Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) welcomes the Government’s announcement today on a complete mental health reform, following the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Programme and Services.

FECCA Chairperson Joe Caputo said, “We are very pleased the Government has taken steps towards a comprehensive mental health system.  It is encouraging that all Australians suffering from severe and complex mental illness will have access to person-centric integrated care packages, which will be rolled out in local communities.”

The details of the reform recommend:

• Move towards a ‘stepped care’ model or person-centric approach;
• All Australians with a severe and complex mental illness will have access to an integrated team-care packaged tailored to their individual needs;
• Services will be localised and delivered through Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs);
• A new coordinated approach to suicide prevention, focusing on evidence and community based prevention activities;
• Innovative digital mental health technologies will be harnessed through a single point gateway;
• Nationally coordinated services covering early childhood through to the end of secondary school, expected to be rolled out from July 1 2016;
• National leadership with states and territories through the 5^th national Mental Health Plan.

Joe Caputo said, “While the reforms make reference to multicultural communities, it is our recommendation that a strong focus is placed on these communities in the implementation.”

According to the National Mental Health Commission’s Review Contributing Lives, Thriving Communities, people from diverse cultural backgrounds may be less likely to disclose signs or symptoms and may not feel comfortable seeking help.

Also identified in the Review were gaps in culturally competent, sensitive and appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services and programmes.

FECCA urges the Government to ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse communities are recognised as a vulnerable group in the mental health system and considered as a priority, requiring their unique mental health needs to be met in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way.  The knowledge and insights developed through the Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) project are essential in this regard.

Special consideration in the reforms implementation should be given to new migrants and refugees, particularly in view of the additional humanitarian intake and refugee experiences of torture and trauma.  FECCA also acknowledges that with current measures around countering violent extremism, there is a need for access to tailored mental health services for individuals and families.

“We are committed to working with the Government and the key stakeholders in multicultural community mental health to ensure that these reforms achieve positive outcomes for our constituency”, said Joe Caputo.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Productivity Commission released its draft report on Australia’s Migrant Intake on Friday.  The draft report details the economic, social and environmental implications of immigration.

The draft report recommends that the Government should not use price as the principal mechanism for allocating permanent visas.  The Commission found that the adoption of a price-based immigration system is not supported by evidence.  Such a system could attract less desirable immigrants compared to the current system and favour immigrants with an existing capacity to pay over those who would make the greatest economic contribution to Australia.  FECCA fundamentally opposes the imposition of a fee for immigration to Australia and welcomes the Commission’s recommendation in this regard.

FECCA’s submission to the inquiry emphasised the social and cultural benefits of migration and is pleased to see the Commission’s draft report acknowledges that Australia has built a highly successful multicultural society.  The report highlights that multicultural attitudes support acceptance of the immigration program, the importance that respecting the value of ethnic diversity has on migrant integration and the vital impact that settlement policies have on immigrant outcomes.

The Commission found that without further net migration, the age dependency ratio (the ratio of those aged 65 years and above to those aged 15 to 64 years) would increase from around 23 older persons to every 100 working-age individuals in 2014, to around 59 older persons by 2060.  In its submission, FECCA highlighted the role immigration policy can play to counteract the negative social and economic effects of Australia’s ageing population.

Key recommendations in the draft report include:

• The Australian Government should seek opportunities to improve the recognition of overseas qualifications obtained at high quality institutions, including through bridging courses;
• The Government should review the mix and extent of settlement services for immigrants (including humanitarian immigrants) with the aim of improving their labour market and social engagement outcomes. This should include consideration of the adequacy of the English-language training hours and access to employment services;
• The Government should abolish the Significant Investor Visa and Premium Investor Visa streams.

The draft report includes a chapter on managing temporary immigration programs which recommends:

• The Australian Government should commission a public inquiry into the labour market and broader economy-wide effects of work rights for international students, temporary graduate visa holders and working holiday makers;
• The Government should assess the effectiveness of changes implemented as a result of the recommendations made by the Independent Review into Integrity in the Subclass 457 Programme after sufficient time for those changes to take effect;
• The Fair Work Ombudsman should commission the development of a smart phone app that would provide temporary immigrant workers with information on their work rights and responsibility, and with links for lodging complaints about abuses or exploitation.

FECCA will be making a further submission to the inquiry by 18 December.  The Commission’s final report is expected to be finalised in March 2016.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) held its annual general meeting (AGM) on Saturday 7 November, where new Executive Members were elected.

FECCA Chair Joe Caputo said, “I would like to congratulate the members of the Executive on being part of our great team for the next two years.  The new FECCA Executive has quite some continuity, as well as a sound renewal:  Hina Durani, Women’s Chair; Suzanne Graham, Regional Chair; and Siddique Panwala, Hon Treasurer, are most welcome to our group.”

“To our outgoing Hon Secretary Sam Afra, Hon Treasurer Yogan Sathianathan, Regional Chair Ricardo Viana, and Women’s Chair Pallavi Sinha, I would like to extend my warmest thanks for all your hard work and support over the past two years.”

There are also some changes to the Executive this year, with some members taking on other roles.  Parsuram Sharma-Luital will now serve as the Hon Secretary.  Senior Deputy Chairs Eugenia Grammatikakis and Tina Karanastasis will be continuing in their roles.  Also continuing in his role is Mohammad Al-Khafaji as Youth Chair, while Alphonse Mulumba will step into the New and Emerging Communities’ Chair role, in addition to representing FECCA’s Tasmanian peak member.

“We are pleased by the outcome of this years’ elections, with FECCA actively taking steps to advance the gender and age balance within the organisation”, said Joe Caputo.

A Constitutional amendment was carried during the AGM whereby the FECCA Executive agreed to the addition of a Healthy Ageing Chair, and the position will be filled in due course.  The Disabilities’ Chair position will also be filled shortly.

“The governance that we have in place at FECCA is one that is open and transparent, and has worked well.  The role of the Executive, ably supported by the FECCA Secretariat, is a strategic role, and one of policy direction and bringing to the table ideas and issues that affect our communities,” Joe Caputo concluded.

To view the full FECCA Executive click here.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has been working to promote better outcomes and improve access to services for older CALD Australians as they age and enter the aged care system in Australia. This includes either services in the home or residential aged care.

According to the 2011 Australian Census, over 1.3 million Australians aged over 50 were born overseas in a non-English speaking country. This represents almost 20 percent of all Australians in that age group.

FECCA Chair Joe Caputo said, “At FECCA, we needed to know more about the needs and aspirations of this group. Earlier this year I launched the review on Australian research on Older People from CALD backgrounds. As a result of this research we know more about where the gaps are in policy, practice, and research, and have a broader sense of the issues, and where we would like to go.”

FECCA Healthy Ageing Reference Network Chair Mary Patetsos has been instrumental in the development of FECCA’s 2020 Vision for Older CALD Australians. At the FECCA National Biennial Conference in Sydney today, Mary said, “It gives me great pleasure to formally launch the 2020 Vision for Older CALD Australians. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the area, many of whom are here today, to achieve better outcomes for older people from CALD backgrounds.”

FECCA established the Network to support its work in helping CALD older people living full and healthy lives.

“The strategies in the 2020 Vision aim to use available resources better, optimising what is available and proposing options that require further resource commitments”, Mary said. “All the work of FECCA is the result of collaboration and effort of many individuals. This Vision coalesces the ideas, experience and solutions from many people who collaborated and partnered with FECCA.”

To view FECCA’s 2020 Vision for Older CALD Australians click here.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) is taking a lead role in preventing violence against women, joining Our Watch to encourage all community members to play their part.

Our Watch has partnered with FECCA to initiate discussions on supporting and promoting equality among migrant and refugee women, through a panel discussion at the FECCA 2015 National Biennial conference.

“With our panel of speakers, we aim to make it clear that everyone in the community, from sporting clubs to workplaces, has a role to play in reducing violence against women in Australia,” said Our Watch Chief Executive Officer and panel member, Paul Linossier.

“All women and children, regardless of cultural identity, ethnicity, religion or language, have the right to live without the fear or reality of violence,” he said.

“Understanding the link between gender inequality, gender stereotyping and violence against women is crucial if we are to reduce violence against women.”

“Women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities can face specific additional challenges.”

“In addition to gender discrimination, they can experience discrimination on the basis of skin colour, religious affiliation, ethnic origin and other identity characteristics such as dress codes. The intersection of these factors can compound the risk, experience and impact of violence,” Mr Linossier said.

Charlie King, Our Watch board director, ABC sports commentator and founder of the NO MORE campaign against domestic violence, will be joining the panel, where he will encourage attendees to use their spheres of influence to promote and model gender equality and non-violence.

“Encouraging people to think about their position in the community and what they can do to prevent violence places the onus on each and every one of us,” said Mr King.

“Sporting clubs and organisations, for example, bring together large numbers of people, and provide a ready-made environment to promote women’s participation and opportunities. These clubs and organisations can help eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence-supportive attitudes.”

The FECCA 2015 National Biennial conference, Multiculturalism in Action: Building a better future for all Australians, will be held in Sydney from 5-6 November 2015.

Join the conversation at the FECCA Conference by following the hashtag #2015fecca.

Media contact

For enquiries or further information: Joanna Cooney, Our Watch, phone 03 8692 9512, email Joanna.Cooney@ourwatch.org.au. FECCA Office, (02) 6282 5755, email media@fecca.org.au.

*If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:

“If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. For more information about a service in your state or local area download the DAISY App in the App Store or Google Play.”

ABOUT OUR WATCH

Our Watch’s (previously the Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children) purpose is to raise awareness and engage the community in action to prevent violence against women and their children.

Our Watch was conceived of and brought into existence in 2013 by the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Victoria. The Northern Territory, South Australian, Tasmanian and Queensland governments have also since become members of the organisation.

Our Watch’s work derives from the government’s commitment to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022 and gives expression to many of the activities in the Second Action Plan 2013–2016 – Moving Ahead.