On Tuesday 29 March 2016, Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence tabled its findings with a 1900 page report which includes 227 recommendations.
The report includes a ten-page section on 'Faith Communities', highlighting the important role faith-based communities and organisations can play in the lives of Victorians affected by family violence.
The report notes it is important that faith-based communities address barriers to the disclosure, prevention of, or recovery from family violence.
A leading professor of intercultural studies has praised the Bendigo Interfaith Council for taking a stand against racism and supporting the construction of a mosque in the city.
Desmond Cahill, professor of intercultural studies at Melbourne’s RMIT university, spoke at the inaugural Bendigo Interfaith Dinner. “I want to publicly congratulate all of you and your fellow citizens for the stand you have taken in supporting the building of the mosque, in resisting racism and bigotry (both of which lie deep in the Australian psyche) and in defending the principles of religious freedom and the separation of religion and state,” he said.
Source: Bendigo Advertiser
On 15 March 2016, the Victorian Government announced the opening of two new grant programs: the Community Harmony Program 2016-17 and the Capacity Building and Participation Program 2016-17.
Capacity Building and Participation Program: The Capacity Building and Participation Program is designed to build the knowledge and skills of multicultural communities across Victoria to fully participate and contribute to everyday life in Victoria.
Community Harmony Program: The Community Harmony Program is designed to enable Victorians to build social cohesion and community harmony through preventative initiatives that address the root causes of social disharmony and racial, ethnic and religious intolerance.
A Mosque, like to a church, temple or any place of worship, is a sacred space for reflection and connection to faith.
The City of Casey is home to approximately 15,000 people who follow Islam and practice the Muslim faith.
They, along with any other religious groups in the community, are entitled to submit an application to build a place of worship.
People are also entitled to a view on any proposed development and the council has a process that can be followed for that view to be expressed.
Source: Leader
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has launched a new video to highlight that Jews of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity are welcome members of the community.
The LGBTI Social Inclusion video was officially launched at JCCV’s Plenum by the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott.
It has been developed by the JCCV’s young LGBTI advisory group called JADE (Jews All Diverse and Equal), which aims to highlight that you can be Jewish and LGBTI.
Source: J Wire
Inclusion was the buzzword as the Federation of Indian Origin Multi-faith Organisation (FIMO) launched an Indian Interfaith Guide at Museum India, Dandenong, recently. The guide was launched in alignment with FIMO’s objective of fostering interaction and harmony between Indian Victorians irrespective of their religious or regional backgrounds.
The Victorian Government’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship funded guide includes information about diverse Indian faiths, their social norms and practices. The guide will be promoted and utilised by mainstream courts, religious sectors, police and other services and is aimed at educating and benefiting wider Australian society.
Source: Indian Link
On a golden sunlit evening under tall eucalyptus trees in the City Square, Melbourne, Australia; enjoying a delicious Vegetarian 3-course Dinner; seated at a sixty-metre long dining table; listening to a duo and a trio of musicians playing music without borders; served and waited on by 40 volunteers; 206 guests from 27 diverse religions, spiritualities, philosophies and cultures; met new ‘neighbours’ and engaged in conversation full of heart.
Source: YouTube
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