Refugee Communities Association of Australia and its members are pleased to announce that we are the proudest Winner for Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Refugee Advocacy held last night by the Victorian Government. Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) aims is to empower refugee communities across Australia, enabling them to take active roles in Australia. With the motto led for refugee, with refugee, by refugee and with the vision to provide a voice for refugees with the lived experience, RCAA prides itself in grassroot engagement and empowerment for refugee communities and their members to successfully settle and integration in Australia. The Premier of Victoria, Hon Daniel Andrews said, “a 10-month-old Refugee advocacy peak body is an anchor of hope which has developed a positive relationship and provide meaningful and responsive services to refugees’ communities in Victoria and across Australia”. “We are grateful to RCAA COVID-19 Taskforce for providing enormous support throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic period in Victoria to international Students, refugees’ communities and Asylum Seekers” said Vivienne Nguyen, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Chairperson, Mr Juma Piri Piri said, “the award is a recognition that refugee communities have solutions to their own issues and can response effectively when they are empowered”. Former Refugee and RCAA General Secretary, Parsu Sharma-Luital JP, said, that “this award is a win for all refugees communities and a testimony that refugee communities themselves can response better to their needs because, they have lived experiences”. Refugees communities knows their issues and RCAA is run by “former refugees, for refugee, with refugee, by Refugee communities” Mr Parsu Sharma- Luital JP added. RCAA believes that the pain and suffering of refugees can only be felt and responded to by those who have experienced those journeys themselves. It is those hands which are best equipped to heal the wounds” said, Ms Nasiba Akram, Women Chairperson. Elijah Buol OAM, Executive Director said, “he is extremely proud of RCAA achievement over the last 10 months for showing us that time has come for refugee communities themselves to decide on what is best for themselves to lead refugee organisations and walk in their own shoes”. Through COVID-19 Taskforce, RCAA has delivered relief, COVID-19 information session and support refugee communities’ member, asylum seekers and international students affected by COVID-19 Pandemic. Ms Giang Nguyen, Co-Coordinator, RCAA Victorian Chapter said, “there is always proudest movements for me as Australian but as a former refugee, this is the best movement for me and the best gift for Christmas and New Year because refugees led organisation did it alone; the power of empowering your own”. RCAA and its members would like to thank Victorian Government for ongoing partnership and funding that allow RCAA to engage and empower refugee’s community to feel a sense of belonging and settle successfully into their new country. To our members, let’s harvest what we have sowed as we continue to celebrate and embrace every opportunity Australia offers. On behalf of the RCAA team and our members, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year! For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email.

The Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA) and its members are pleased to announce that we have received $100,000 through CALD Communities Taskforce funding to support international students, refugee communities and families during the COVID-19 pandemics. RCAA established RCAA COVID-19 Relief Taskforce early this year and has distributed over 12 tonnes of food and 7000 masks to international students, refugees, and asylum seekers across metro Melbourne. We are pleased to see that the Victorian government has recognised the importance of strengthening refugees’ communities to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Mr Juma Piri Piri, RCAA Chairperson thanked the Victorian government for leading the way and setting an example to other States and Territories government. This funding is a testimony of a government that truly listen and response to community initiatives and programs that meet the immediate needs of refugee communities.” he added. Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Community Sport and Minister for Youth, Hon Ros Spence MP said “the Andrews Labor Government is proud to support refugee’s communities’ work by providing $100,000 through the CALD Communities Taskforce to the Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA)”. This acknowledgement of incredible volunteers at the Refugee Communities Association of Australia who are providing support to international students, refugees and asylum seekers in a time of great need”, said the Minister. A 10-year-old Iraqi girl and her family who are survivors of ISIS captivity, and now call Melbourne home said, “compassion and resilience come in many forms and grateful that the family have received much-needed support from the Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) during the coronavirus pandemic”. Vivienne Nguyen, the Chairperson of Victorian Multicultural Commission said, this COVID-19 does not discriminate, and it is great to see Refugees Communities Association of Australia banding together to support vulnerable members of the community”. Elijah Buol OAM said, “a responsive government does not only underscore its promises but also delivers on those promises including immediate response to the needs of the vulnerable people in the community”. “Building an inclusive society requires a government and its people to extend their support to those who need our support the most in our community”, said, RCAA Patron, Huss Mustafa OAM. RCAA is led by refugee communities and their members in every states and territory as a unified peak national body that advocates for people of refugee background with lived experience in Australia. For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email: [email protected]

The Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA) and its members welcomes the Federal Government plan on social cohesion and combatting violence against women and children. Undoubtedly, the Federal Budget 2020 budget is about economic recovery by supporting economic demand and ensuring that the recovery remains on pathway. RCAA is pleased to see that the government has recognised the importance of Australia’s social cohesion and the impact of violence against women and children. RCAA believes that as all Australians move into the future, we need to focus on building social inclusion and a sense of common vision in attaining united and harmonious society that is active, vibrant, and connected to itself. In a joint media release, Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs said “the 2020-21 Budget has allocated $62.8 million to support Australia’s social cohesion and ensure the values and institutions that unite us as Australians remain strong”. RCAA echoes the same message and believes that social cohesion cannot be realised without strengthening institutions that promote a sense of togetherness and equally Australians. We believe that social cohesion is a glue that makes us strongly unique and allows us to focus on what unites us. The power of our vibrant multicultural Australia is personified in strengthening our social inclusion that bonds all Australians together within their diversities” said Elijah Buol OAM, Executive Director. RCAA thanks the Morrison’s government for the announcement of 10 new additional positions for Ethnic Liaison Officers who speak other languages rather than English to support the refugee communities and strengthen social cohesion. This was announced by Hon Alan Tudge MP at the Federal Post Budget 2020 Briefing for multicultural community leaders. RCAA always maintains and advocates for a healthy community where women and children are free from any form of violence. We are pleased to see that combatting violence against women and children is a top priority of the Government in this budget. It is always the dream and wish of refugee communities and their members to live in an environment free from violence. RCAA Deputy Chairperson, Nasiba Akram said, “as a woman, I applauded the government for making combating violence against women and children a top priority because a better society with a healthier future is a society where women and children are free from violence”. RCAA is also concerned about the reduction of quota in Australia’s Humanitarian Program to 13,750 places. There are many refugees in camps from all parts of the world who need protection and resettlement but reducing the quota in Australia’s Humanitarian program limited the protection. Australia has always and continues to extend its humanitarian support to those who are prosecuted and need our protection and this well-known Australians generosity should be extended by increasing the quota in the Australia’s Humanitarian Program rather reducing it”, Mr Juma Piri Piri, RCAA Chairperson. RCAA is led by refugee communities and their members in every states and territory as a unified peak national body that advocates for people of refugee background with lived experience in Australia. For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email: [email protected]