Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that a report on underpayment of migrant workers raised matters of deep concern.

The report Wage Theft In Silence: Why Migrant Workers Do Not Recover Their Unpaid Wages in Australia, follows a survey of 4,322 international students, backpackers and other temporary migrant workers.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “This report finds that almost a third of these workers earned $12 an hour or less, about half the casual minimum wage.

“It is deeply concerning that so few of these workers took action to claim their correct wages, despite knowing that they were being underpaid. Employers need to step up and do the right thing.”

The report indicates that a quarter of the workers surveyed fear their immigration status would be impacted if they took action to reclaim wages and many believed they would not be successful in doing so.

“FECCA believes there needs to be a better process for wage recovery, stronger support services and a guarantee that a worker’s visa will not be put at risk for reporting wage theft,” Ms Patetsos said.

“It is unacceptable that people know they are being underpaid but are afraid to report it.”

The Wage Theft in Silence report was authored by senior law lecturers Bassina Farbenblum, from the University of New South Wales, and Laurie Berg, from the University of Technology Sydney.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed a commitment by the Federal Opposition, announced today, to a $32 million increase in funding for the teaching of Asian languages.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “This increase in resources for Asian language teaching is an important step in improving the quality and scope of language education and FECCA applauds the initiative.

“FECCA also believes that Australia should make the most of the educational resources made available via the huge numbers of people in Australia who are already multilingual.

“We need to see our political leaders fund community language schools and ensure responsive language services, as part of an integrated national policy framework.”

Ms Patetsos said that national debate around language policy did not take account of the existing multiculturalism and multilingualism of Australia.

“This is a remarkable gift to the nation and should form the basis of a comprehensive approach to language education, including a mandatory second language as well as support for community schools, interpreter services and a bilingual workforce.

“Such a framework would contribute even further to the the economic and social benefits that decades of immigration have brought to Australia,” Ms Patetsos said.

In 2016, FECCA published a major report, Australia’s Growing Linguistic Diversity: An opportunity for a strategic approach to language services policy and practice, available here.

In 2017, FECCA released a report on bilingual and bicultural workforce, available here.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) today congratulated Mr James Taylor upon his appointment as Managing Director of SBS.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “Mr Taylor has extensive experience in media and communications and as the Chief Finance Officer of SBS has played a major role in the broadcaster’s corporate strategy.

“FECCA wishes Mr Taylor all the best. He has our full support in maintaining the key role of SBS in the success of Australia’s great multicultural society.

“SBS TV, radio and online services reflect a diverse and enriched Australia.

“The news, information, entertainment choice and language options available on SBS provide a wonderful option for those millions of Australians who seek high-quality news and entertainment.

“And the SBS in-language programs aid migrant participation in Australian life, with about 1.5 million podcast downloads of SBS in-language programs every month.

“The services provided by SBS are vitally important to people in Australia of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.

“SBS has confirmed its strong commitment to high-quality media with the appointment of Mr Taylor, who has been acting in the Managing Director role since the departure of Michael Ebeid,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216/emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) deplores and condemns the actions of all Senators who today voted to support a racist motion in the Australian Parliament.

This is a repudiation of decades of bipartisan support for a multicultural Australia.

FECCA calls on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to publicly condemn any member of his Government who supported the motion.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed the terms of reference of the Royal Commission into Aged Care that include references to the diversity of Australia’s older population.

Ms Patetsos also said that she was pleased that the terms of reference identified dignity, choice and control as indicators of aged care.

“It can be difficult to exercise choice and maintain your dignity if English is not your first language or you are not in an environment that is culturally safe and respectful.

“Having services delivered that are culturally appropriate and in your preferred language is your right as an Australian. Australians of migrant background, who have contributed hugely to the building of this nation, deserve care that meets their needs in their old age.”

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said today that many Australians from a migrant background often felt isolated and found it difficult to navigate the aged care system.

“We often see older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds falling through the gaps in care and not receiving the services they need.

“They are also very vulnerable to the kinds of neglect and abuse that we have recently witnessed in media reports,” Ms Patetsos said.

Ms Patetsos emphasised the importance of establishing systems and processes, including the appointment of CALD-specific organisations, that can support CALD Australians to participate in the Royal Commission

“CALD older people also need to be given encouragement and support through channels they trust, so that they come forward to share their experiences of the aged care system.

Ms Patetsos also welcomed the inclusion of the aged care workforce and Australians living with dementia, including younger people who find themselves in residential care, in the Terms of Reference and said that FECCA looked forward to contributing to the Royal Commission and supporting the Commissioners in their important endeavour.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government of an inquiry into mental health, to be conducted by the Productivity Commission.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said that such an inquiry should take a forensic look at just how and where funding is being directed for mental health.

“FECCA is particularly interested in how money is being directed to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in vulnerable communities,” Ms Patesos said.

“We believe that insufficient resources are being devoted to people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.

“Last year, more than 3,000 people in Australia committed suicide and available statistics indicate that one in four of these people was born in a country other than Australia.

“FECCA will assist the Productivity Commission wherever we can to ensure that this inquiry includes a rigorous and thorough examination of the needs of people at risk including Australians from CALD backgrounds,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) today welcomed Mr Chin Leong Tan as Australia’s new Race Discrimination Commissioner.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said that Mr Tan faced challenges in his job, including continuing pressure for the watering down of hate speech laws as well as growing racist commentary in the media.

“FECCA looks forward to the new Race Discrimination Commissioner taking a strong position on human rights and racial discrimination,” Ms Patetsos said.

“In a multicultural society like ours, the role of the Race Discrimination Commissioner is vital.

“He cannot be a bystander while certain groups and individuals seek to push racist and extreme political agendas at the expense of the fundamental human rights of all Australians.

“We trust that Mr Tan will be as courageous and outspoken as his predecessor, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, who was fierce in his opposition to racism and fought to resist any weakening of hate speech laws,” she said.

Ms Patetsos said she looked forward to meeting the new Race Discrimination Commissioner to discuss his position on a range of important issues.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that women and children on temporary visas who are experiencing family violence need greater protections and improved access to services.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said that many women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds were in a vulnerable position because they did not have the same access to support services as other women in Australia.

“Migrant women face barriers in accessing refuges, law enforcement, the justice system and other services working with women and children experiencing family violence,” Ms Patesos said.

“And CALD women living with disability are particularly at risk.”

The FECCA Chairperson spoke after attending the COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women, held in Adelaide over the last two days.

FECCA this week made its submission to the Federal Government to inform the development of the Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2012-2022.

Ms Patesos said that FECCA’s submission also calls for improvements to cultural competency of services and the workforce and a review of eligibility requirements to enable more victims of violence to access financial and other crisis support.

The FECCA submission can be found here.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au