FECCA Annual Report 2017-18

In 2017-18 FECCA played an active role in shaping debates and discussions to ensure that the needs and aspirations of CALD Australians were reflected in Commonwealth Government policy and practice. FECCA advocated on issues impacting Australia’s CALD community to Ministers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, key stakeholders and partner organisations.

FECCA made major contributions across portfolio areas leading to outcomes including the Aged Care Diversity Framework, improvements to the My Health Record legislation, scrapping of parent visa cost hike and providing a CALD voice in the creation of the Single Aged Care Quality Standards.

In 2017-18 FECCA played an important role in the scrapping of the Federal Government’s proposed new citizenship legislation. FECCA was a strong advocate against the passing of the legislation, which was unnecessary and discriminatory. The Bill would have extended the waiting period and demanded university- standard English language skills from migrants to qualify for Australian citizenship. FECCA’s view was that this legislation would have damaged Australia’s cohesive multicultural society by creating an underclass of Australian residents denied citizenship.