P O Box 94
Forest Hill VIC 3131
Email: chair.msc@gmail.com
Website: www.ccoei.org.au
Chairs:
Sam Navarria: Mob: 0432 975 558
Cynthia Shaw: Mob: 0434 080 977
MIGRANT SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE (Eastern Region)
Standing Committee of the Communities’ Council on Ethnic Issues (Eastern Region) Inc.
Reg. No. A0017562S
Minutes
Friday, October 3rd 2014
Whitehorse Community Centre, Level 1 Conference Room,
79 Mahoneys Road, Forest Hill.
1. Present
Chris Cosgriff
Heather Cosgriff
Glenis Crocker
Maria deMonte
Belinda Gillam Derry
Leigh Gilmore
Margot Hennessy
Teena Lee
Jaya Manchikanti
Sam Navarria
Andree O’Donnell
Saturnino Onyala
Railey Orger
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos
Sui Ting Tse
Clary Verbunt
Apologies
Leonie Burnham
Jeska Chamberlain
Linda Chen
Donna Dimartino
Twanny Farrugia
Jack Intziadis
Kiri McKendrik
Stephen Noy
Madeleine Parker
Cynthia Shaw
Guest
Suzie Su
CCOEI, Anchor
CCOEI
CCOEI (part of the meeting)
DHS Centrelink, Multicultural Services Officer
ECLC Yarra Ranges, Coordinator
DOJ, Sheriff Office Ringwood, Senior Sheriff Officer and Multicultural and
Indigenous Liaison Officer
AMES, Youth Coordinator
Eastern Health Child Youth Mental Health Services, Promotions Officer
City of Knox, Multicultural Community Officer
CCOEI
AMES Settlement, Case Manager
MIC, Settlement Support Worker
City of Whitehorse, Diversity and Healthy Ageing Officer
Victoria Police, Multicultural Liaison Officer
CCOEI
CCOEI, Dutch Community
ECLC, Manager Inner East Office
Victoria Police, Multicultural Liaison Officer
CCOEI, ESL Teacher
DHS, Northern Vic
CCOEI, DonateLife Community Champion
DHS Northern Vic, MSO
DOJ, Sheriff Office Box Hill, Sheriff Officer
Victoria Police, Inspector, Community Engagement, EMR
DEECD EMR, School Development Officer ESL
CCOEI
Consumer Affairs Victoria
2. Minutes September 2014 meeting
Minutes circulated electronically. Moved Andree O’Donnell Seconded: Sui Ting Tse. Accepted.
3. Business Arising – incorporated in agenda
4. Issues and concerns template
MSC members/organisations can use this form to detail an issue or concern for the attention of the
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) or the local Regional Advisory Council (RAC). A covering
MSC minutes October 2014
letter from CCOEI would be attached. An annual summary report should be sent with all the
issues/concerns raised during the year and indicating issues that are outstanding or still require action.
5. Correspondence
Settlement Planning Update from DSS – electronically circulated to MSC members.
6. Meeting focus: Consumer Affairs Victoria – an overview of services, alerts, campaigns and
multilingual resources presented by Suzie Su, CAV.
Consumer Affairs Victoria is the state’s consumer affairs regulator, helping create a competitive and fair
marketplace for businesses and consumers. Its purpose is to help Victorians be responsible and
informed businesses and consumers. CAV advises and assists on renting and accommodation, estate
agents, building, shopping and trading, and other areas. CAV administers more than 60 legislations.
Some of CAV’s main activities are to:
• review and advise the state government on consumer legislation and industry codes
• advise and educate consumers, tenants, businesses and landlords on their rights, responsibilities
and changes to the law
• register and license businesses and occupations
• conciliate disputes between consumers and traders, and tenants and landlords
• enforce and ensure compliance with consumer laws
In the south east of Melbourne, CAV operates from Dandenong and Box Hill.
Suzie addressed a number of areas including:
Rental: by far the biggest issue that comes to CAV with 200,000 out of 500,000 calls per year. Bond
related issues are significant - many landlords do not lodge the bond which later on becomes a problem.
Moving out is also a problem because processes are not clearly understood. Rooming venues (rooms
rented to individuals) are a significant issue. CAV and local councils inspect registered rooming houses.
Those that operate as rooming houses but are not registered can only be inspected if they are reported.
Minimum standards apply to rooming houses, e.g. size of refrigerators, smoke alarms, and number of
power points. CAV provides advice to tenants and landlords on renting.
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) - CAV provides advice to consumers and businesses on consumer
rights in relation to goods and services, refund policy and consumer guarantees. Under ACL a business
can be a consumer too when buying goods/services for use in the business. All consumers are
protected by consumer guarantees. CAV can act as mediator for both individuals and businesses.
Scams are a considerable problem and can have a devastating financial and emotional impact.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 2013 Victorians reported more
than 19,000 scam-related incidents and more than $21 million in losses. As many scams go unreported
the actual numbers are likely to be higher.
Difficult to act on scams after consumers have been scammed and Suzie referred to the Scam website
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au The website provides a range of easily accessible information on types of
scams that the public should be aware of. The information could be used for educational activities and
to raise awareness. It is recommended to regularly visit the website.
Suzie also referred to CAVs campaign on scams Scams hurt. Talk helps – to raise awareness that
anyone can fall for a scam and to promote the support services available if needed. To access visit the
CAV website http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news-updates/scams-hurt-talk-helpsnews-alert The campaign is being launched during Mental Health Week (5-11 October) and is
supported by beyondblue, SANE Australia, Headspace and the Victorian Men’s Shed Association.
CAV’s news, warnings and information about scams is available in newsletter, facebook and twitter.
MSC Minutes October. 2014
The campaign encourages people who have been affected by a scam to talk about how they are feeling
with friends and family, and to seek professional help if they are experiencing depression or anxiety as a
result of being scammed. The Scams hurt. Talk helps campaign features videos that educate
consumers about the tricks scammers use to rip them off through romance, lottery, online selling,
investment, rebates, rental and business scams. People affected by scams are being encouraged to
report them, and to share their story to help warn others about scams.
Suzie also touched on the area of Unsolicited Consumer Agreements. These are usually achieved
through telemarketing, and door to door sales. People should be made aware of the risks involved and
can ward off the risk by not participating, adopting a do not call register, using do not knock stickers and
if signing a contract that they could cancel it within the 10 days cooling off period.
Suzie noted that CAV can only conciliate disputes but if conciliation fails, matters can be taken to VCAT
and CAV can provide advice on how to access VCAT, VCAT forms, applications etc. CAV cannot
prosecute. Any systemic problems that are brought to the attention of CAV are directed to their
compliance section. Conciliation is best when it works.
Suzie also touched on the areas of buying and selling cars from licensed motor car traders and
privately, car services and repairs and buying houses. These areas are regulated but also suffer scams
which can have far reaching consequences. Just as important is the law governing Owners Corporation
and one should be aware of fees, rules, Owners Corporation Committee, AGM, OC certificate.
Product safety is an important area for CAV, consumers and suppliers. From time to time a product
alert or information is issued by authorities such as governments or suppliers:
• Safety warning notices - formal alert issued by an Australian Government Minister. The notice
warns that the goods or services may cause injury and/or is under investigation. A supplier of
goods and services must comply with the national product safety laws.
• Bans - there are two types of bans. An interim ban lasts for 60 days and can be extended for a
further 60 days. A permanent ban can only be imposed by the Commonwealth Minister. In either
case, it is illegal to supply, offer to supply, manufacture, process or control a banned product.
• Mandatory safety standards - these are specific requirements for a good or service set by the
Commonwealth Minister. These standards include the way the good is made, what it contains, how
it works, what tests it must pass, and warnings or instructions accompanying this good.
• Recall of consumer goods - can be initiated by a supplier or ordered by a Minister. A supplier
should recall a product as soon as they realise it may cause injury, or does not comply with a safety
standard, or has been banned. If a supplier voluntarily recalls a product they must notify the
Commonwealth Minister within 48 hours of the recall. If a supplier does not voluntarily recall a
product then a minister can order a recall if the product poses a safety risk. Go to
www.recalls.gov.au to notify the Minister of a recall.
• Reporting requirements - suppliers must notify the Commonwealth Minister within 48 hours of
becoming aware that a person suffered serious injury, illness or death associated with a consumer
good or product-related service they supplied (whether in Australia or overseas). To notify the
Minister, a supplier can complete the online mandatory reporting form on the product safety
Australia website www.productsafety.gov.au
• Consumer compensation - if a consumer suffers loss or damage because of defects in a
manufacturer’s product, the consumer can take the manufacturer to court or they can make a
complaint to Consumer Affairs Victoria who can take action on the consumer’s behalf.
CAV also provides support in relation to building and renovation; incorporated associations, retirement
villages, and business licensing
In summary, CAV Services include
• enquiries – phone calls, emails, face to face
• conciliation – for both consumer and business
• residential tenancy inspections
MSC Minutes October. 2014
•
•
•
community and business presentations
compliance assistance visits
investigation and prosecution
More information is available on the website www.consumer.vic.gov.au or call 1300558181 and TIS
131450 or CAV centres, e.g. 703 Station Street Box Hill. CAV is also on Facebook, Twitter and UTube
Unfortunately, CAV has no brochures in community languages. Plain English is used but this is not
enough for people whose English is limited. However, free interpreter service (paid by CAV) is available
7. MSC Calendar 2014 - The calendar is flexible and developed in consultation with MSC members.
MSC 2014 Calendar
MSC
meeting
dates
MSC Meeting focus
January
07 Feb
No meeting
Refugee Council of Australia – Australian
Government policy on Asylum seekers and
refugees and its impact on the ground
(Louise Olliff, Settlement Policy Coordinator,
RCOA);Brooke Collins - Coranderrk and
community involvement: Keeping Barak’s
dream alive
Multicultural Affairs & Settlement Grants
Program, Department of Social Services: an
update on the changes from the Department
of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
to the Department of Social Services
(DSS).(Multicultural Affairs &Settlement
Grants Program, DSS – Manager Anna
Hughes).
Foundation House – its work with Refugees
and Asylum Seekers in 2014, (Jasmina
Mulugeta, Eastern Region Team
Coordinator, Foundation House)
"Equality is not the same...". Leanne
Sargent will speak to the outcomes of the
Community Consultations undertaken by
Victoria Police in 2013 and the way forward
for Victoria Police. Leanne will provide a brief
overview of the newly created Priority
Communities Division which has been
established in recognition that Victoria Police
must do more to engage effectively and
purposively with the diverse communities of
Victoria.
MSC - .30 minutes with a focus on Forums
and Agency Reports, followed by Refugee
Week event – see forums/events and
function column
07 March
04 April
02 May
06 June
July
01 Aug
05 Sept
No meeting
VMC and RACs – achievements and
challenges. Speaker, Rudy Monteleone,
Director VMC
Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery – A
MSC Minutes October. 2014
MSC
Forums/functions/events
dates and working groups
International events in 2014
(multicultural calendar events of note)
February 1-7 United Nations Interfaith
Harmony Week
Harmony Day – support
activities including soccer
harmony events (Australia
Burma Society and others).
Sat March 15th Coranderrk (Aboriginal
Station) Festival Healesville
March 21: Harmony Day
April 7 – World Health Organisation
World Health Day
May 6: Building cultural
competence: Mind Your
Language Forum Leonie
(convenor), Railey – City of
Whitehorse, Maria DHS Centrelink, Teena-Eastern
Health and Linda
May 21 - World Day for Cultural
Diversity
for
Dialogue
and
Development,
Refugee Week forum/event –
working group: Cynthia
(convenor), Michael, Maria.
Jeska, Gitta, Jasmina. Event
title: Refugee Celebration.
June 20 – UN World Refugee Day,
June 26 – UN Day - Support of
Victims of Torture
03 Oct
snapshot. Speaker – Ann Sathasivam,
Community Organiser Coordinator, The
Freedom Partnership to End Modern
Slavery, The Salvation Army
CAV - focus on key areas of activity and
concerns, Suzie Su, Consumer Affairs
Victoria.
07 Nov
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria –
the multicultural landscape: ECCV’s
place in it, Eddie Micallef, Chair ECCV.
05 Dec
Review of MSC activity in 2014 and
planning 2015 calendar
DV: Leonie (convenor), Jeska
Jasmina, Judy (MIC). Event
title: Breaking the cycle.
Spring Festival City of
Whitehorse 19th October;
Crime prevention project
CCOEI 28th October
Refugee
health
forum
(cultural perspectives on
mental health?)
October 17- International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty, UN recognized
November 16 - International Day for
Tolerance
November 25 - International Day for
the Elimination of Violence against
Women,
Dec 3rd: International Day for People
with a disability.
http://www.idpwd.com.au/
Other areas of interest for future meetings:
1. How LGAs in the Eastern Metropolitan Region address the needs of cultural minorities in their area
2. The law – magistrates court/Sheriff office
3. Human rights and culture
4. Refugee Minors Program: – changes to support clients turning 18
5. Amnesty International – its work locally and globally.
6. Holistic support for youth (e.g. Anchor services and programs; specific programs and services provided
by JEM, NAPCAN; CMY, Life Without Barriers);
7. Domestic Violence Victoria
8. Human Rights Law Centre or RILC.
9. Red Cross and its work with asylum seekers and refugees.
8. Forum and Agency Reports
Forums
Domestic Violence Forum (Teena Lee): Forum title changed to avoid confusion with another forum of the same
name at about the same time. Forum venue (Box Hill Town Hall) and forum date 30th of October. Forum will be
interactive and explore issues through case studies. The impact of family violence on children will be explored.
Refugee Celebration 2015 (Sam Navarria). Cynthia and Sam have met with Kirsten Reedy, City of
Manningham, to discuss the event. The event is a partnership of CCOEI, MSC and Manningham. The
celebration will be held alongside a significant event on the city of Manningham calendar.
Seeking the Answers – Speaker Series (Glenis Crocker) Report on the refugee youth participation in
education, training and employment forthcoming.
Crime Prevention Community Safety CCOEI project (Sam Navarria): The DOJ funded project is underway.
The project includes resource development (production of a toolkit) and delivery of forums with stakeholder input.
Culturally sensitive forums will be delivered to established ethno specific groups who appear to be experiencing
a greater incidence of issues related to financial guarantors. Steering Committee has been established and is
meeting regularly.
Agency and individual reports
City of Knox (Jaya Manchikanti)
 Knox September Council meeting will adopt the Australian Human Rights Commission Racism Stops
With Me campaign.
 The city will hold a Community Safety Day on October 26
 Stringy bark festival to be held on the18th and 19th of October at the Rowville Community Centre
MSC Minutes October. 2014


Knox Multicultural Committee vacancies by the end of the year – encouraged to apply
Jaya is leaving Knox to take up the position of Case Manager with the city of Monash
Special Note: On behalf of the Migrant Settlement Committee Sam thanked Jaya for her active
involvement and contribution to the MSC, events and forums and wished her success in her new
position with the City of Monash.
Communities Council on Ethnic Issue (Chris, Sam, Glenis)
 CCOEI is delivering a DOJ funded project on the risks of elderly financial guarantors in CALD
communities (see entry in forums above)
 Tighter conditions apply to all CCOEI funded activity - accountability includes receipts for expended
funds as well as in kind contribution to satisfy audit and reporting requirements.
ECLC (Belinda Gillam Derry)
 ECLC AGM 18th November
 Lilydale Office has employed its first Hakka Chin interpreter.
City of Whitehorse Spring Festival (Railey Orger)
 20th Spring Festival celebration to be held on the 19th of October at the civic centre in Nunawading
 Seniors Festival coming up – Railey will provide web link
 The City in partnership with Victoria Police is working with milk bar operators and small retail, including
liquor outlets, to increase awareness of safety and keep shops safer.
Centrelink (Maria deMonte)
 Eastern Region is running Digital Information Sessions across the following Service Centres for all
service providers in the region from 5-6.30pm: Boronia 14 Oct; Lilydale 21 Oct; Ringwood 11 Nov.
 From October 6 Medicare office out of Eastland Shopping Centre is joining Ringwood Centrelink to
service clients as a one stop shop.
Victoria Police (Elizabeth Sidiropoulos)
 Given the latest events many people of Moslem faith are requesting support, mainly women. Victoria
Police encourages the community to report incidents of racial vilification and racism
 Saturday mosque in Doncaster open for Eid Festival and Victoria Police will attend.
Humanitarian Settlement Services - HSS (Andree O’Donnell)
 Appointment of new case manager Ringwood and Noble Park worked on Christmas Island. Total Case
Manager EFT is 3.5 for the two areas
 Entrants of Coptic faith coming under in country refugees, mainly settling in Donvale and Doncaster
 Some Chin background entrants
 2 large Syrian families from Aleppo – Kurdish Moslem faith who are separate from other Moslem groups
Migrant Information Centre (Saturnino Onyala) - MIC AGM 15th October at the Hub in Box Hill from 10-11.30
Next MSC Meeting: Friday 7th November 2014, 9.30– 12.00
Focus: ECCV – an overview of services, achievements 2014, challenges and directions 2015
Speaker – Eddie Micallef, Chair ECCV
Venue: Conference Room, Level 1, Whitehorse Community Centre, 79 Mahoneys Road, Forest Hill
NOTES: (1) For past and current CCOEI and MSC documents, including meeting papers and guest
presentations, visit www.CCOEI.org.au ; (2) To contact Cynthia Shaw or Sam Navarria on matters relating to the
MSC please use chair.msc@gmail.com.
MSC Minutes October. 2014