The Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA) congratulates Bwe Thay for assuming the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. RCAA would like to thank the Victoria Government for the appointment of Mr Thay who have extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge and issues challenging the multicultural communities, particularly in the space of new and emerging communities and recently arrived refugees and migrants. RCAA Chairperson Juma Piri Piri said, “I am immensely proud for the choice made by the Victoria Government to appoint Mr Thay as deputy chair who is RCCA founding member and advisor. Mr Thay’s contribution to refugee communities through RCAA, particularly in RCAA COVID-19 Relief Taskforce has made significant contribution to refugees, Asylum Seekers and international students affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Thay a refugee who arrived in Australia in 2009 has been serving as a VMC Commissioner since September last year and has been a member of the VMC Eastern Metropolitan Regional Advisory Council since 2017. Mr Thay Said, “he is very proud as former refugee for the opportunity to be appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of Victoria Multicultural Commission and this shows the greatness and uniqueness of our multicultural Australia”. Victoria’s Premier, Hon Daniel Andrews MP said that “Mr Thay will support Chair Vivienne Nguyen in steering the Commission and working to identify and address issues faced by Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities”. Elijah Buol OAM said, “building an inclusive and a harmonious Australia where everyone belongs requires us to empower and give opportunities to members of refugee and migrants community in the decision-making positions”. I am pleased to acknowledge that VMC is always led by former refugees and wholeheartedly thank the Victoria government for setting an example to other States and Territories” he said. Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon Ros Spence MP, “I’m pleased to be welcoming Bwe as the deputy chair of the Commission, where I know he will continue to be a strong advocate for people from diverse backgrounds”. VMC Chair Vivienne Nguyen, “I look forward to working with Bwe to deliver a range of initiatives that achieve positive outcomes for culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse Victorians – and to foster harmony and understanding between communities.” 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. RCAA looks forward to continuing to work with Victoria Multicultural Commission and Mr Thay in his new role. 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) welcomes the Federal Government changes to increase access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge MP announced changes including the removal of the 5-year limit in which eligible adult migrants and refugee can access the scheme. Over the years, our communities and members indicated to us that learning English increases their opportunities and build their level of confidence to participate and involve in greatness that Australia offers. Mr Piri Piri, chairperson of RCAA said “learning English languages is not an only factor of successful settlement for refugees and migrants but an important aspect of a successful settlement of refugees and migrants to participate and we applauded these flexible changes”. RCAA is looking forward to work with the Federal government on the details of the proposed measures”, he said. Also, RCAA and its members are pleased that the government has acknowledged a long overdue call. We believe refugee and migrant communities contribute enormously to Australia society in many ways. Hakeem al-Araibi, Australian Footballer and RCAA Patron said, “learning English is a pathway to a successful journey of healing and meaningful integration for refugees and migrants’ communities into a diverse and vibrant multicultural Australia”. Parsu Sharma Luital JP, Former Refugee and RCAA General Secretary said, “Flexible learning of English has allowed members of newly resettled Bhutanese communities to be productive members of Australia’s family and grateful that the government has finally realised the significant of flexible English language learning”. RCAA cautiously welcomes the Government announced changes to the citizenship test Australian which will include new questions on Australian values, and the Australian Values Statement. RCAA believe that our unique values of respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, and a spirit of fairness that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and concern for each other is the anchor and glue that make us and Australia great and successful immigration story in the world. Elijah Buol OAM, RCAA Executive Director said, “Citizenship is our identity and pride that bonds us together and advances Australia-fair which we need to reflect in our deeds and actions all the time and the government needs to ensure that these changes shouldn’t become a barrier for people to get citizenship”. “They are wide-reaching ingredients which makes us great and uniquely Australians” he said. 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]

RCAA COVID-19 Relief Taskforce established in collaboration between the Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA) and Help Himalayan Youth Foundation (HHYF) has continued food distribution to refugee communities, Asylum Seekers and international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The RCAA is an independent refugee-led peak national advocacy organisation providing a unified voice for people with a lived refugee experience in Australia. RCAA Chairperson Juma Piri Piri said, “We are very humbled and touched by the appreciation, trust and hope refugee communities and international students have shown to us for our small contribution when they are doing tough.” Since the start of the relief program, RCAA COVID-19 Relief Taskforce distributed over 2 tons of food packages, each package includes essential food items to last for ten days to Assyrian/Chaldean, Iranian, Bhutanese, Burmese and Rohingya Asylum Seekers families including Nepali, Nigerian and Vietnamese international students. This initiative has brought established refugee communities to support refugees from new and emerging communities together and empower each other. RCAA would like to acknowledge kind and generous contribution from Vietnamese Community members, refugee businesses and wider Australian communities. While receiving a gift of vouchers and welcoming card from 14 year old Kyana Bui, a daughter of a former Vietnamese refugee, an ISIS survivor, ten year old Chrestina Obada said, ‘ she was very empowered by the generosity and support and pleased to see that refugee communities are helping their own at time when they need support the most’. Thanks to the RCAA COVID-19 Taskforce Relief Committee members, Elijah Buol OAM, Parsu Sharma- Luital JP, Juma Piri Piri, Bwe Thay and Nasiba Akram for their hard work and commitment to create a better place for our community members. Also, thanks to Co-patrons Huss Mustafa OAM, Hakeem al-Arabi, Inspector Chris Allen, Victoria Police and Victorian Multicultural Commission for helping with relief distribution. Thank you to Muslim Aid Australia for adding a good donation to the relief package. ‘In life there is no greater joy than knowing that fellow former refugees and the organisation that you belong to, have helped someone in a time of need’ said Huss Mustafa OAM, a former refugee. Please join us and let’s support our brothers and sisters in need. For donations, financial or in-kind, please visit our website www.rcaa.tempurl.host for details or contact RCAA General Secretary, Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email: [email protected].