4 December 2007
African Australian experiences put under the microscope for first time
The experiences of African Australians and African Muslim Australians will be examined nationally for the first time next year, by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), National Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma announced today.
The national African and African Muslim Communities in Australia project’s steering committee will meet for the first time in the next few weeks to develop a human rights-focussed initiative that will inform future policy and research in the area.
Commissioner Calma said the project would investigate the pressing human rights needs faced by African Australians who settle in Australia.
“These needs present unique challenges for service providers and policy-makers,” Mr Calma said.
“The project will also comprehensively look at housing, education, health and employment needs to name a few areas.
“We particularly hope the report will debunk some of the myths about African Australians that have been voiced so readily in the media and in recent public debate,” he said.
“The fact is that there are a multitude of communities - each community has different needs but each community also has different strengths."
Mr Calma said the project will work closely with other government agencies, African and African Muslim community members, academics and front line service providers.
A final report will be prepared and fed back to the community in 2009 to more adequately address the key human rights issues involved in settlement and integration of these communities into Australian society.
The project will be undertaken as a partnership between HREOC, the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) in Victoria, Australian Red Cross and the Diversity in Health Institute.
Mr Calma said close community participation would be an essential part of the project and included Samia Baho from the Centre for African - Australian Women’s Issues and Abeselom Nega, Chair of the Federation of African Communities Council, as steering committee members.
Media contact: Louise McDermott (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
