This morning I participated in a teleconference with multicultural community leaders in Australia that was addressed by Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs and the Hon Jason Wood MP, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural organised by Australian Department of Home Affairs with Multicultural Community leaders from across Australia. Few hundreds of community leaders attended, including FECCA Chair Mary Patetsos, Hass Dellal, CEO, Australian Multicultural Foundation and many others leaders across Australia.

Prime Minister and Ministers responded to questions dealing with development of vaccine for COVID-19, return of international students to Australia, a range of budget issues including lowering of taxation and support for small business, return to previous migration levels as well as access to free English language tuition by all those who need it, including fiancés arriving in Australia on temporary visas. It was interesting to learn that only 11% of people in Australia with no English language are in employment.
Great initiative. Congratulations Minister Tudge for hosting it.

Teleconference – Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia

Teleconference – Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs

Teleconference

In my role as chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, I provided a public submission (attached below) to the Inquiry titled “Issues facing diaspora communities in Australia” conducted by the Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are as follows:

“To inquire into and report on: Issues facing diaspora communities in Australia, with particular reference to:
a. support offered to diaspora community associations and similar organisations, including government grants and other funding;
b. safety concerns among diaspora communities, and means for strengthening the protection and resilience of vulnerable groups;
c. barriers to the full participation of diaspora communities in Australia’s democratic and social institutions, and mechanisms for addressing these barriers;
d. opportunities to strengthen communication and partnerships between government and diaspora communities in Australia; and e. any related matters

On 15 October 2020 I appeared as a witness at the public hearing via teleconference. The following members were in attendance: Senators Abetz, Ayres, Fierravanti-Wells, Kitching, Rice.
Both the written submission and INTERNET Hansard transcripts of public hearings are made available on the internet when authorised by the committee. To search the parliamentary database, go to: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au SENATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE REFERENCES COMMITTEE Thursday, 15 October 2020.
An uncorrected proof of evidence taken before the committee on 15 October 2020 could be found at: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/commsen/21e30a2e-a371-4dec-ab3f-b8bb44200019/toc_pdf/Foreign%20Affairs,%20Defence%20and%20Trade%20References%20Committee_2020_10_15_8200.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/commsen/21e30a2e-a371-4dec-ab3f-b8bb44200019/0000%22

2020-07-28 Submission to Inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities

On Tuesday 20 October 2020 I will be participating in the Multicultural Mental Health Forum. Each each speaker will discuss multicultural mental health (barriers, what is working, what is not, how we can make a difference etc.) in their respective states. I, as the Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, will speak about multicultural mental health in Australia as a whole and how it tackles mental health in multicultural communities.

DRAFT AGENDA:
12:45 pm Allow attendees to be admitted into the webinar
1:00 pm MC, Hayriye Uluca – Welcome to country, and Welcome all for attending today’s event
1:05 pm Hayriye Uluca to introduce Mr Huss Mustafa OAM
1:06 pm Welcome on behalf of MHFA – Mr Huss Mustafa OAM, Secretary MHFA
1:10 pm MHFA Video—Our Journey
1:12 pm Address by Australian Unity: Ms Nancy Huang—Chief Medical Advisor IAL
1:22 pm MC to welcome Keynote Speaker—Prof. Harry Minas
1:24 pm Keynote Address by Prof. Harry Minas
1:29 pm MC to welcome Prof. Sev Ozdowski AM
1:31 pm Address by Prof. Sev Ozdowski AM
1:36 pm MC to welcome Ms Vivienne Nguyen
1:38 pm Address by Ms Vivienne Nguyen
1:43 pm MC to welcome Dr Kirk Zwangobani
1:45 pm Address by Dr Kirk Zwangobani
1:50 pm MC to welcome Dr Edwin Lourdes Joseph
1:52 pm Address by Dr Edwin Lourdes Joseph
1:57 pm MC to announce Panel Discussion
1:58 pm Commencement of Panel (Hayriye Uluca, Huseyin (Huss) Mustafa OAM, Vivienne Nguyen, Harry Minas,
Professor Sev Ozdowski AM, Sonia Di Mezza and @Edwin Lourdes Joseph) + Q & A from Audience
2:28 pm Vote of thanks and presentation of pens by MC to speakers and panellists
2:30 pm Close of Event

Registration link:
https://lnkd.in/gPr2ei8