The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) has welcomed the federal government’s announcement that it will inject $15 million into new measures, including establishing 100 community hubs to support migrant families nationwide.
Having long advocated for extra support to help migrant families establish more quickly in Australia, ECCV chairperson Joe Caputo welcomed the move, saying that ECCV was pleased that $5m of the new money will be used to engage local coordinators to enhance social inclusion and improve connections to support services for migrant families.
$4m will be spent on extending the Commonwealth’s Diversity and Social Cohesion program, $5m on infrastructure and $1m towards increasing resources for language translation services for government programs.
“A diverse and multicultural Australia must be one where people of culturally diverse backgrounds participate and have access to the same government services and opportunities as all Australians,” said Mr Caputo.
“Education and employment are a right, however if people do not have the language support and services catering to their needs, they are actually excluded from the pathways that would lead to positive outcomes in their career, family and social life.”
The EECV chair also expressed his support for the extra investment in the government’s Diversity and Social Cohesion Program.
“Research shows that social cohesion is fragile and can be easy damaged without the structures to support it. We are lucky in Victoria that our community is highly supportive of our diverse, multicultural community and recognises its value.
“Governments need to be ready to support communities to settle so they can join all Australians in sharing the quality of life we are all so lucky to enjoy,” he said.
A report by the government’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration tabled in parliament last month argued for the factoring-in of cultural and linguistic diversity into the government’s social inclusion agenda, and the need to ensure greater flexibility in English language training for new migrants.
The report also criticised Job Services Australia, the government agency which supports job seekers. The committee said that JSA had to lift its game in delivering services to people of diverse backgrounds.