The Federation of Ethnic Councils of Australia (FECCA) has called for the setting up of a federal Office for Multicultural Australia as part of this 2022 Policy Platform ahead of this year’s federal elections and its FECCA 2022: Advancing Multicultural Australia conference in Melbourne in June.
FECCA said establishing the office on a federal level would serve to ensure a coordinated focus on Australia’s multicultural policies.
The call for the establishment of the office was one of eight priority areas identified in FECCA’s 2022 Policy Platform, Advancing Multicultural Australia.
The CEO of FECCA, Mohammed Al-Khafaji said in a statement that the Office for Multicultural Australia would ensure coordinated and focused effort to maintain Australia’s multicultural legacy and build a strong future.
“COVID-19 thrust a spotlight on the necessity for a robust and coordinated whole-of-government approach to multiculturalism,” Mr Al-Khafaji said.
“A fragmented and piece-meal approach to the systems and frameworks that were supposed to uphold multiculturalism has led to serious health, economic and social consequences for multicultural communities across Australia.”
“However, the pandemic has also presented an opportunity to review how governments and communities can work collaboratively to build a strong and cohesive future for all people in Australia. FECCA believes this can best be achieved through a federal Office for Multicultural Australia,” he said.
The organisation said the Office would work “across government “to provide a cohesive and effective multicultural policies, including the eight areas of areas of action that FECCA had identified in its policy document.
These areas of action included policy, access to services, communication, health, aged care and disability.
FECCA said the organisation and its members would engage with political parties and politicians throughout the country to ensure the voices of multicultural Australia would not be ignored during the election period.
“This will include a series of multicultural town-hall meetings in electorates across the country to provide politicians the opportunity to hear directly from multicultural Australia,” FECCA said its statement.
*To download the Advancing Multicultural Australia Policy Platform 2022 document, visit the FECCA website at www.fecca2022.org.au
