FECCA Conference 2024

Over two days, our MCCGC and CURA teams joined organisations and community members at the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia - FECCA Conference 2024 to discuss and reflect on government policies, service delivery, and future challenges and opportunities for multicultural communities. This year's conference was centred around "Our Experiences. Our Future", which highlighted the strengths and challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia.

Shane, Emily, Jess and Candice were part of the Organising Committee, our team participated with a stall during the event, and our Head of Business and Stakeholder Development, Emily, led the “Breaking the Walls, Opening the Doors” panel where speakers like Eman Mourad, from Cultural Perspectives, Susan Forde, Griffith University, Dr. Mohita Roman and Diana Mastrantuono, SSI and TRPP Project, and Despina Amanatidou and Tea Dietterich, 2M Language Services presented their findings on the importance of effective communication, community engagement, and the value of lived experiences in improving services and fostering a sense of belonging.

Our team enjoyed attending conferences, panels and networking with other organisations, community leaders and members, policymakers, and advocates to discuss and reflect on their experiences with multicultural communities and ways to build a better future together.

FECCA Reflections

Our CEO, Shane, highlighted the powerful address by Her Excellency Imelde Sabushimike, Minister for National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights, and Gender of Burundi. Minister Sabushimike shared her journey of community empowerment, improving the lives of the Batwa people by distributing land, livestock, and seeds, and building a school for vulnerable children through the Girimbabazi Foundation.

On the other hand, our COO, Jess, also expressed, “This was an excellent opportunity to support our State and National peak bodies in highlighting the importance of multiculturalism being embedded into our whole of government strategies. It was a motivation and excitement to engage both from an organisational perspective, as well as supporting our communities to engage in the National Anti-racism strategy, launching on the 26th of November and our continued efforts in listening, learning and further engaging in how to stand in allyship with our First Nations communities.”

Participating in this event reinforced our commitment to advocating for our multicultural communities and the importance of collaboration, community engagement, and the impact of shared experiences in driving positive change.