Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke has announced the 17 members who will serve on the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) for its next three-year term.

Named in the list is CEO of the Multicultural Communities Council of SA (MCCSA) Helena Kyriazopoulos, also a former serving member on the AMC.

MCCSA is an affiliate of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA).

Mr Hawke said the new AMC membership offered both continuity and renewal, with six former serving members and 11 new members, including two youth members, appointed for the Council’s next term.

“The AMC brings together leaders from a diverse range of business and civil society backgrounds who will provide independent advice to Government on multicultural affairs and social cohesion policy and programs,” the minister said.

“I look forward to working with the new and returning members of the Council to build on Australia’s strong social cohesion, by strengthening the Government’s engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities and encouraging harmonious relations across the whole of Australian society.”

Ms Kyriazopoulos has been an important advocate for the CALD communities with an emphasis on disability rights, the aged and their carers having published several journal articles and research. With a background in Business, Industrial Law, she has for more than two decades been an integral part of Alzheimer’s Australia, as the Access and Equity Unit Coordinator and the Secretariat for Alzheimer’s Australia – National Cross Cultural Dementia Network.

In her over 30 years of experience in the multicultural sector, Ms Kyriazopoulos has held numerous Board positions and is currently a member of the following Boards: Council of the Ageing, Aged Rights Advocacy Service, and Mental Health Foundation Australia, while she has been a member of the Australian Multicultural Council since 2014.

The Australian Multicultural Council members for the 2022-2025 term are:

Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO, Chair*
Dr Nora Amath
Mr Craig Foster AM*
Ms Carmen Garcia
Ms Susan Gin
Ms Anthea Hancocks*
Mr Ahmed Hassan
Ms Luul Ibrahim
Dr Kudzai Kanhutu
Ms Rosemary Kariuki
Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos*
Ms Nathalie Samia
Mr John Searle
Ms Martika Shakoor
Mr Vasan Srinivasan*
Mr Anthony Sukari OAM
Mr Jason Yeap OAM*

* Members of previous AMC