Recent Publications

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  Are you reading books for your young children?

  April 24, 2018 / ALL

  The Victorian Government is encouraging parents to read more books with their young children to inspire a love of reading and set them up for success later in life. Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today launched the Premiers’ Reading Challenge for the Early Years, which encourages reading to babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. “ Reading with children is one of the most powerful things that families and early childhood professionals can do to help children get the best start […]

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  Robin Scott launches a 10-year plan to strengthen African communities in Victoria

  April 23, 2018 / ALL

  A new community-led Action Plan has been released by the Victorian Government and the African Ministerial Working Group (AMWG) on Saturday 21 April, 2018. The so called Victorian African Community Action plan (VACAP) is expected to help support Victorians of African heritage  to reach their full potential across all aspects of their Australian life experiences. The launch event took place at  Victorian University on Flinders street in Melbourne’s CBD. It featured a performance by Asanti Dance Theatre, and speeches by […]

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  VMC film festival now taking submissions

  April 16, 2018 / News

  Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) is now inviting film makers to submit their work as part of the The VMC Film Festival  Films can be documentary-style or tell a fictional narrative. Films which were originally created for another competition or purpose are also accepted. Shortlisted entries will light up the big screen at ACMI on Thursday 24 May.   My generation: stories of everyday multiculturalism In an age when  identity, race, faith and immigration politics dominate global headlines, we ask filmmakers , […]

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  Eight Cameroonian Athletes reported missing in the Gold Coast

  April 12, 2018 / ALL

    Commonwealth Games officials have held a media brief today in the Gold Coast and have stated that they do not know the whereabouts of 8 embers of the Cameroon team.   An official of the Cameroonian Commonwealth Games delegation, Simon Molombe has told the media that “the players just left in the night and we don’t think they’ll come back”.     Cameroonian delegation parading at the Commonwealth Games 2018 “It’s obviously disappointing that some of the athletes who’ve […]

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  Sudanese-born Australian Broadcaster Yasmin Abdel-Magied deported from the US

  April 12, 2018 / ALL

  Sudanese-born Australian Yasmin Abdel-Magied has been denied entry to the US and deported to the UK where she is currently residing. The broadcaster and activitst has twitted within three hours of arriving in the US, stating that she was back on a plane after being refused entry. Ms Abdel-Magied was visiting the US for some speaking engagements in New-York. She landed in Minneapolis, on her way to New York and soon after US border agents decided to deport her. Launching […]

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  Malawi Netball team delivers the biggest upset in the 2018 Commonwealth Games

  April 9, 2018 / ALL

  Malawi Netball team has claimed the biggest upset in the Commonwealth Games by beating the mighty New Zealand team in the Gold Coast. “We have beaten the untouchables, we can walk tall now” stated the Malawi Coach Whyte Mulilima following the victor,y which was celebrated by euphoric scenes from all Malawi players.   Malawi Netball players celebrating their win over New Zealand (Photo : Getty Image)     The surprise win has created a crisis for New Zealand Netball trying […]

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  African communities urge public figures not to use racist slurs and discriminatory language for political gain

  March 22, 2018 / ALL

  Open letter to all Australians (from a coalition of African communities)   Everyone belongs.   Australians come from all over the world, seeking opportunity to make the best life for themselves and their families.  Recently, crime reporting has focused disproportionately on African-Australians, while positive coverage has leached away. When this is the only story being told about any single group of people, it has negative impacts. African-Australians are being targeted on the streets and online with racial taunts and sometimes […]

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  Tim Costello wants an end to cruelty against refugees in Manus and Nauru

  March 21, 2018 / News

  Chief Advocate of World Vision Australia, Rev Tim Costello, will call on the Australian government to evacuate those being held on Manus and Nauru to safety and freedom. “The Australian government has a moral responsibility to bring those being detained on Manus and Nauru to Australia immediately. ” Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz Adam who has been held on Manus Island for 4 years will also address the Palm Sunday Walk by phone, giving a firsthand account of the current situation for the […]

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  New engineering job opportunities now available for many migrant communities

  March 16, 2018 / ALL

  Jesuit Social Services is  partnering with John Holland, one of Australia’s leading engineering, contracting and service providers to the infrastructure, energy, resources and transport sectors, to deliver the John Holland Pathway Program.    This program provides a supported employment and training experience for people who are marginalised, or at risk of marginalisation from their field of qualification.  These roles will be full-time, paid positions for six-months commencing in June 2018, located in Melbourne, Victoria. The following eligibility criteria applies: Proof of […]

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  New legislation to protect Victorian children

  March 9, 2018 / ALL

  The Victorian Government is introducing new measures to help Victorian children and ensure they do not fall between the cracks of the system. Legislation was passed early this week that allows health, education and family services to share information of those in their care. It is hoped that the new legislation  will create more streamlined information sharing system, giving professional entities the tools they need to protect Victorian children. Health, education and family service entities – such as Maternal and Child Health, […]

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  AFRO LATINO festival back in town

  March 3, 2018 / ALL

  Afro Latino Festival returns to Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in Sydney and promises to bring back all the fun and excitement that it is known for.  The festival includes live music, drumming, workshops, dance performances, food stalls, kids activities, soccer, and arts and crafts. The festival is featuring a number of renowned artists, including Lucky Lartey, Caribé, LPM Candombe, Mina Glam and more to be announced! Afro Latino offers an opportunity to show case and celebrate the beauty and richness […]

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  African-Australian Inclusion Program 2018 applications extended till 27 February 2018

  February 11, 2018 / News

  The widely acclaimed JSS & NAB’s African Australian Inclusion Program (AAIP) continues to deliver great opportunities and achieve great outcomes for the community. The program provides opportunities for qualified and eligible African-Australians to obtain paid employment for six months with the NAB in Melbourne and Sydney.  Applications for the program are open and have been extended till 27 February 2018  For the 2018 AIP round, two informations sessions  were organised   concomitantly in Melbourne and Sydney on  15 February 2018 […]

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  What to make of Robin Scott’s bold Action Plan for Africans?

  February 10, 2018 / ALL

  The Victorian government recently released a draft of its Action plan on African Communities for consultation. The so-called “Victorian African Communities Action Plan” (VACAP) includes a number of stated goals designed to guide its future actions in bringing about changes that increase social and economic opportunities for members of the African Australian communities living in the state of Victoria.     Robin Scott posing with an African community leader in Melbourne    The draft plan was developed with the assistance […]

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  Senator Di Natale says we need more stronger African voices and role models

  February 5, 2018 / ALL

  The Leader of The Greens party in federal parliament spoke to AMA and says that stronger African voices and role models can help address issues affecting African-Australian communities in Australia and curb youth offending. Watch the video for the full interview     

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  Job opportunities for African-Australian engineers

  January 21, 2018 / ALL

  Jesuit Social Services is offering a new employment program in conjunction with Australia’s leading engineering, contracting and service providers to the infrastructure, energy, resources, and transport sectors in Melbourne. The program will provide a paid full-time role to skilled and qualified individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who have experienced barriers to securing a job. Applications are open from Friday 19th January 2018 until 5pm Wednesday 7th February 2018 and roles are expected to be available in the first half of 2018.   Participants […]

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  What Victoria Police is saying about African youth offending

  January 6, 2018 / News

  In this interview Victoria Police’s Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp speaks talks about the latest development in addressing youth offending involving young Africans. The top cop wants the media to be more balanced when reporting crime in the community. 

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  A 15-year-old boy African-Australian boy drowned at Glenelg beach in Adelaide

  January 5, 2018 / News

  A 15-year-old boy from a Burundian background, Elisase Nimbona drowned at Glenelg beach in Adelaide, South Australia.  Surf Life Saving SA said the tragic death occurred on Monday when the teenager from Goodwood was pulled from the water after he experienced difficulty under the jetty.   Eliase Nimbona who drowned at the Glenelg beach in Adelaide A group of boys present at the scene tried to save the boy but were unsuccessful. Paramedics also attended the site and gave him […]

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  Victoria African community leaders call for calm and stand ready to work with Police to address youth offending

  January 4, 2018 / News

  We African communities in Victoria have seen recent media reports in the last few weeks about some of our young people in the community.                                  The African Australian community as a whole is just as shocked as the broader Australian community in relation to these inexcusable incidents. We speak with one voice in condemning the offending behaviour that we have seen reported in the media. Our thoughts go out to the victims of these incidents including those who saw their dwellings and other properties damaged, as well as the police officer who was attacked whilst doing […]

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  A young African male killed inside Port Phillip prison in Melbourne West

  January 2, 2018 / ALL, News

  A young African  male has been  killed inside the Port Philip Prison in Truganina.   He was an inmate and was stabbed to death on Monday night and succumbed to his wounds early this morning.   Victoria Police is investigating and it has been reported that a number of people have been detained inside Port Philip Prison, in relation to the incident.  According to some media reports, the victim was deliberately targeted and the attack was not a random of […]

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  Gold Coast Games 2018 : South African Casta Semanya makes a big announcement

  January 1, 2018 / News

  South African reigning Olympic and world champion Caster Semenya has announced she will attempt the 800 metres and 1500m double at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old won gold in her pet 800m race at the world championships and a bronze in the 1500m in London in August. “I will again be going for the double but I need to improve on my tactics (for the 1500m),’ she told reporters.   “The 1,500m is a race that excites me. I […]

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  It’s official: Apple will set up its Australia’s first ever Flagship Store in Melbourne

  December 19, 2017 / News

  Australia’s first ever Apple Global Flagship Store will open at Federation Square in Melbourne in 2020. Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren has made this announcement today and said the new flagship store would be a major drawcard for visitors and locals, breathing new life into one of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks.    For the Victorian government, securing Apple is part of a broader strategy to reinvigorate Federation Square, following the recent announcement of new LED screens […]

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