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Bass Coast Multicultural Award.jpg?width=334&height=250) Bass Coast Multicultural Award Bass Coast Shire Council has been recognised for leadership in embracing cultural diversity. By Bass Coast - 29th June 2012 - Back to News The Regional Diversity Award 2012 was presented to Council at the Gippsland and Cardinia Diversity Awards presentation held on 14 June.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, said the awards were an initiative of Gippsland Multicultural Services, an agency based in Morwell that supports migrants and refugees to help them make the region their home.
"Winning this award shows that we have provided outstanding local support for migrants and refugees through a number of initiatives and services.
"It also recognises the expertise and experience of our Community Strengthening team, who are to be congratulated.
"The team has built upon community networks to develop relevant support services and programs," said Cr Dowman.
Bass Coast Shire Council was the only one in the region to declare itself a "Refugee Friendly Zone" when councils were asked to make this commitment by Rural Australians for Refugees in the early 2000s. Social Planning Officer, Berni Murphy, said being openly welcoming to refugees and migrants is one of the reasons we won the award.
"We have done this by strengthening working relationships with local groups and running programs that help support the settlement of migrants and refugees into Bass Coast.
"We have also assisted groups directly. For example, we have provided health programs, meeting spaces and events for the Karen and Buddhist Communities," said Ms Murphy.
"One program I’m really passionate about is the cultural awareness seminar we held for local health professionals in 2011.
"We worked with other agencies in the region and invited an expert on refugee health from the Royal Children’s Hospital to come and speak to local doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nursing staff. The session provided information about cultural sensitivities and special health issues in treating multicultural patients and customers.
"The participants really appreciated the opportunity to ask questions, network and exchange experiences in a forum like this seminar," continued Ms Murphy.
The award also recognised Ms Murphy’s social planning leadership role as Chair of the Bass Coast Settlement Planning meeting.
"This meeting brings groups together for effective program planning and sharing of information such as research on settlement trends.
‘I’ve also recently been appointed onto the Regional Advisory Council responsible for advising the State Minister for Immigration and Citizenship about local issues.
"Part of our work is to encourage the state government to provide us with improved data about what nationalities move to our region.
"This will help us to plan for continued appropriate services and support, especially as our multicultural population is expected to grow.
"Providing quality social services is very rewarding work because the Bass Coast community has so much to offer," said Ms Murphy.
"My experience is that welcoming in people from diverse backgrounds strengthens our multicultural population and raises cultural awareness, for everyone’s benefit."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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