Welcome to Newsletter 3 of 2026 and Happy New Lunar Year of the Horse to all those celebrating this important celebration.
We also wish those beginning Ramadan and Lent this week a season of blessing
ECCV Board Update
ECCV has stepped into a new chapter in governance, with our recently elected Board of Directors confirming office bearers for 2025–27. Chairperson: Silvia Renda Deputy Chairs: Tina Hosseini, Nicolas Ojeda Amador Treasurer: Michael van Vliet Secretary: Jennifer Huppert OAM They will serve alongside Lawrence Abou Khater, Dr Yasmin Hassen, Huss Mustafa OAM, Suzanne Ryan-Evers and Zeynep Yesilyurt OAM as ECCV continues its important work. Meet ECCV’s new Board We’re delighted to introduce Silvia Renda, ECCV’s new Chairperson. New Chairperson Silvia Renda moved to Australia from Portugal as a teenager with her family, learning English at secondary school before embarking on a career in multicultural governance, public policy and community advocacy. She is the Founder and President of the Portuguese Australian Women’s Association and previously served as Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Silvia is currently Chief Adviser and Head of Government Relations at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Silvia said: “At a time when anti-immigration rhetoric and social division are increasingly visible, the work of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria has never been more important. I am honoured to serve as Chairperson and look forward to working with the Board, our members and communities to advance fairness, inclusion and a truly multicultural Victoria.” As Chairperson, Silvia will work closely with the full Board of Directors and office-bearers to guide ECCV’s strategic direction over the next two years. |
CDW 2026 – Attend the Victorian Multicultural Festival
From 21 to 29 March, Cultural Diversity Week invites communities across Victoria to come together under the theme Culture connects us all.
A key highlight of the week is the Victorian Multicultural Festival, where culture is experienced through food, music, performance and community connection. The festival is an opportunity to learn from one another, celebrate shared values and enjoy the richness of Victoria’s cultural diversity in one place.
We encourage individuals, families and community groups to attend the festival, take part in activities and experience the stories, traditions and creativity that connect us all.
Alongside attending the festival, communities are also encouraged to host and register their own events throughout the week, helping extend the celebration across Victoria.
For festival details, event planning resources and to register your public event on VMConnect visit: http
Submissions are open for MFF 2026!
The Victorian Multicultural Commission, in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology and SBS, is calling all filmmakers to share their stories. The Multicultural Film Festival (MFF) invites people from all backgrounds, including emerging creators, established filmmakers and young creatives, to share stories that reflect the richness of multiculturalism.
Submit a short film of 10 minutes or less across five categories. The premiere event will screen in Melbourne during Refugee Week on 18 June 2026 at ACMI Cinemas. Films in the Official Selection will screen at multiple venues and on SBS On Demand.
Prizes of $2,500 to be won per category! Entries close on 10 March 2026.
For inspiration, watch a selection of the MFF 2025 films via SBS On Demand.
For more information on how to submit your short film for this year, visit: https://www.
Professional Migrant Women – IWD 2026
Join Professional Migrant Women to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with Balance the Scales on Thursday 5 March from 5:30pm – 8pm.
This empowering event brings together women from diverse backgrounds to amplify voices, share stories, and inspire change. Be part of an uplifting celebration of equity, resilience and community connection.
For more information, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/
Strengthening multicultural organisations!
Community organisations can now apply for funding to build capacity and support operations. Grants of up to $400,000 are available through the 2025-26 Multicultural Capacity Building Program (MCBP).
Applications are open from Thursday 15 January 2026 and close on Thursday 19 February 2026 at 3.00pm.
For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.vic.gov.au/
Road Safety for Everyone
Keeping our roads safe is a shared responsibility across Victoria’s diverse communities. Risky driving behaviours put lives at risk and are likely to be detected anywhere, anytime and to anyone.
Seatbelts save lives. Drivers who are not buckled up face a $407 fine and 3 demerit points.
The Victorian Multicultural Commission encourages all community members to buckle up and look out for one another, because safety on our roads protects families, friends and communities.
For more information, visit: https://www.roadsafety.vic.
What if one meal could change someone’s life?
| Feast for Freedom, our annual community fundraiser, is back and this year we’d love to invite you to host your very first Feast.Feast for Freedom is a simple but powerful idea: you bring people together over food and together you raise funds for refugees and people seeking asylum. You can host your Feast at home, at work, or in your community, cooking from our recipe book and sharing a meal with purpose.Each year, thousands of people across Australia take part, gathering around tables filled with food, stories and cultures shared by refugee cooks. Now, it’s your turn to be part of it.When you host a Feast for Freedom, you’re creating space for connection and compassion.Register now to receive your free Host Kit and choose a date that works for you. You can host your Feast any time until 30 April and we’ll give you everything you need to get started. |
| I’m ready to host my first Feast! |
Your Old Phone Could Save a Life- Hobsons Bay Council
| Your old phone could save a life. DV Safe Phone collects unused phones and gives them to people escaping domestic and family violence. By repurposing donated phones into secure, untraceable lifelines, DV Safe Phone helps victims stay connected to loved ones, reach support, and rebuild their lives. It’s a second life for your phone and a safer life for someone in danger. All you need to do is factory reset your phone and drop it at any of our Hobsons Bay libraries |
Phoenix Youth Hub: Council wants your help to shape what comes next
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Phoenix is the only youth hub in the City of Maribyrnong. We’re starting to plan for what comes next and want your ideas.Whether you’re a young person aged 12 to 25, or you’re a parent or carer, a service provider or a staff member from a local school, we want to hear from you. We want to know what would make Phoenix a place for young people. That might be:events, a safe space to hang out, support when it’s needed, a great vibe, something closer to home. Big or small ideas – we want to hear them all. This is your chance to speak up before planning begins. Have your say by completing the survey or posting your idea before midnight Sunday 29 March 2026 at www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/phoenix |
Be part of informing Creative West, a mayor project for Footscray
| Council is inviting you to take part in a Focus Group to help inform the design of our exciting Creative West project. Creative West is a landmark project that will revitalise the Footscray CBD. The project includes: a world-class library for learning, creativity and innovation: a performing arts venue for local creatives and audiences, a shaded, green town park for wellbeing, gatherings and events and car parking to improve visitor experience to the area. It will provide a welcoming place for everyone in the community to gather, learn new skills, attend events, and experience culture in the heart of Footscray. Community voices – from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences – are a vital part of making sure that Creative West really is a place for everyone, and truly reflects our local area. Each focus group will be a relaxed, facilitated conversation, with a small group of participants and plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts. Light refreshments will be provided, and all sessions are free to attend. There are a range of sessions, designed to cater for different groups in our community. These sessions aren’t about technical details or having all the answers. They’re about everyday experiences, how you use the area, what matters to you, what works well, and what could work better in the future. Location: Footscray Library, 56 Paisley Street Footscray. Duration: Sessions are between 1-2 hours Find out more and book into a session that is relevant to you via the link below: Monday 16 February 1pm-2:30pm Focus group for multicultural communities 1 Saturday 21 February 10am-11:30am Focus group for multicultural communities 2 Sunday 22 February 3pm-4:30pm Focus group for people with Disability Tuesday 24 February 4pm-5:30pm Focus group for Women Tuesday 24 February 6pm-7:30pm Focus group for LGBTIQA+ communities Wednesday 25 February 12pm-1pm Focus group for parents Thursday 26 February 11am-12:30pm Focus group for older adults Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to register soon (and please only register once). If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. All focus groups will be fully inclusive. We’d love to have you involved in shaping the future of Creative West. |
Free health advice when you need it most
If you need health advice but are not sure where to start, 1800MEDICARE is a free national phone service, website and app providing expert health information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1800MEDICARE can help if you or someone you care for is feeling unwell or injured, if you are unsure whether to seek medical help, if you are away from home or far from medical services, or if you need advice about health services in your area. It is for situations that are not an emergency but where immediate advice is needed.
Call 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422) for free, trusted health advice and support to connect you with the right care, anywhere in Australia. If you need language assistance, you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 before calling.
For more information, visit https://www.
Acknowledgement of Country
WRECC acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognizes their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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Acknowledgements:
We gratefully acknowledge our many individual contributors and regular content sources including related newsletters such as those published by VMC, CEH, CMY, AMES, SSI, ICV, DHA, our local councils and the many other organisations supporting migrant and refugee settlement and social cohesion. We will also regularly draw content from ethnic and mainstream media sources such as The Age, the ABC and SBS.
Disclaimer:
Our newsletter publishes content as it’s contributed or sourced with minimal editing. Material included does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor nor the Western Region Ethnic Communities Council Committee of Management, nor should its inclusion be seen to necessarily constitute an endorsement.