Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) today congratulated the Federal Government on its decision to establish an independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said that the Government, through the Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, had delivered a major step forward.

“The reforms announced today, which follow the Carnell-Paterson Review, will strengthen the regulation of aged care and help protect older Australians,” Ms Patetsos said.

“The new Commission consolidates the oversight powers of a number of established agencies into a single body regulating accreditation, complaints, monitoring and compliance.

“FECCA has been working closely with the Government to ensure that quality care is delivered which meets the diverse needs of older Australians.

“Our major goal is that the voices of older Australians of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background are heard in this reform process.

“We will continue to work with the Government on a range of issues and challenges faced by CALD Australians.

“We applaud the Federal Government’s bold initiatives on this matter and congratulate Minister Wyatt on his commitment to quality aged care,” 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) said that a Federal Government report released today shows the huge economic benefits to Australia that are delivered by the nation’s migration program.

The report, by Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs, finds that a single year’s intake (2014-15) of migrants will deliver $7 billion dollars in tax contributions to the Government over a 30-year period. Family migrants granted permanent visas in the same year will deliver a $1.6 billion contribution.

In addition, the report finds that skilled migrants increase Australia’s standard of living, lift productivity by 10 per cent and raise the workforce participation rate.

“This Government report sets out the significant net economic benefit to Australia from migration,” the Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said today.

“Migrants help make Australia strong and make it grow. They give to Australia far more than they take because they are overwhelmingly hard-working, optimistic and entrepreneurial.

“FECCA congratulates the Government on recognising this reality,” 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) said today that proposed changes to support for new migrants would unfairly impact them as they settle in Australia.

Plans to extend waiting periods from the current two years to three years for various social security payments and to introduce a three-year wait for support including carer allowances, family tax benefit and widow allowances are contained in the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Encouraging Self-sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants) Bill 2018.

FECCA says that the changes would impact the most vulnerable new migrants, including:

• Single parents and children;
• Women at risk of family violence;
• Children whose parent unexpectedly loses their job; and
• Young migrants and newly-graduated students.

“The changes in this Bill will impose considerable hardship on migrants at the very time they need a little help to settle into their new home,” the Chairperson of FECCA, Ms Mary Patetsos said today.

“Permanent migrants and their children should enjoy the same benefits as all other Australian residents.”

Ms Patetsos said the great ongoing story of multicultural Australia was the economic benefit brought by migration.

“Migrants are the most education-oriented, driven and entrepreneurial members of our society,” she said.

“It’s estimated that by 2050, migrants will be contributing $1.6 trillion dollars to Australia’s GDP.

“However, in the early days of their migration journey, as new migrants look for housing and jobs and settle their children into life in Australia, it is crucial—and fair—that they receive the support which other Australian residents receive,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA’s has lodged a submission opposing the Bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs.

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) says strategies are needed to develop greater diversity in the senior leadership of Australian society.

A Human Rights Commission report, Leading For Change: A Blueprint for Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Revisited, has found a ‘dismal’ lack of cultural diversity at the top of Australian companies, institutions and government. The report finds that 97 per cent of top Chief Executives and 95 per cent of other senior management also fit this profile. Only 11 of 372 executives surveyed in the report were of non-European or Indigenous background.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “This truly is a dismal situation. While we celebrate our highly successful multicultural society, our diversity has failed to reach into the highest levels of management.

“Given that one in four of all Australians is of non-European or Indigenous background, FECCA believes Australian business, government and other organisations need to develop strategies which work towards greater diversity at CEO and senior management levels.”

Ms Patetsos said that the great success story of Australian multiculturalism was the economic benefit that migrants had brought to their new country.

“Australia should move to harness the drive and entrepreneurial skills of people of migrant background so that they achieve top positions in business, government, universities and other organisations.”

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

An online survey set up by a Parliamentary Committee gives everybody in Australia a chance to have their say on proposed legislation which would require an eight year wait to apply for citizenship, instead of one year. The Bill also demands high-level English competency for citizenship.

The online survey allows members of the public to express their view on the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Commitments for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2018. The survey closes at 5pm on 27 April 2018 AEST.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) believes that this proposed major change to citizenship law, a private member’s Bill, demands the attention of all stakeholders in multicultural Australia.

We believe that the opportunity should be taken in the online survey to say NO to the Bill.

The great story of multicultural Australia reflects the economic success and social harmony created by Australia’s migrants.

Long waiting periods for citizenship and excessively high English competence are unjust, unfair and cruel barriers to the most vulnerable new arrivals, who have so much to contribute to Australia as citizens.

FECCA urges all stakeholders to participate in this online survey. Written submissions can also be sent to Citizenshipbill@aph.gov.au

Please circulate this message to community members and stakeholders.

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