Refugee and Settlement Help – Coronavirus ~ Covid-19

Services Australia has developed translated ‘Skip the queue appointments’ posters for customers in 21 languages. 

Medical experts in Australia now recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged under 60. Previous medical advice was the Pfizer vaccine was preferred for adults aged under 50. This advice is now available in 63 languages.

An enthusiastic team of translators, who speak 11 languages between them, are working to ensure the Goulburn Valley’s diverse community has access to accurate, detailed information when visiting Shepparton’s McIntosh Centre for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Refugee Week provides a platform where positive images of refugees can be promoted in order to create a culture of welcome throughout the country. The ultimate aim of the celebration is to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia.

SBS and Services Australia have put together a series of broadcasts in different languages about the Disability Support Pension.

The Victorian Government has launched a new round of grants for eligible small to medium businesses, including employing and non-employing businesses impacted by the recent restrictions in Victoria. Program content is translated into Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese.

Latifa Haidary was working as a security guard at a regional Victorian COVID-19 vaccination hub when an elderly Afghan man walked in. Approaching staff members with a bewildered look on his face, he began asking a stream of questions in Hazaragi. But no-one could understand him until Ms Haidary, 22, stepped in and addressed him in the language. “I said, ‘Sir, do you know if you can fill in a form or not?'” Ms Haidary said.

The Migration Council Australia, the auspicing body for SETS CoP, is seeking expressions of interest from migrant and refugee women, including from new and emerging communities, in Victoria to participate in the inaugural Women’s Leadership Program on COVID-19 prevention in multicultural communities in Victoria. Expressions of Interest from women in Regional Victoria are invited and due in by end of business on Monday 28 June 2021.

The Mental Health Foundation Australia will deliver an online webinar addressing multicultural issues in educating and supporting Italian communities on 1 July from 1:00 – 2pm. This webinar will be a 30-minute presentation followed by a 15 minute Q & A session. Registration is free.

The Goulburn Family Violence Executive are delighted to offer a series of monthly community information sessions about family violence.  This month the Family Violence Implementation Monitor’s team will speak about their recent annual report reflecting on the reform and its achievements and challenges.

An expanded refugee team of 29 athletes competing across 12 sports at next month’s Tokyo Games will provide hope and inspiration to the world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council in collaboration with La Trobe University’s Migration, Mobilities and Multiculturalism Research Cluster will host ‘Migration and Employment in Regional Victoria’ at the La Trobe University, Mildura Campus on Friday, August 13. A Zoom attendance is also available.

The International Olympics Committee on Tuesday unveiled the refugee team of 29 athletes that will participate in the Tokyo Olympics next month.

Committee President Thomas Bach made the announcement during a virtual ceremony, saying he “can’t wait to see” them compete.

“When you, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and the athletes from the National Olympic Committees from all over the globe, finally come together in Tokyo on July 23, it will send a powerful message of solidarity, resilience and hope to the world,” Bach said. “You are an integral part of our Olympic community, and we welcome you with open arms.”

The Victorian Multicultural Commission, in partnership with the Department of Health, will host an open community forum for multicultural, multifaith and business leaders.  This will be a standing information session where Department of Health officials will speak on the current outbreak, open the floor for community feedback and share information that will support community members through this latest outbreak.

On June 18, 2021, Gary Ferguson from Seniors Rights Victoria will be hosting a FREE seniors forum, ‘Protecting Your Rights’, at the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre. This forum will run from 10am – 11:30am. A light morning tea will be provided and ALL are welcome!

We commemorate ANZAC day here at the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, and ask our fellow Australians – and settlers in this region from all walks of life – to recognise the loss Australia felt and remember those who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations, from all faiths and cultural backgrounds. It’s an important time to remember the human cost of conflict. May we all be worthy of their sacrifice. On this day, Lest we forget.

The Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) Home at Last model has a pilot project in the Goulburn region based in Shepparton. This is an ideal position for a person who is conversant with the Cultural and Linguisticaly Diverse (CALD) community in Shepparton. A Regional Housing Support Worker – Shepparton position is available, part time. Job Vacancy closes on 21 June 2021.

The Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) Home at Last model has a pilot project in the Goulburn region based in Shepparton. A Community Engagement Support Worker position is available. This is an ideal position for a person who is conversant with the Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community in Shepparton. Job Vacancy closes on 21 June 2021.