campbellfield Inc 1400Kariatides Oakleigh Greek Womens Group Inc 1400Kastellorizian Senior’s Club 1400Kensington Elderly Indochinese and Middle Aged Vietnamese Group 1400Kensington Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 1600Keon Park Greek Senior Citizens Club Inc 1800Kingsbury Italian Senior Citizen Club Inc 1400Kingston Indian Senior Citizens Association Inc 400Kingston Turkish Senior Citizens Inc 1000Knox Chinese Elderly Citizens Club Inc 2000Knox Hungarian Senior Citizens Club Inc 1400Korean Elderly Citizens Association of Victoria Inc 1000Kyabram Italian Ladies Inc 1200Lalor Thomastown Combined Pensioners Association Inc 1000Lao Elderly Association Inc 1400Latinos Unidos Spanish Speaking Senior Citizens Group 1000Latvian Relief Society “Daugavas Vanagi” of Geelong Inc 700Lemnian Community Elderly Citizens Club 2000Lemnian Community of Victoria Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1400Macedonian Elderly Group of Keilor Downs Inc 1000Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria Elderly Citizens Group 2800Macedonian Pensioners Association of Footscray Inc 1200Macedonian Senior Citizens Club Geelong 1400Macedonian Senior Citizens Club of West Sunshine 1200Macedonian Senior Citizens Club Pelister of St Albans 1200Macedonian Senior Citizens Group – Lalor, Thomastown, Epping & Mill Park 1600Macedonian Senior Citizens Group – SV Nikola Mirlikiski Inc 1200Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Altona Meadows, Laverton and Point Cook Inc 500Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Altona North Inc 1000

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Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Avondale Heights, East Keilor,Moonee Valley and Districts Inc 1000Macedonian Senior Citizens’ Group of Doncaster & Templestowe 1600Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Hobsons Bay Inc 1400Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Kingspark Inc 500Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of Monash 2000Macedonian Senior Citizens Group of the City Greater Dandenong St Dimitrija Inc 1000Macedonian Senior Citizens Group Pelister Inc 1200Macedonian Senior Citizens Group Zlatna Sonce of Footscray Inc 800Macedonian Womens Pensioner Group of Keilor Downs 1000Macedonian Women’s Pensioner Group Pelister of St Albans 1000Macedonian Women’s Pensioners Association of Footscray Inc 1000Macedonian Women’s Senior Citizen Group Lalor Inc 1000Macedonian Women’s Senior Citizens Club of West Sunshine 1000Macedonian Womens Senior Citizens Group of Altona North and District 1400Macedonian Women’s Senior Citizens Group of Avondale Heights,Moonee Valley & Districts Inc 800Macedonian Womens Senior Citizens Group of Hobsons Bay Inc 1000Maltese Association – Hobsons Bay Inc 2400Maltese Association Hobsons Bay Inc. Ladies Auxiliary Group 1000Maltese La Vallette Association Inc 2000Maltese Pensioners Association Inc 1200Maltese Senior Citizens Club Airport West Inc 600Maltese Seniors – South Eastern Suburbs 500Malvern Italian Senior Citizens Club 1200Maroondah Italian Senior Citizens Club 1000Mauritian Golden Age Club Inc 500Mauritian Silver Edge Club Inc 1400Mauritian Social Club of East St Kilda 860Meadow Heights Turkish Speaking Elderly Group 1400Merrilands Italian Senior Citizens Club 1800Mill Park Greek Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1400Mill Park Senior Citizens Club Inc 1000Monash Greek Macedonian Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1400Monash Korean Senior Citizens Club 1000Montemurro Social Club ‘San Rocco” Inc 500Montenegrian Social Club of Australia Inc 1600Moreland Maltese Elderly Citizens’ Association Inc 1200Moreland Maltese Pensioners Group Inc 1400Moreland Multicultural Social Support Group 500Mornington Dutch Australian Senior Club Inc 1600Multicultural Prime Timers Group Inc 1000Myrtleford Italian Pensioners Group 1200Nadezhda Russian Senior Citizens Club 2000Neret Senior Citizens Club 1800New Life Association Inc 500New United Villages of Florina 600Niddrie Senior Italian Citizens Club Inc 2000Nieuw Holland Dutch Social Club Inc 1000Noble Park North Multicultural Elderly Citizens Club 1200North Eastern Greek Elderly Citizens Inc 1200Northcote Italian Pensioners Club Inc 1800Northcote Macedonian Senior Citizens Club ‘Kajmakcalan’ 1000Northern Mauritian Seniors Club Inc 1000Northern Metropolitan Multicultural Seniors Club Network Inc 1500Northern Suburbs Arab Senior Citizen Club Inc 1000North-West Elderly Chinese Social Support Group 1200Nunawading Hungarian Senior Citizens Club Inc 1800Oakleigh Coptic Senior Social Club 1000Panpylian Brotherhood of Navarino 700Philipino Elderly Association South East Region Victoria Inc 1000Philippine Cultural Society for Elders Inc 1000Polish Cultural & Social Club ‘Palma’ Inc 1000Polish Senior Citizens Centre Ardeer 1800Polish Senior Citizens Club ‘Astry’ – St Kilda 1800Polish Senior Citizens Club Footscray 2000

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Polish Senior Citizens Club Geelong 2800Polish Senior Citizens Club in Albion Inc 1800Polish Senior Citizens Club in Rowville 2000Polish Senior Citizens Club Melbourne 1000Polish Senior Citizens Club Millenium Inc 400Polish Senior Citizens Club of Altona North 1200Polish Senior Citizens Club of Caulfield 1400Polish Senior Citizens Club of Collingwood 1000Polish Senior Citizens Club of Doncaster 1000Polish Senior Citizens Club of Frankston Inc 800Polish Senior Citizens Club of Moorabbin Inc 1000Polish Senior Citizens Club of St Albans Inc 1400Polish Senior Citizens’ Club Waverley 1000Polish Senior Citizens Group Morwell 1800Polish Senior Citizens Mutual Support Club of Keilor Downs 1000Pontiaki Estia Senior Citizens 1200Pontian Association of Whittlesea 1800Port Phillip Chinese Womens Association 1400Portarlington and District Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs Inc 1200Portarlington Maltese Pensioners Association 1400Prahran Chinese Elderly Citizens Association Inc 2800Prahran Chinese Women’s Association of Australia Inc 2000Prahran Polish Elderly Citizens Inc 1200Preston Greek Senior Citizens Club Inc 2000Preston-Reservoir Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 1400PTOLEMEI Association of Greek Senior Citizens From Egypt & Middle East 2000Regione Emilia Romagna Association of Victoria Inc 1000Regione Lazio Monti Lepini Colleferro Social Club in AssociationSenior Citizens Club 2400Reservoir Greek Elderly Citizens Club Inc 2000Resistenza Circolo Sette Fratelli Cervi, Victoria Inc 800Reskeon Seniors Group 2000Richmond Chinese Elderly Welfare Association Inc 2000Richmond Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 2400Rosanna Macleod Italian Citizens Club Inc 1400RSL Italian Sub-Branch 1000Russian Australian Senior Citizens Club in Prahran 1000Russian Senior Citizens Club Dandenong 1000Russian Senior Citizens Club Yarraville 600Russian Social Support Group Glenroy 500Russian Women’s Multinational Association “Ogonyok” 500Rye & Peninsula Greek Senior Citizens Club 1800Rye & Peninsula Greek Women’s Group Inc 1400Senior Citizens Club Of Thomastown Lalor and Epping Inc 600Senior Citizens Group of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community ”Archangels” – Mentone 1000Senior Citizens Group of the Greek Parish and Community of St Antonios,Sunshine 700Senior Citizens of the Greek Community of Forest Hill Inc 1400Senior Citizens of the South 1200Senior Polish Friendship Club Inc 1000Senior Slavic Women’s Group Springvale Inc 400Serbian Australian Pensioners Group 300Serbian Pensioners Club “Branko Radicevic” Geelong 800Serbian Senior Citizens & Pensioners Club ‘Tzar Lazar’ Inc 1000Slovenian-Australian Social and Sports Association – St Albans Inc 600Smile Ulibka Inc 500South Eastern Yugoslav Pensioner Group Springvale and Dandenong 1200South Melbourne Greek Womens Club ‘Olympia’ 1000Spanish Speaking Elderly Group of North Melbourne 800Spanish Speaking Grandparents Club 800Spanish Speaking Group of Werribee for the Elderly & Pensionersfor the Elderly & Pensioners 800Spanish Speaking Senior Citizens Club of Clayton 1000Spanish Speaking Senior Citizens Group “Amigos de America” 400Spanish Speaking Senior Citizens of Broadmeadows and Districts 1000Springvale Indochinese Elderly Citizens’ Association Inc 2000

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Springvale Italian Senior Citizens Club 1400Sri Lankan Elders Welfare Association 1000St Albans Elderly Spanish Speaking Group 1000St Christophers Italian Pensioners Club 800St Eleftherios Greek Elderly and Invalid Pensioners Group Brunswick 1200St Francis Filipino Senior Citizens Club of Whittlesea 1000St Kilda Greek Senior Citizens Group 1000St Nikola Pensioner Social Club Inc 500Stonnington Chinese Association Inc 3200Stonnington Greek Senior Citizens Association ‘The Friendship Club’ Incorporated 1400Stonnington Italian Senior Citizens Club Inc 1200Sunshine – St Albans Indo-Chinese Elderly Group 2200Tamil Senior Citizens Fellowship Inc 2000The Argos District Australian Greek Senior Citizens Club of Kastoria Inc 1200The Italian Pension Club of Kingston Inc 600The Olympian Society Inc 1800The Western Suburbs Greek Elderly Citizens Club Inc 1200Thomastown East Greek Senior Citizens Club Inc 1400Thomastown East Italian Senior Citizens Club Inc 1400Thornbury Greek Senior Citizens Club 1600Turkish Senior Citizens Club-West Sunshine 1600Ukrainian Pensioner’s Club Geelong Inc 1000Ukrainian Senior Citizens Centre Ardeer Inc 1000Ukrainian Senior Citizens Club in Melbourne Inc 2400Ukrainian Social Club – St Albans 400Union of Christians from Constantinople Inc 1200Unione Nazionale Sottufficiali Italiani in Congedo 1000United Filipino Elderly Group 1000United Slavic Pensioner Group Footscray 1000Victorian Association of Ex-World War II Veterans of the Former Soviet Union 2600Vietnamese Chinese Elderly Association in the West Inc 3000Vietnamese Elderly Club in Footscray 1000Vietnamese Elderly Community Collingwood 1000Vizzini Social Club (Pensioners) 600Wangaratta Italian Pensioners Club 1200Waverley Chinese Senior Citizens Club 3600Welcome Senior Womens Group 1000Welfare Foundation of Elderly Chinese Association of Victoria Inc 2800Werribee Dutch Seniors Club 1000Werribee Friendship Club Inc 2000Werribee Macedonian Senior Citizens Club Inc 800West Sunshine Greek Elderly Club 1800Western Region Maltese Women’s Group Incorporated 700Whittlesea Maltese Senior Citizens Club Inc 1800Whittlesea Turkish Elderly and Pensioners Association Inc 1800Williamstown Italian Social Club Inc 1200Zacheta Polish Senior Citizens Club Inc 1000

TOTAL MULTICULTURAL SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS $620,200

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Appendix 5:VMC CommunityGrants Program –OrganisationalSupport Grants

ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS 2002-03

Acacia Indochinese Association Inc 600Action on Disability Within Ethnic Communities Inc 500Afghan Australian Association of Victoria Inc 1000Albanian Ladies Committee 500Albanian Moslem Society (Shepparton) Inc 900Anglo-Indian Australasian Association of Victoria Inc 1500Anzano Di Puglia Social Club Ltd 900Arabic Society of Victoria Inc 700Armenian General Benevolent Union – Victoria Inc 1000Armenian Relief Society Naytri Chapter Inc 700Association of Greek Elderly Citizen Clubs of Melbourne & Victoria 500Association of Ukrainians in Victoria 2600Association of Ukranians in Victoria – Geelong Branch 700Australia Ceylon Fellowship Inc 1500Australia-China Friendship Society – Geelong Branch 500Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association of Victoria Inc 1400Australian Western Thrace Turkish Women’s Association Inc 1400Australian Egyptian Association of Victoria 1000AGAPI Care Inc 2600Australian Greek Welfare Centre 1000Australian Irish Welfare Bureau Inc 1500ANCRI Werribee 1000Australian Lithuanian Community in Melbourne Executive 1500Australian Polish Community Services 1500Australian Romanian Community Welfare Health & Services Associationof Victoria Inc. 1700Serbian Social Services and Support Inc 1000Australian Turkish Association Inc 1500Melbourne French Theatre 500Australian Vovinam Viet Vo Dao Association 400Association of Ukrainians in Victoria – St Albans 1000Ballarat Italian Association Inc 500Banda Musicale Italiana “Vincenzo Bellini” Inc 1000Belarusian Social Club of Victoria 600Beskidy Youth Song and Dance Ensemble 500Cambodian Association of Victoria 1900Bengali Association of Victoria Inc 1500Bakarzala Charitable and Social Association Inc 1000Cambodian Chinese Friendship Association of Victoria 1200Cambodian Community Welfare Centre Inc 1300Centre for Philippine Concerns – Australia Inc 2200Eelam Tamil Association Victoria Inc 1000Chile Lindo Inc 600Chinese Community Social Services Centre Inc 1200Chinese Fellowship of Victoria Inc 1500Chinese Women’s Association of Victoria Inc 1000Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Womens Coalition Inc 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Haralambos” Templestowe, Women’s Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Haralambos” Templestowe, Youth Group 500Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne Ladies Group 600Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate Archangel Mikhail & St Anthony Church Inc 1800Communities Council on Ethnic Issues (Eastern Region) Inc 1500Council of Turkish Associations of Victoria 2200Croatian Catholic Welfare Association Inc 600Croatian Psychiatric Outreach Service of Victoria Inc 800Cyprus Greek Orthodox Community of “Apostolos Andreas” Sunshine 1200Darebin Ethnic Communities’ Council 500Dutch Australian Community Council Ltd 500Dutch Social Club Diamond Valley Inc 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Three Hierarchs” Clayton, Womens Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Three Hierarchs” Clayton, Youth Group 500Federation of Chinese Associations (Vic) Inc 2000Federation of Chinese Associations Senior Citizens Social Club 500Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria Inc 2500Federation of Macedonian Senior Citizens Groups of the Western Region Inc 1200Federazione Pensionati Italiani Del Victoria 1000

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Filipino Australian Association of Ballarat 800Filipino Australian Friendship Association of Geelong 600Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc 1000Finnish Society of Melbourne Inc 800Fitzroy Chinese Residents Association Inc 700Geelong Dutch Clubs Inc 1000Geelong Scottish Dance 600Geelong Irish Society Inc 600Gippsland Indian Association Inc 800International Women’s Group Inc 500Greek Community of Northcote, City of Darebin & Districts Inc 1000Greek Community of Springvale & Districts 800Greek Cypriot Parent & Youth Club Western Suburbs of Melbourne Inc. 1000Democritus League 800Youth Group of the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nectarios Fawkner 400Hellenic Orthodox Community of Geelong Inc 800Greek Orthodox Community of “St Paraskeve” St Albans 900Greek Orthodox Community of “St Paraskeve “ St Albans, Womens Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Trinity” Richmond, Women’s Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Holy Trinity” Richmond, Youth Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lord” Coburg, Womens Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Presentation of Our Lord”- Coburg Youth Group 400Greek Womens Club of Maryibynong Inc 500Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland 900Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin (Kingston) and Districts 1400Hmong Australia Society of Australia Inc 1500Hogar Espanol De Victoria 1200Hope Connection Inc 1200Indo-China Ethnic Chinese Association of Victoria Inc 1500Indo-Chinese Elderly Refugees Association – Victoria 2000Iranian Society of Victoria Inc 1500Islamic Council of Victoria 2500Italian Catholic Federation Shepparton 500Italian Catholic Federation Shepparton 500Italian Catholic Federation Morwell 600Sudanese Community Association of Victoria Inc 600Italian Services Advisory Council Inc 1000Italian Social Club Swan Hill Inc 1000Jewish Holocaust Centre Inc. 2500Klabb Ghannejja Maltin Inc 1000The Korean Society of Victoria Australia Inc 1500Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club Inc 800Lalor United Bocci and Social Club Inc 500Lao Australian Society Inc 500Lao Community of Victoria Inc 1500Lao Australian Welfare Association 1500Latin American Association of Community Development & Welfare Services 1500Le Belle Arti Inc 400Lithuanian Women’s Welfare Society in Melbourne 800Macedonian Australian Cultural Youth Association ‘Tanec’ Inc 700Macedonian Community Council of Shepparton and District Inc 1000Macedonian Community Welfare Association Inc. 1200K.U.D. ‘Aleksandar Makedonski’ III Pri Crkvata ‘Zlata Meglenska’ of Wyndham 500Maltese Community Council of Victoria Inc 3500International Women Writers & Artists Inc 500Moreland Turkish Educational and Social Affairs Centre Inc 1500Meadow Heights Turkish Women’s Association 1100Whittlesea Turkish Women’s Association Inc 600North Eastern Bocce Association Inc 500North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association Inc 1000Whitehorse Older Persons Action Group Inc 1000Pacific Island Council of Victoria Inc 400Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria ‘Leonidas’ Inc 2000Federation Panepirotic Union of Melbourne and Vic 500Polish Association of Kingsville and Ladies Auxilliary Inc 500Polish Community Council of Victoria Inc 2500Polish Siberyaks Association in Victoria 500

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Greek Orthodox Parish of “St George” Thormbury, Womens Group 400Russian Ethnic Representative Council of Victoria Inc 2800Russian House Cultural Advancement Society Inc 1500Savoy Ladies Recreation Group 500Circolo Sociale & Pensionati Italiani Bendigo & District Inc 500Serbian Orthodox Church & School Community St Stefan 600Serbian Sisters Group ‘Zene Mironosice’ 500Serbian Orthodox Dancing Group Sumadja 600Serbian Orthodox Choir ‘Kornelije Stankovic’ 400Serbian Sisters Circle “Mother Jugovic” 500Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria Inc 2500Shalom Association Inc 1500Shepparton Italian Social Club Inc 700Sindhi Association of Victoria 800Australian Slovenian Social and Sporting Association Melbourne Inc 1200Slovenian Australian Cultural & Sport Association Planica Springvale Inc 700Somali Digil & Mirifle Association in Australia Inc 1500Spanish Association of Geelong Inc 700Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre Inc ( CELAS) 2500Spanish Speaking Women’s Group North East Region 400Springvale Alevi Cultural Centre 600Springvale Indochinese Mutual Assistance Association Inc 2000Women’s Group of the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Andrews Forest Hill 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Andrew’s” Forest Hill, Youth Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Vasilios” Brunswick, Women’s Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Vasilios” Brunswick, Youth Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Catherine” East Malvern, Women’s Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Catherine” East Malvern, Youth Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Dimitrios” Ascot Vale, Womens Group 500Russian New Arrivals Club 800Victorian Maronite Community 600Sunraysia Ethnic Communities Council Inc 5000Sunshine Polish Charity Association Inc 400Karnavals Club The Swallows Geelong Inc 800Tarxien Social Club Inc 800Tatura Italian Women’s Group 400Tatura Italian Women’s Group 400Tatura Italian Social Club Inc 1000Tatura Italo Australian & Friends Inc 400New Zealand Maori Polynesian Welfare Support Group Inc Te Whanau Awhina 1000Ukrainian Youth Association Geelong Inc 400United Kingdom Settlers Association Inc 1300United Sri Lankan Muslim Association of Australia Inc 1200Victorian Arabic Social Services Inc 1700Victorian Association of Argos Orestiko & District Inc 900Victorian Croatian Cultural Charities Centre Inc 600Victorian Multi-Ethnic Slavic Welfare Association 1800Women’s Group “Wase Zene” Melbourne 500Vietnamese Parenting Support Group 500Vietnamese Student’s Association of Victoria 1400Vietnamese Welfare Resource Centre – Jesuit Social Services 2000Vlach Association of Australia (Aromaneasca Sosata) Inc 400West Sunshine Multicultural Senior Citizens Centre Inc 500Western Region Ethnic Communities Council Inc 800Whittlesea Northern Cyprus Turkish Women’s Group 700Vietnamese Women’s Association of North West Region Inc 1000Thessaloniki Association “The White Tower” Inc 1200Australian Croatian Women Association “Katarina Zrinski” 800Chabad House of Malvern/Toorak Inc 800Associazione Padovani Nel Mondo Inc 700Van-Lang Foundation Inc 400Society of Kalamata 23 March Brotherhood Inc 1500Social and Support Group Friends 500Argentinian Social Circle South East Melbourne INC 500Australian Croatian Social Club Mornington Peninsula Rye Inc 600Australian Slovenian Cultural & Sports Association ‘Ivan Cankar’ Geelong Inc 800Chinese Community Health Advisory of Australia Inc 1000Buddhist Council of Victoria Inc 1000

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Fiji Islamic & Cultural Society of Victoria Inc 1500Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre Deer Park 2000Greek Orthodox Community of Mildura & District 800Australian Kurdish Community Inc 1500Vietnamese Veterans Association of Victoria Inc 1400St Joseph’s Committee Inc 700F.I.D.C.A. Federazione Italiana Combattenti Alleati Melbourne 800Opera Nazionale Peri Caduti Senza Croce Inc 400The Australian Lebanese Association of Victoria Inc 2300Holistic Education Society Inc 400Sikh Welfare Council of Victoria Inc 1200Lady Mary Immaculate of Cobram & District 500Nepalese Association of Victoria Inc 1500Whittlesea Vietnamese Language Centre Inc 600United Association of Greek Orthodox Communities and Parishesof Melbourne and Victoria 500Maltese Bocce Social & Recreational Club Inc 400Albury Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council Migrant Resource Centre& Information Centre Inc 1000Reskeon Maltese Association Inc 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “Panagia Soumela” East Keilor, Womens Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “Panagia Soumela” East Keilor, Youth Group 400Greater Dandenong Community Health Services – Springvale Southern Health 400The Sri Lankan Study Centre for the Advancement of Technologyand Social Welfare (SCATS) 900Maronite Youth of Melbourne 1500Welfare Foundation of Elderly Chinese Association of Victoria Inc 1000Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Constantine and Helen” South Yarra, Womens Group 400Vietnamese Cultural Group of Brimbank 500Australian Arabic Women Community Group 600Russian Women’s Chamber Choir of Melbourne Inc 600Bairnsdale International Women’s Group 700Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Athanasios” Springvale, Womens Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Athanasios”, Springvale, Youth Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord” Lalor – ThomastownWomen’s Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord”, Lalor – Thomastown,Youth Group 400Jewish Cultural Centre & National Library Kadimah 1000Ghana Association of Victoria 500Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East 600Greek Orthodox Community of Shepparton & District 1300The Centre of Friendship (Melbourne) Inc 900Chinese Association of Geelong Inc 700Associazone Letteraria Italo Australiana Scrittori 500Hamerkaz Shelanu Inc 900Northcote Australian Greek Society Care of the Aged Inc 800Maharastra Mandal Victoria Inc 700Ayios Therapon Welfare Association Inc 900Islamic Society of Geelong 800Australian Macedonian Folk Dancing Association “Goce Delcev” Inc 400B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission Inc 2000Northern Federation of Ethnic Senior Citizens Clubs 2200Indian Subcontinental Cultural Association of North Eastern Region Inc 500Fiji Geelong Friendship Club Inc 600Australia Sri Lanka Welfare Guild Inc 1200Macedonian Women’s Social Club of Whittlesea Inc 500Westgate Indo-Chinese Community Association (WICCA) 400Vietnamese Young Mother’s Support Group 500Australian Iraqi Association Inc 3000Vietnamese Women’s Association in Broadmeadows Ind 560Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Nicholas” Yarraville, Womens Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Nicholas” Yarraville, Youth Group 400Bendigo Chinese Association Inc 500Victorian Romano Pralipe Association 1000“La Voz Femenina” Spanish Speaking Womens Group 500Uruguayan Social Club of Melbourne Inc 2000Afghanistan Study Centre (ASC) Inc 600

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Vietnamese Cultural Group 600Japan Club of Victoria 1200Family Support Group Northern Region 500Slavic Social Support Group Preston 500Australian Filipino Community of Northern Victoria & Southern Riverina Inc 1100Al-Sajad Association Inc 3000Tongan Pioneers Goulburn Valley Inc 500Maltese Community of Shepparton and District 500Goulburn Valley Chinese Fellowship Association Inc 700Al-Amen Iraqi Association Inc 3000Federazione Italiana Lavoratore Emigrate e Famigue (FILEF) 400New Zealand Maori Club of Victoria Taku Mana 1500Oromiyaa Cultural and Recreational Club 500Australian-Asian Association of Victoria Inc 1000Associazione Nazionale Famigue Delli Emigrati (ANFE) 700Tamil Australian Friendship Society Inc 500Kurdish Resource Centre of Victoria Inc 500Andalucian Dancing Group of Geelong 500Turkish Cypriot Elderly Womens Association Inc 500Circolo Filatelico Italiano 500Greek Pontian Community of Melbourne 1500Dar Alawdy Community Centre Inc 1000Serbian Parish Youth Club “Branko Radicevic” Geelong 500Philanthropic Society Nomo Kavalas Agios Silas 500Ukrainian Association Sunshine Inc 400Polish Sporting, Recreation and Community Association Inc 1000Pankoaki Brotherhood of Victoria “O Ippocrates” Association Inc 500Benevolent Brotherhood of Kolindros 500Logomua Fono Samoa Inc 500Australian Hainan Association Inc 1000Algethour Cultural Association Inc 500Maltese Association Northern Suburbs Inc 500Carrum Downs Serbian Women’s Ancillary Group 400St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church 500Doveton Public Hall Committee of Management 1000Saint Nicolaas Club of Greater Shepparton 400Australia-China Friendship Society Victoria Branch Inc 1000Baha’i Council For Victoria 1000Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (Australia) Ltd 600Sikh Society of Australia 1200Rethimnian Association of Melbourne 1000F.G Mladi Hrvati – Clifton Hill 600City of Ringwood Highland Pipe Band 400Bosnian Choir ‘Behar’ Inc 500National Union of Greek Australian Students 800Central Youth Committee Melbourne and Victoria of theGreek Orthodox Archdiocese 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “Axion Esti” Northcote, Womens Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St John the Baptist” Carlton, Women’s Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Raphael” Bentleigh, Youth Group 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Raphael” Bentleigh, Women’s Group 500Somali Inter-Riverine Community Development Association Inc 600Roxy Filipino Neigbourhood Association “Kapitbahayan” 500Pan Australian Federation of Thessalian Associations Inc 1000Maltese Social Bowls Club Inc 400ARVN Ranges Association of Victoria Inc 460Renaissance Drama Society 500Gippsland Ethnic Communities’ Council 5000Institute for Kurdish Studies in Australia 500Club Frecce Tricolori Victoria 500Macedonian Human Rights Committee for Melbourne and Victoria Inc 2500Hindu Society of Victoria (INC) 2500Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate St Virgin Mary Church 1400Hera Greek Ladies Club 500Australia Karen Organisation Inc AKO (Vic) 500Scots of Victoria Coordination Group 500The Vietnamese Community in Northern Melbourne Inc 600Australia Karen Youth Project 500

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Afghan Australia Philanthropic Association Inc. 600Heidelberg United Alexander Soccer Club Inc 500Werribee Sikh Community 500Fitzroy Chinese Women’s Group 500Cambodian Student Federation Inc 600Greek Orthodox Community of Monash and Districts Inc 800B’nai B’rith Unit Mitzvah 1000Hands For Hope Inc 700Women from Sudan Association 500Foochow Association of Victoria Inc 800Goulburn Valley Polish Association Inc. 500Greek Orthodox Parish and Community “Archangels” Mentone, Womens Group 400Greek Orthodox Parish and Community “Archangels” Mentone, Youth Group 400Pontiaki Estia Youth 500Greek Orthodox Parish of “St Eustathios” South Melbourne, Youth Group 400Pantrifilian Association of Melbourne and Victoria Inc 500Australian – Romanian Community Development Group Inc 600Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Services 500Islamic Girls and Women’s Group 500Hispanic Latin American Festival & Cultural Association 500Ukrainian Education Council of Australia 500Celtic Nations Inc 1000Goulburn Valley Turkish Islamic & Cultural Society 1000Greek Women’s Club of Northern Suburbs 600Ukrainian Arts and Culture 400League of Maniates and Friends of Melbourne and Victoria “I Mani” Inc 700Kainga Tuvalu Victoria Inc 50015/15 Film Festival Inc 600Christian Brothers – St Patricks Province 400Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre 4000Somali Media Network Inc 500Nuer Community in Victoria Inc 800Afghan Australia Community Social Sports Club Inc 600Bendigo Filipino Australian Association Inc 500Ballarat Irish Association Inc 500Melbourne Hebrew Congregation Inc 1000Nepal Australia Friendship Association (Vic) Inc 400Hellenic Women’s Federation of Victoria 500Greek Orthodox Community of Wangaratta Incorporated 700Maarefa Inc 400Eritrean Youth and Student Association in Victoria Inc 800Bangla Sahitya Sansad Inc 400Regioni D’Italia Bocce Association Inc 500Ethiopian Social Club Inc 800Serbian Orthodox Church Community “St Nicholas” 2000Drol Kar Buddhist Centre Inc 500The Pan Maniot Youth Union of Australia Inc 400Chios Brotherhood Korais of Melbourne and Victoria Ltd 1000Russian Cultural Youth Club Inc 400Cyrene Centre 500Welsh Society of Geelong Inc 500Robinvale Tongan Community Council Inc 400Union of Australian Women (Victorian Section) Inc 400Chinese Singing and Dance Troup of Melbourne Inc 500EM Viet Inc 400Polish Technical & Professional Association Inc 500The Victorian Road Accident Support Association Inc 2000Imvrians Society of Melbourne Inc 500Pansamian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victioria Pythagoras 500Novi Zivot (New Life) Inc. 500Multicultural Women’s Group 500Altona North Senior Citizens Centre Inc 1200Cambodian Buddhist Association of Victoria Inc 1000Women’s Group of the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nectarios Fawkner 500Al Howra Women’s Association 500Hmong Pahawh Institute of Australia Inc 1000

TOTAL ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS $356,320

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Appendix 6:VMC CommunityGrants –Partnership Grants

AMES funded a number ofpartnership projects, which wereselected from applications received bythe VMC. The AMES projects focusedon youth and collaborativeendeavours between AMES and theorganisations funded. TheCommission was pleased that AMESwas able to fund these importantprojects, the outcomes of which willbe of great benefit to thecommunities involved and thebroader Victorian community.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS 2002-03

Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN) Anti-Racism Program 20000Sudanese Women’s Group Project auspiced by the New Hope Foundation 20000Islamic Women’s Welfare African Handi Craft Productions 20000Eagle Hawk Secondary College Anti-Racism Education Program 10000

TOTAL PARTNERSHIP GRANTS $70,000

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APPENDIX 7:VMC CommunityGrants –New CommunityBuilding Program

COMMUNITY STRENGTHENING GRANTS 2002-03

Action on Disability Within Ethnic Communities Inc 10000Al-Amel TPV Holders Association 5000Albanian Australian Community Association Inc 10000Association for Children with a Disability Inc. 15000Asylum Seeker Project Hotham Mission 20000Australia Burma (Myanmar) Society Inc 5000Australian Council of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Organisations Inc 10000Australian Somali Society 5000Australian Somali Students Association Inc 10000Australian Southern Sudanese Support Group Inc 5000Australian Turkish Association Inc 5000Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council 15000Bendigo Regional Ethnic Communities Council 15000Centro Argentino De Victoria 4000City of Whitehorse 5000Colac Otway Shire 10000Community Relations Commission 10000Craig Family Centre 5000Eastern and Central African Communities of Victoria Inc 8000Eritrean Community in Australia 6000Ethiopian Community Association in Victoria Inc 6000Ethiopian Zion (Tsewon) Church 5000Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc 15000Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria Inc 12000Geelong Ethnic Communities Council Inc 15000Hamerkaz Shelanu Inc 8000Hararian Community Association Australia Inc 6000Imam Ali Islamic Centre Inc 9000Islamic Council of Victoria 20000Islamic Society of Victoria 10000Kurdish Association of Victoria 3800Kurdish Resource Centre of Victoria Inc 4000Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club Inc 4500Migrant Resource Centre Westgate Region Inc 10000New Zealand Maori Polynesian Welfare Support Group Inc Te Whanau Awhina 10000Oromo Community Association in Melbourne Inc 6000Pakenham Consolidated School 1900Palestinian Charity Association of Victoria Inc 2100Samoan Advisory Council of Victoria Inc 9600Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre Inc ( CELAS) 12000The Association of Hazaras in Victoria Inc 5000The Foster Grandparents Scheme (Victoria) Inc 5000The Victorian Road Accident Support Association Inc 5000Tigrian Community Association in Victoria 6000Timor Ethnic Chinese Community (Vic) Inc 3000Uruguayan Social Club of Melbourne Inc 4000Victorian Arabic Social Services Inc 7040Victorian Eritrean Community Association Inc. 6000Vietnamese Community in Australia – Victoria Chapter 15000

TOTAL COMMUNITY STRENGTHENING GRANTS $403,940

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Appendix 8:VMC CommunityGrants –New CommunityBuilding Program

MIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN SUPPORT GRANTS 2002-03

Albury-Wodonga Multicultural Resource Centre 3000Assyrian Chaldean Women’s Association 5000Australia Burma (Myanmar) Society Inc 4000Australian Croatian Community Services 10000Australian Croatian Women Association “Katarina Zrinski” 3000Australian Kurdish Community 3800Australian Romanian Community Welfare Health & Services Associationof Victoria Inc. 3000Australian Somali Society 4000Banksia Gardens Community Centre 5000Bint Al Huda Iraqi Women’s Organisation 7000Centacare Catholic Family Services 5000Digil & Rahweyn Women Association of Australia 4000Eritrean Community in Australia 4000Ethiopian Community Association in Victoria Inc 4000Federation of Indian Women’s Association of Australia (FIWAA) 7000Geelong Ethnic Communities Council Inc 7000Gippsland Migrant Resource Centre 8000Grampians Non-English Speaking Background Community Support Project 7000Hararian Community Association Australia Inc 4000Islamic Society of Victoria 10000Kurdish Women’s League of Australia 3800Lao Australian Welfare Association 10,000Migrant Resource Centre North East 7000National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Victoria) Inc 8000North West Employment Group Inc 10000Nuer Women’s Group 4000Olympic Adult Education 4000Palestinian Charity Association of Victoria Inc 4000Plenty Valley Community Health Services 7000Project Respect Inc 8000Russian Ethnic Representative Council of Victoria Inc 5000Russian Link Inc 4000Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria Inc 9000Sudanese Community Association of Victoria Inc 4000The Foster Grandparents Scheme (Victoria) Inc 5000Tigrian Community Association in Victoria 4000United Somali Women Organisation in Victoria 8000Victorian Eritrean Community Association Inc. 4000Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Womens Coalition Inc 15000Victorian Tamil Cultural Association 3000Wellsprings for Women 7000

TOTAL MIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN SUPPORT GRANTS $241,600

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Appendix 9:VMC CommunityGrants –New CommunityBuilding Program

COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS 2002-03

Armenian General Benevolent Union – Victoria Inc 7000Australian Arabic Council Inc 5000Darebin Ethnic Communities’ Council 20000Jose Gervasio Artigas Spanish Language School 7000CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association 20000Makor Jewish Community Library 7000North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association Inc 11000Polish Community Council of Victoria Inc 17000Sinhala Cultural & Community Services Foundation Inc 10000German Austrian Club Wodonga Inc 10000Federazione Italiana Lavoratore Emigrate e Famigue (FILEF) 10000Immigration Museum 20000Gippsland Migrant Resource Centre 22000City of Monash 22000Whitfield District Primary School 11000Simpson and District Community Centre 4950Association of German Speaking Communities (AGSC) 20000World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Womens Network 10500Heatherhill Secondary College 15000

TOTAL COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS $249,450

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Appendix 10:VMC CommunityGrants –Other Grants

The VMC provided a small number of grants for sponsorship of programs andactivities supporting and enhancing community structures. Limited funds werealso allocated to the Analysis of Local Governments’ Response to CulturalDiversity in Victoria project.

OTHER GRANT ALLOCATIONS 2002-03

Local Government Project 20000Sponsorships 57761

TOTAL OTHER GRANT ALLOCATIONS $77,761

GRAND TOTAL FOR ALL GRANTS 2002-03 $2,765,217

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Appendix 11:Victoria’s Awards for Excellencein MulticulturalAffairs AwardRecipients 2002

Individual Awards for Meritorious Service to the CommunityMr. Eddy Abraham, for services to the Mauritian community and multiculturalbroadcasting, in particular, for services to ethnic radio 3ZZ and 3ZZZ.Mr. Ali Abusalem, for services to the Arabic community in Victoria and journalism.Mr. Cemal Akdeniz, for services to the Turkish community, in particular, for work withthe Moreland Educational and Social Affairs Association.Mrs. Yuksel Akdeniz, for services to the Turkish community, in particular for voluntarywork with the Moreland Turkish Educational and Social Affairs Association.Mr. Dimitri Avgoulis, for services to migrants and refugees in the Hobsons Bay area ofMelbourne and voluntary work with the Westgate Migrant Resource Centre.Ms. Stella Axarlis AM, for services to Victoria’s multicultural community, in particular forvoluntary work in Women’s Affairs, Health and Language Services.Mr. Vincenzo Gartano Balestra, for services to the Italian community, in particular forvoluntary contributions to Italian Pensioner Associations in Victoria.Mr. Constantinos Baltas, for services to the Greek community, in particular for voluntarycontributions to the Oakleigh Greek Orthodox community.Mr. Lois Bartha, for services in the Hungarian community, in particular for voluntarycontributions with the Nunawading Hungarian Senior Citizen’s Club.Mr. Alojz Slavko, for services in the Slovenian community, in particular for long standingvoluntary contributions to the Slovenian Club.Mr. Anton Benjamin, for services to the Jewish community, in particular fir commitmentto the North Eastern Jewish War Memorial Centre, the B’nai Mitzvot and the JewishWelfare Society.Mr. Attilo Borzillo, for services to the Italian community, in particular for communitybroadcasting and the Tatura Kyabram Italian Social Clubs.Rev. George Branch, for services to the Russian community, in particular for voluntarywork with Russian refugees.Mrs. Valentia Brjozovsky, for services in the Russian community, in particular for workwith the Russian Theatrical Society and the Russian House Cultural Advancement Society.Mr. Zygmunt Bus, for services to the Polish community, in particular for voluntary workin Dandenong and the Polish Ex-Service Man’s Association.Mrs. Giovanna Busiello, for services in the Italian community, in particular for voluntarywork with the Italian Women in Shepparton.Fr. Julian Cavarzan, for services to the Italian community in particular for voluntary workwith the Domestic Savio and the Laura Vicuna Centre for Youth Activities and the DonBosco Pensioners Association.Mr. Fred Chuah, for services to the Chinese community, in particular for voluntary workwith the Chinese Community Social Services Centre of Box Hill.Mr. Bilal Cleland, for services to Victoria’s Muslim community, in particular for voluntarywork with the Islamic Council of Victoria.Mrs. Maria Damaskopoulos, for services to the Greek community, in particular forvoluntary work with the combined Greek Elderly Association of Victoria.Mr. Ibrahim Dellal, for services to the Turkish and Muslim communities in Victoria, inparticular for voluntary work in journalism, the Isik College and the Selimiye Foundation.Mrs. Sirarpi Sylvia, for services to the Armenian community in Victoria, in particular forvoluntary work with the Armenian Aginian School and Armenian Apostolic Church.Mrs. Mary Dingli, for services to the Maltese community, in particular for voluntary workwith the Maltese community of the south-eastern suburbs.Mr. Herbert Wellington Eliyathamby, for services to the multicultural community ofMoreland, in particular for voluntary work with the Brunswick Community Health Centreand the Moreland Ethnic Communities’ Council.Mrs. Aniceta Esmaquel, for services to the Filipino community in Victoria, in particularfor voluntary work with the Philippine Cultural Society for the Elderly.Mrs. Anna Fascio, for services to the Italian community, in particular for voluntary workwith the Latrobe Valley Italian Senior Citizens Association.Mr. Emilio Mario Fiorenza JP, for services to the Italian community in Shepparton, inparticular for voluntary work with the Italian Services Advisory Council.Mrs. Agata Formica, for services to the Italian community in Shepparton, in particular,for voluntary work with the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District.Mr. Christopher Gahan, for services to the multicultural community of Prahran, inparticular, for voluntary work with the Stonnington Ethnic Services Advisory Committee.

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Mr. Kangasabapathy Gopalakrishnan, for services to the Tamil community in Victoria,particularly for voluntary work with the Ceylon Tamil Association.Mr. Mehmet Gunes, for services to the Turkish community, in particular, for voluntarywork with the Moreland Turkish Educational and Social Affairs Centre.Mrs. Cigdem Gunes, for services to the Greek community, in particular, for voluntarywork with the Brunswick Turkish School and the Moreland Turkish Educational and SocialAffairs Centre.Mrs. Giovanna Li Volti Guzzardi, for services to the Italian community, in particular, forvoluntary work with the Keilor Italian Social Club and the “ALIAS” Literacy Association.Mr. Andreas Hagiliassis, for services to the Greek Cypriot Community in Melbourne.Mr. Mohamed Harun Abdullahi, for services to the Oromo community, in particular forvoluntary work with the Horn of Africa Community Association and Community RefugeeResettlement Scheme.The late Mrs. Wafaa Hassan, for services to the Arabic community, in particular, fordedicated, voluntary work with the Al Kamal Arabic School. The award was received byher husband, Mr. Farouk Hassan.Mrs. Eva Hopp, for services to the German community of Albury Wodonga, particularlyfor her voluntary work with the German Austrian Club of Wodonga.Mr. Chris Ioannou, for services to the Greek community in the Latrobe Valley, inparticular for voluntary work with the Greek Orthodox Community of Gippsland and theGippsland Migrant Resource Centre.Mr. Ange Kenos, for services to the Greek community, in particular for voluntary workwith the Moonee Valley Greek community.Mr. Martin Klaver, for services to the Dutch community, particularly for voluntary workwith the Senior Citizens and Dutch Radio, Radio Netherlands.Mr. Shaw Yu, for services to the Chinese community and for voluntary work with theMelbourne Confucius School.The late Mr. George Kostrevski, for services to migrants and refugees in Melbourne’snorth-western region, in particular for his services with the St Albans Migrant ResourceCentre. The award was received by his son, Mr. Peter Kostrevski.Mr. Attilio Lattanzio, for services to the Italian community, particularly for voluntarywork with the Victorian Association of Senior Citizens Clubs and the Morelandcommunity.Mr. James Hok Kan, for services to the Chinese community, particularly for voluntarywork with the Waverley Chinese Senior Citizens Association.Mrs. Angie Mai OAM, for services to the Chinese community, in particular for voluntarywork with the Western Suburbs Chinese Women’s Association.Mrs. Margaret Maru, for services to the Maori community in Victoria, in particular forvoluntary work with the Maori and Polynesian Welfare Support Services.Mr. Victor Mathew Matotek, for services to the multicultural community of Mildura,particularly for voluntary services to the Sunraysia Ethnic Communities’ Council and theOasis Aged Care facility.Dr. Olga Henrietta Mendis, for services to the Sri Lankan community, in particular forvoluntary work in foster care, care for senior citizens and public radio broadcastingon 3ZZZ.Mr. Dimitrios Michaloudis, for services to the Greek community, in particular, forvoluntary work with the Philanthropic Society Nomou Kavalas “Agios Silas”.Mr. Tony Minutoli, for services to the Italian community of Tatur, in particular forvoluntary work with the Tatura Italian Social Club and the Rotary Club of Tatura.Mr. Gregory Mitas, for services to the Greek Cypriot community in Brimbank,particularly for voluntary work in cultural activities and the Cyprus Greek communityApostolos Andreas.The late Rev. Nicholas Moutafis, for pioneering efforts to establish and develop the StAnargiri Oakleigh Greek Orthodox community and the Oakleigh Greek Orthodox College.The award was received by his wife, Mrs. Evangelia Moutafis.Mr. Wickiramasingham Nagamuthu Ramalingam, for services to the Tamil communityin Victoria, in particular, for voluntary work with the Tamil Refugee Resettlement Groupand Victorian Tamil Cultural School.Mrs. Lidia Gladys Novoa, for services to the Spanish speaking community in Victoriaand for voluntary work with the Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre (CELAS).Mrs. Maria Oppelt Oppelli, for services to the Slovenian community in Victoria, inparticular for voluntary work with the Slovenian Community and Cultural Centre.

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Mrs. Demetra Papaioannou, for services to the Greek community and for voluntarywork with the Ladies Auxiliary of St Andrews Parish and Greek Seniors Club.Mr. Nicholas Patiniotis, for services to the Greek community, in particular for voluntarywork with the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria.Mrs. Ana De Cima Pereira, for services to the Portuguese community in Melbourne,particularly for voluntary work with the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Melbourne.Mr. Juan H Perez, for services to the Spanish speaking community, in particular for workwith the Chilean community through the Chilean Foundation.Mr. Antonio Rossi, for services to the Italian community, particularly for voluntary workwith the Associazonne Penzionati Laziazi Di Monash.The Hon. Giovanni Sgro, for services to the multicultural Victorian community,particularly the Italian community and the Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and theirFamilies (FILEF).Mr. Costa Socrotous, for services to the Cyprus Greek Orthodox Community ofApostolos Andreas of Sunshine and for voluntary work in the Sunshine area.Mrs. Fely Spikers, for services to the Filipino Community in Geelong, in particular, forvoluntary work with the Filipino Australian Friendship Association.Mr. Mile Stojanovoski, for services to the Macedonian Community in Geelong, inparticular, for voluntary work with the Macedonian Senior Citizens Association.Mrs. Rimma Sverdlin, for services to the Russian Jewish community in Victoria,particularly for voluntary work with the Shalom Association.Mr. Nhuong Dac Thai, for services to the Vietnamese community, in particular, forvoluntary work in Vietnamese language education.Mrs. Koula Tsakanias, for services to the Greek community, in particular, for voluntarywork with Greek women living on the Mornington Penninsula.Mr. Mike Zafiropoulos, for services to Victoria’s multicultural community, in particular,for voluntary work in Fitzroy and with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria.Mr. Eugene Zubryn, for services to the Russian community in Melbourne, in particularfor voluntary work with Russian Scouts, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the RussianEthnic Representative Council.

Awards for Meritorious Service in the Community –Organisational Awards

Afghan Khodaye Khedmat GarranEstablished in 1982, the Afghan Khodaye Khedmat Garran Association has provided animportant and vital medium for Afghan migrants and refugees in Victoria.

Al Kamal Arabic SchoolThe Al Kamal Arabic School has played a vital role in the maintenance of Arabic cultureand language in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. The teaching conducted at theschool has all been provided on a voluntary basis since 1982.

Armenian Aginian Saturday SchoolEstablished in 1968, this small but important ethnic school has provided the MelbourneArmenian community with the vital opportunity to maintaining the Armenian language,heritage and culture in Victoria.

Australian Turkish Cultural Association IncEstablished in 1971, the Australian Turkish Cultural Association has played an importantand vital role in the Turkish community in Victoria. It has provided important socialwelfare services to the Turkish community.

Australian Vietnamese Women’s Welfare AssociationEstablished in 1982, the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Welfare Association hasprovided a vital role in Victoria’s Vietnamese Community. It has also provided a range ofwelfare, social and education services to Vietnamese women in Victoria.

Bendigo Chinese Association IncThe Bendigo Chinese Association has been an important link to the history andcommunity of Bendigo since the 1850s. Through the voluntary contribution of itsmembers, it established the Golden Dragon Museum and plays an integral role annuallyin Bendigo’s Easter Parade.

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Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District IncEstablished in 1978, this regional ethnic communities’ council has played a vital andimportant role in the Hume Region of Victoria.

Golden Dragon MuseumThe Golden Dragon Museum has played a vital role in preserving the heritage of theChinese community in Bendigo. Self funded and managed by volunteers, it contains theoldest and largest imperial dragon, along with other accompanying regalia. The Museumhas enhanced the understanding and appreciation of Chinese heritage and culture in Australia.

Greek Orthodox Community of Clayton LtdEstablished in 1972, the Greek Orthodox Community of Clayton has played an importantrole in the maintenance of Greek culture and heritage for the Greek Community inClayton.

Il Globo Italian NewspaperEstablished in 1959, the Il Globo Italian Newspaper has played an outstanding, importantand vital role within the Italian Community in Victoria.

Indian VoiceCommended highly for its articulation of views of the Indian Community in Victoria, theIndian Voice is regarded as providing an excellent service to Victoria’s multiculturalcommunity.

Jewish Holocaust MuseumEstablished in the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis andtheir collaborators, this important museum and research centre is Victoria’s finestmemorial to victims of racist policies.

Menorah MagazineCompiled in Victoria by volunteers, the Menorah Magazine has played a vital andimportant role in informing new Russian immigrants of settlement information, news andevents in Victoria.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade – Culturally and Linguistically Diverse CommunityConsultation ProjectAcross the Melbourne Metropolitan Region the MFB has provided essential services to thepeople of Victoria. Their access and equity policy is worthy of receiving a meritoriousservice award.

Multicultural Aged Care Services GeelongThis first multicultural aged care service in Geelong has played an important role inproviding assistance and care for elderly migrants in the Geelong area.

Oakleigh Soccer ClubEstablished in 1972, the Oakleigh Soccer Club has been an integral sporting and sociallink for the Greek Community in Oakleigh. It boasts 222 players and has a senior’s andreserve’s team, as well as a veterans and 7 junior teams, a wheelchair team and awomen’s team. It has provided a longstanding and successful contribution to the Greekand wider community in Oakleigh.

Philippine Cultural Society for Elders IncFounded in 1985 the Philippine Cultural Society for Elders has played an important andvital role for elders in the Filipino community of Victoria.

Russian Ethnic Representative Council of VictoriaEstablished in 1981, the Russian Ethnic Representative Council has provided vital andimportant services to Russian migrants in Victoria. It is regarded as the Russiancommunity’s peak body.

The Chinese Women’s Association of Victoria IncBeing the first Chinese Women’s Support Group in Victoria the Association has played avital role in providing support programs to Chinese Women.

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Premier’s Award for Community Harmony – Individual Award

Mr. Graeme YarwoodMr Yarwood, as Managing Director of GTV9 Melbourne, approved and personallysupported the airing of a message promoting Tolerance of Diversity and CommunityUnity from December 2001 through to September 2002.The station supported the consistent and sustained airing of this message – a 30 secondTV Commercial – during prime time across metropolitan Melbourne, without any form of payment. The messages have received strong public support and praise, although GTV9 has notsought to derive any form of benefit from this community spirited act. Whilst other networks also made generous contributions, GTV9 provided more thandouble the combined total of all the other Melbourne networks.

Premier’s Award for Community Harmony – Organisational Awards

Melbourne Magistrates Court of Victoria – Building Bridges InitiativeFor responding to the needs of Victoria’s culturally diverse communities, with a specificemphasis on the Horn of Africa community. Through the provision of specific support,training and recreational programs, such as On Side Soccer.

Moira Shire – “A Country Welcome”For the “A Country Welcome” program, which has used a community partnershipapproach to enhance the access to services for newly arrived refugees living in the MoiraShire. The program focused on three key priorities Language Acquisition, CulturalAwareness and Employment/Education opportunities.

Business Corporate Award

Newton Wayman ChongNewton Wayman Chong is a social and marketing research company established in 1993,and now employs over 120 staff, from 31 different countries. As one of its core activities,NWC conducts telephone surveys centrally from Melbourne into 31 countries around theworld. It also conducts a considerable number of interviews in languages other thanEnglish for its Australian based clients. In 2002, NWC launched a new division – NWCCultural Connections – which focuses on helping Australian organisations betterunderstand their multicultural markets, stakeholders, target audiences and customers.NWC has been able to utilise Melbourne's wealth of cultures to recruit employees whohave the necessary language and knowledge skills to develop a significant exportcomponent to its research business. As most of these employees are recent arrivals, andworking for the first time in Australia, NWC offers on-the-job training. A number ofemployees have gone on to other careers with their work experience at NWCcontributing to their skills.

Individual Award for Service Delivery to the Multicultural Community

Ms. Elleni Bereded – EducationMs Bereded has contributed significantly to the development of educational andcommunity responses to the needs of settlers from the Horn of Africa. Promotingcommunity participation, Ms Bereded has developed the African Story telling Project, aDevelopment and Reproductive Rights course, and has developed a Bridging Pathwayscourse for persons undertaking community service courses at TAFE.

Mr. Lee Christofis – ArtsMr Christofis designed and delivered the Multicultural Arts Marketing AmbassadorsStrategy (MAMAS), contributing significantly to cultural diversity in a number of Victoria’skey arts organisations. Due to the success of the Victorian strategy, the Australian Councilhas encouraged Mr Christofis to develop a national MAMAS model to be presented inother States and Territories.

Dr. Lalith Gunasekera – Natural ResourcesDr Gunasekera has worked extensively with the Sri Lankan community to ensure theeradication of the alligator weed from Victoria. Dr Gunasekera educated the communityabout the detrimental effects of the weed, and assisted people in finding alternativeplants for activation in Victoria. He has therefore achieved a successful communitygovernment partnership.

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Ms. Wendy Samulenok – Aged CareFor the past 12 years, Ms Samulenok has successfully assisted organisations to establishtelelink services for Victoria’s multicultural community, enabling them to monitor thewell-being of group members and encourage social and peer support.

Mr. Robert Shlimak – ArtsMr Shlimak has successfully promoted the arts and culture of the Russian migrants inVictoria. Some of Mr Shlimak’s achievements include his contribution to the CDDocumentary “Making Multicultural Australia” and the Club Muse Association.

Awards for Service Delivery to Multicultural Community –Organisational Awards

3ZZZ Melbourne Ethnic Radio – Community RadioBeing the first ethnic community broadcaster in Victoria, 3ZZZ (formerly 3ZZ) has beenresponsible for providing an independent alternative public voice for ethnic communitiesin Victoria. 3ZZZ is a vibrant multicultural institution, providing 24 hour ethnicbroadcasting in 45 languages to Melbourne, Geelong, Macedon and parts of Gippsland.

Australian Red Cross Asylum Seekers Assistance Scheme – Humanitarian ServicesThe Australian Red Cross has successfully delivered the Asylum Seekers AssistanceScheme, providing casework services and financial assistance to asylum seekers living inthe Victorian community. The Red Cross has invested years of professional work andcommitment to alleviate the suffering experienced by asylum seekers in Victoria.

Carlton Parkville Youth Services – Youth ServicesCarlton Parkville Youth Services has successfully assisted young migrants and refugeesand their families to settle in the Victorian community. More recently, the Services’African Program has assisted young Horn of Africa communities to develop life, conflictresolution and leadership skills, to participate in work experience and to generatecommunity awareness.

Centre for Community Child Health and Safety Centre – HealthThe Centre developed a program targeting injury prevention training and initiatinga small grants projects for peer educators working with CALD communities.Professional participation ensured successful program implementation, benefiting peereducators and CALD communities, and improving health providers’ responses to injuryprevention strategies.

Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues – YouthThe Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues has played a longstanding and integral role inadvocating for and promoting the needs of young migrants and refugees in Victoria.

City of Darebin – Local GovernmentThe Darebin City Council has developed multicultural resources, including the video “We Speak Your Language”, and the “Multicultural Resource Directory 2002-03”. The Council has embedded responsiveness to diversity into the core of its Counciloperations, ensuring that cultural diversity is considered as an essential part of the Whole of Council approach to serving the community.

Country Fire Authority Fired Up English Program – Emergency ServicesThe CFA has successfully developed an education package on fire safety for ‘English as aSecond Language’ students to raise community fire safety awareness for both newlyarrived and established multicultural communities in Victoria.

Housing for the Aged Action Group Inc – Aged CareThe Housing for the Aged Action Group has successfully provided culturally appropriateservices by producing language specific written and verbal information to multiculturalcommunities. It has encouraged aged persons of non-English speaking backgrounds toparticipate in consultative processes to improve service delivery.

Immigration Museum – HeritageThe Immigration Museum has successfully explored the history of immigration in Victoria.It has preserved cultural heritage, and promotes Victoria’s cultural diversity. Culturalfestivals and exhibitions held throughout the year provide museum visitors with theopportunity to learn about and sample specific cultures.

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Kensington Community Recreation Centre (YMCA) – Community ServiceThe Kensington Community Recreation Centre is utilised primarily by CALD communities,newly arrived refugees and migrants who reside in surrounding public housing estates.Projects undertaken by the Centre include the Horn of Africa Education and RecreationProgram. The Centre delivers quality and purposeful services, enhancing the localmulticultural community in Kensington.

North Yarra Community Health Community Liason Committee – HealthThis important committee has developed diverse projects such as the development of aninformational centre, a newsletter, a consumer and provider partnership project. Thepurpose of the Committee is to improve service delivery for over 17 diverse communities,including Afghani, Iranian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Maltese communities in the City of Yarra.

Overseas Qualification Unit Department of Innovation, Industry andRegional Development – EmploymentThe Overseas Qualification Unit has played an important and integral role in thesuccessful settlement of migrants and refugees to the Victorian Community. The Unit hasalso sought to advocate on issues affecting the settlement of skilled migrants in Victoria.

Refugee and Immigrant Legal Centre – Legal ServicesThe Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre has provided free legal advice and advocatedon behalf of asylum seekers for the past 12 years. Run mainly by volunteers it has alsoprovided professional training through Migration Agents Accreditation courses. TheCentre also represents asylum seekers in detention centres.

Wonthaggi Business and Tourism Association Inc – Regional Development and TourismThe Wonthaggi Business & Tourism Association has successfully worked to promoteWonthaggi to the Victorian community, while nurturing the community spirit within thetown. An annual Italian Festa has been established by the Association, uniting thecommunity, and successfully promoting the recognition of the Italian and English migrantheritage of the area.

Working Women’s Health Inc – HealthThe Working Women’s Health Centre has provided quality multilingual healthinformation to immigrant women around Victoria and women in Victoria’s prisons. TheWorking Women’s Health Centre has also operated a multilingual library and resourceservices available to service users, and provided cross-cultural training to healthprofessionals.

Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Award –Individual Award

Mr. Frank CreanFollowing his distinguished service as a Victorian State Government Parliamentarian andthen as a Federal Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1977, as the Federal Treasurerfrom1972 to 1974 and as the Trade Minister and Deputy Prime Minister between 1974and 1975, Mr Frank Crean was appointed as the Inaugural Chairman of the PrahranMigrant Resource Centre in 1980. He has served with distinction as Chairman of the Centre for the past 21 years, ensuringstable leadership and a substantive expansion of programs and services for newly arrivedmigrants and refugees in the Southern Melbourne metropolitan region. Given hisprofessional career and his wide experience, his long-standing, honourable anddedicated voluntary service to Victoria’s multicultural community is highly exemplary.

Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Award –Organisational Award

Victoria Police – Multicultural Advisory UnitEstablished by the Victoria Police in 1982, the Advisory Unit has become the conduit forsuccessful ethnic community and police relations for the past 20 years. It has become themodel for other police jurisdictions, enabling police to effectively provide policing servicesin Victoria’s multicultural society. The unit’s leadership and work following the events of11 September 2001 deserve praise and recognition.

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Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Awards – YoungPersons Awards

Mr. Michael Chuti ApoutMichael is considered an outstanding young person. He came to Australia from Sudan in1997. As a founding member of the new Sudan Youth Association of Australia he isinvolved in various aspects of community work. He is currently undertaking a legal studiesArts Degree at Victoria University and hopes to continue assisting refugees in the future.

Ms. Thao PhamThao is considered an outstanding young person. She is sixteen years old and is studyingYear 11 at Maribyrnong Secondary College. She is involved in various communityorganisations, such as the WYPIN Youth Committee of Management and is also thePresident of the Maribyrnong Secondary College Student Representative Council.

Victorian Multicultural Commission Print Media Award

Shepparton NewsFor providing balanced and timely reporting of community affairs and for sharing theexperience with the wider community of the struggles and successes of migrants andrefugees in the Hume Region.

Police and Community Multicultural Advisory CommitteeAwards (PACMAC)

Police Multicultural Award 2002

Chief Inspector John WintherThis award is presented to a Police Officer with an outstanding record in policing in aculturally diverse community and for their positive contribution towards enhancement ofunderstanding and trust between Police and ethnic communities. Currently Officer inCharge of the Industrial Disputation/Prisoner Management Unit, the recipient has forover a decade co-chaired the Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committeeand though it contributed to many initiatives which have led to an increasedimprovement in the relations between Victoria Police and Victoria’s multiculturalcommunities.

Police Multicultural Media Award 2002Sponsored by SBS Radio and Television

Constable Ali GurdagThis award is presented to a Police Officer who has promoted policing issues to Victoria’smulticultural communities through effective communication strategies utilisingmulticultural outlets. Currently Multicultural Liaison Officer, Police Region 3, the recipienthas demonstrated a strong commitment to effective policing in a culturally diverseVictoria through culturally responsive communication strategies. The recipient has, overthe preceding twelve months, consistently and methodically utilised ethnic media outletsto inform and educate linguistically diverse communities on the role and mission ofVictoria Police.

Multicultural Probationary Constable’s award 2002Sponsored by the Bank of Cyprus

Constable Markus Gerd KochThis award is presented to a Probationary Constable from a culturally and linguisticallydiverse background whom achieved academic excellence in recruit training, served as apolice recruit during the calendar year immediately preceding the award and sustainedexcellence in operational policing as a Probationary Constable. Constable Koch and hisparents were born in Germany. Currently stationed at Melton Police Station, the recipientwas selected from a broad field of members with overall academic and operationalperformance of the highest standard. The recipient was deemed to be the best achieverand most promising Probationary Constable during the preceding twelve months.

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