Religious & Ethnic Partnership = Multiculturalism

A new national partnership of religious and ethnic communities has been formed to promote Australian values of multiculturalism particularly in the climate of world conflict.

The Chairman of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA), Mr Abd Malak says that at this time in Australia’s history, when we are living in a climate of world conflict caused by religious, racial and nationalistic fervour, many in our society are feeling threatened.

Malak says that this sense of threat is putting social stability in danger. Australia must do all it can to foster and maintain community harmony because it is one of Australia’s greatest assets.

He says Australian multiculturalism has been a vital force in preserving and enriching the cultural, religious, economic and social life of this country – and it is an invaluable resource for all to be proud of, indeed, it is a value system that should be promoted to the rest of the world, particularly now.

For this reason 13 national religious and ethnic organisations have formed a new partnership to promote Australian values of multiculturalism, community harmony, social justice and the rejection of discrimination.

The partner organisations maintain these four values are intimately enmeshed saying harmonious and productive life in Australia in the 21st Century can only be understood and progressed through an unambiguous commitment to all of these values by governments and communities together.

The new collaboration, calling itself Australian Partnership of Ethnic and Religious Organisations (APERO), comprises the following foundation members:

Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia Inc (FECCA)
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC)
National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA)
Executive Council of Australia Jewry (ECAJ)
Australian Baha’i Community
Buddhist Council of NSW
Sikh Association of Sydney
Council for a Multicultural Australia (CMA)
Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF)
Adult Multicultural Education Service (AMES)
Federation of African Communities Councils (FACC)
Chinese Australian National Get-Together
National Council of Migrant Resource Centres and Migrant Service Agencies

The Partnership is being set up with the purpose of promoting community harmony through its various networks, sharing and debating issues of concern between communities, and providing strategic advice to government.

The Partnership has issued a joint Statement of Values and it is also consulting with the Commonwealth Government about ways forward. If you would like a copy of the Statement in WORD format just send us an email to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au.