Pandemic Response and Multicultural Communities in the Greater Shepparton Area. – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc. in collaboration with La Trobe University is holding an online Symposium on ‘Pandemic Response and Multicultural Communities in the Greater Shepparton area’ on Thursday 3rd of March 2022 from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.

This online symposium is funded and supported by the Multicultural Affairs – Fairer Victoria Unit of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The objective of this Symposium is to share the Goulburn Valley region’s successful response to COVID 19 pandemic with the rest of the state reflecting on the challenges, achievements and lessons and things that could be done better in relation to Pandemic response and multicultural communities in the Shepparton area.

Victoria’s multicultural communities have been dealing with unique challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially CALD communities in regional areas.

In August 2021, Goulburn Valley region (Greater Shepparton area) found itself at the centre of the most significant COVID 19 outbreak in Regional Victoria and one third of the Greater Shepparton’s population – over 22,000 people – were in isolation.

Greater Shepparton has a demographic profile unique for a provincial Australian city and providing appropriate COVID information preferably in first language has been challenging. This includes the ability to access vaccine status information, which for some in our multicultural communities has proven to be difficult. During lockdown emergency food relief not being culturally appropriate for all was a challenge. However, agencies have worked hard to rectify the problem.

In broad terms our diverse multicultural communities have responded brilliantly to campaigns to encourage both testing and vaccination despite some official concerns that they would be vaccine hesitant. The fact that all the government agencies, community organisations and community leaders work in collaboration was an important part of the successful response.

This online (Zoom) symposium will share the Goulburn Valley region’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of the state, reflecting on the achievements, lessons, and things that could be done better in relation to pandemic response and multicultural communities in regional areas.

Chaired by Anthony Moran (La Trobe University and a member of the University’s Migration and Multiculturalism Research Cluster), we will be joined by the following panellists:

Vivienne Nguyen – Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission

David Booth – COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordinator, Greater Shepparton City Council

Chris Hazelman – Manager, Ethnic Council of Shepparton & District

Fatima Al-Qarakchy – Case Manager, Uniting Care Shepparton

Julyan Howard – (Former) Operational Director Local Public Health Unit, Goulburn Valley Health

This symposium is organised and hosted by the Ethnic Council of Shepparton & District in collaboration with La Trobe University, and funded by the Victorian Government.

Event Details

Program: Pandemic Response and Multicultural Communities in Greater Shepparton
Date: 3 March 2022
Time: 10:00-12:00
Cost: Free
Location: Online, using Zoom
Register: Online at Eventbrite

Pandemic Response and Multicultural Communities in the Greater Shepparton Area.

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.