Background:

MFB have currently undertaken both research around fire safety for ethnic communities and also recruiting fire fighters from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Research indicates that fire safety is a particular issue for refugee communities who are unfamiliar with safe usage of electrical appliances etc. In relation to recruitment, there are a few small proportion of people from diverse backgrounds, and approximately 15 women only.

Detail of Episode:

Filmed on site at headquarters, Victoria Pde. Background of Fire Engines etc.

Interviews to be conducted with:

	CEO of MFB
	Georgia Prattis: Manager, Access and Equity Office
	Three Fire Fighters (one woman, and two from ethnic backgrounds)

Focus of interview with CEO/Georgia Prattis:

	What is the benefit to the MFB of recruiting from diverse backgrounds to the MFB
	What strategies is the organisation using
	What does the future vision look like
	What message do they have for people from diverse backgrounds wanting to apply

Focus of interview with Fire Fighters:

	What motivated you to join
	How did your family feel about it
	Do you use you skills – language/cultural knowledge etc
	What message do you have for people from diverse backgrounds wanting to apply

Background:

The Victorian Multicultural Commission is an independent body set up under an Act of Parliament. It advises the Premier on issues around Multiculturalism. The Commission is currently undertaking a process of awarding people for work done around diversity. Businesses are being targeted, as the message is diversity is good for business.

Detail of Episode

Interview with George Lekakis: Chairperson of the Commission

Focus of Interview:

	What are the awards for
	What do you look for when awarding businesses
	What are the benefits to business of having diversity employment strategies
	How do government and business work together to help progress the message of a diverse Victorian community
	How can businesses apply if they are interested.

Concept:

Joan Kirner is interviewed by a group of young women from African, Arabic and Muslim backgrounds about life in politics, and opportunities for young women from diverse backgrounds. Ms. Kirner reflects on her own life as the former Premier of Victoria, and her continued community activities as a way of encouraging these young women to consider their own role in politics and community.

Detail of Episode:

Interviewed Andrew Jackamos, who heads up the Indigenous Unit in the Department of Justice.

The Indigenous Issues Unit of the Department of Justice is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the overall effectiveness of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement on behalf of the Aboriginal Justice Forum and the Aboriginal Justice Working Group.

Andrew Jackamos spoke extensively about the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement:

The Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (the Agreement) is the joint initiative of the Victorian State Government (the Government) (through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Human Services (DHS)), the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (VAJAC), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and the Aboriginal community (through the Aboriginal Regional Councils of Tumbukka and Binjurru). It is the first significant Indigenous policy initiative launched by the Victorian Government and maximizes Aboriginal participation in the development of policies and programs in all areas of the justice system. The Agreement stems from the Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Key to the Agreement is the growing partnership between the Government, ATSIC and the Regional Councils of Tumbukka and Binjurru. The aim of the Agreement is to address the ongoing issue of Aboriginal over-representation within all levels of the criminal justice system, improve Aboriginal access to justice-related services and to promote greater awareness in the Aboriginal community of their civil, legal and political rights.

Two staff members of the Unit also spoke about Gateways to Justice which is a partnership between the Department of Justice and Diversity@work. The initiative is the first external arrangement from the Koori Recruitment and Career Development Strategy, an initiative of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement

Department of Justice is an employer of choice and is opening up many opportunities for young Indigenous Australians through a unique and different way, breaking down the stereotypes and barriers that surround the justice areas.

Gateways strives to encourage, motivate and inspire Indigenous Australians to have a career in Justice and to continue with their educational studies.

Interview with Managing Director: Gerry Hueston and Mark Glazebrook who manages global social investment for BP in Australia

Corporate citizenship is a relatively new term in Australia and one that the Australian business sector in recent years has been trying to come to grips with. This trend has seen the emergence of companies starting to report on their environmental and social performance, the rise of ethical investment funds and an increasing push from green and ethical customers seeking out businesses that better meet their expectations around sustainable products that don’t harm people or the planet.

Global companies lie at the heart of this issue and for many, such as BP this journey has already begun to take shape.

Gerry Hueston talks about how BP believes that wherever they operate, their activities should generate economic benefits and opportunities for an enhanced quality of life for those whom our business impacts; that their conduct should be a positive influence; that their relationships should be honest and open; and that they should be held accountable for their actions.

Their business policies focus on five areas-ethical conduct; employees; relationships; health, safety and environmental performance; and control and finance.

Mark Glazebrook, speaks about the notion of ‘corporate citizenship’ and refers to a number of partnership programs that BP undertakes, including a partnership project with  Victoria Police. Located at Victoria Police's Scenario Village in Glen Waverly, Melbourne, is a service station which serves as example of BP's commitment to working with others to help build stronger and safer communities. Victoria Police use the service station as a training aid in relation to service station crime.

Since its inception in 1997, The Torch Project has evolved and developed an extensive program of Community Cultural Development work in regional and metropolitan Victoria.  Embracing the key themes of history, culture, identity and belonging, it blends powerful art with community mobilisation

The Torch Project is an exemplary Community Cultural Development model that empowers communities to act on difficult issues that often end up in the “too hard basket”. It has been supported by 200+ Indigenous, government, church, educational, business and community organisations, demonstrating the widespread support for such work.

Auspiced by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, The Torch Projects contributes directly to the Brotherhood’s vision of an Australia free of poverty. Through The Torch Project, the Brotherhood has an ability to empower communities to act on Indigenous issues, multicultural themes and to work towards sustainable change.

Maria interviews Rachael Maza, director, Steve Payne Project Director, and Lisa Parris, Production Manager.

Maria has been working extensively with the Family Court for over two years in implementing a number of diversity initiatives
The Family Court of Australia (FCoA) has had a long interest in, and commitment to, the provision of services to meet the needs of its
culturally and linguistically diverse clients.
In 2001, Maria worked with the Family Court's National Cultural Diversity Committee and undertook a comprehensive access and equity audit of its services. The audit sought to measure the Court's performance against the Principles of the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society.

Maria and Vikki conducted interviews with organisers and presenters at the:

The MANAGING DIVERSITY CONFERENCE held on OCTOBER 1-3, 2003, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
The Overall Theme: The Diversity Challenge: Good Management, Excellent Organisations, Harmonious Communities.

The conference aimed to position 'diversity management' as an effective tool for creating innovative, 21st century organisations that generate equitable outcomes for both the internal and external communities they serve.

Hosted by the City of Darebin and supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Latrobe University and Common Ground Conferences, the event provided a showcase for best practice as organisations find their way in a world increasingly aware of the necessity of embracing diversity as a key factor in establishing social equity and civic responsibility.
 
Interviews were conducted with a number of presenters, including
Philip Shanahan
Chief Executive Officer
City of Darebin, Melbourne

Detail of Episode:

The team attended this conference and interviewed several presenters. Organisers had chosen this theme to encourage discussion about whether there is one “right” response to critical or traumatic incidents and situations that occur in the workplace, community, and other settings. The variety of papers in the program attests to the diversity of expertise and personnel involved. Their different roles and approaches to their work, the array of settings where support is provided, and the development of flexible and responsive interventions that impact positively, both immediately as well as with a longer term outlook were all  key issues throughout the conference.

The other aspect of the conference theme is how we respond in the 21st century – reflecting on learning from the past, current developments, best practice and future directions. This was well represented with the inclusion of papers recognising the importance of ‘whole of community’ involvement in responding to incidents and challenges – including emergency services, health providers, specialist services, occupational safety, academic research, community networks and the justice system.

Presenters interviewed included:

DR Gisela Perren-Klingler

Gisela is a Psychiatrist and the current President of the Swiss Society of Psychotraumatology, Switzerland. She has been a medical delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva to prisons of:

	Latin America (political prisoners),
	Middle East (Public Health questions in the occupied territories of Palestine, Palestinian "terrorist" prisoners in Israeli prisons, and Israeli POWs in Damascus),
	Europe (Spain: Political prisoners) and
	Africa (setting up a feeding programme for starving prisoners). In this function she was confronted with torture sequelae at a somatic and psychological level.

 Major Erik De Soir –

Psychologist – Stress & Trauma Research Center, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium

Major Erik De Soir entered the Royal Military Academy of Belgium (Brussels) in 1983. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1988 with a Masters Degree in Social & Military Sciences. After leaving the Royal Military Academy and completing the Officers' Course for Platoon Commanders of the Infantry and the School Company for Paratroopers he was assigned to a Mechanized Infantry Battalion (1st Mechanized Brigade in Leopoldsburg).

In September 1991, he returned to the Royal Military Academy (Department of Behavioural Sciences, Chair of Psychology) as a lecturer in general and social psychology. In 1997 he undertook several military courses (e.g. the Course for Staff Techniques & the Company Commander's Course) before completing his military training with the Superior Officers Course at the Royal Higher Defence College in Brussels in 1998.

 Erik particularly spoke of his work as the founder and trainer of both the European Association of Fire Psychologists and a European-wide trauma counselling network for fire, rescue and emergency medical services currently known as the Fire Fighter & Emergency Medical Stress Teams (FiST). As a clinical psychologist for crisis situations, he regularly participated in peace support operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Croatia and Bosnia, intervening in crisis situations and providing counselling to both the deployed soldiers and their significant others. He provides special courses on crisis management for military; police and civilian personnel, prior to, during and after risky or potentially traumatising missions.

Victoria Police have also undertaken a further process of targeting people from diverse cultural backgrounds to become police officers. Mr Savas Augoustakis who heads up the Multicultural Advisory Unit (MAU)also spoke about the work that he and the Unit have been undertaking within Victoria Police.

Established in 1983 the Unit is the first of its kind in Australia. Staffed by bilingual/bicultural unsworn and sworn personnel, the Unit is responsible for:
provision of advice to Police on issues multicultural;
provision of cross-cultural training to police members;
provision of information to those Victorians from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds about the role of police.

The Unit is part of the General Policing Department, has a Statewide responsibility and works with other proactive Units within the Statewide Strategic Support Division of Victoria Police.

Maria then interviewed two police officers, who are Multicultural Liaison Officers:
This is an exciting new initiative of Victoria Police. It concerns the establishment of a Regional MLU in each of the five Police regions, and the appointment of full time Multicultural Liaison Officers to the Units.

The Multicultural Liaison Officers liaise with the various community and religious leaders at the local level and aim to develop and enhance trust, respect and co-operation between police and groups and communities of culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians. The Multicultural Liaison Officers are accountable to their Regional Commander through the Regional Local Priority Policing Inspector but provide regular reports to the Force's Multicultural Advisory Unit

Background:

Maria with Melbourne City Councillor and community affairs figure, Kate Redwood who was interviewed for a Channel 31 episode exploring issues related to Disability and local government. Ms Redwood was elected to the Melbourne City Council in July 2001. As a Melbourne City councillor Ms Redwood chairs its Environment
Community and Cultural Development Committee, a standing committee covering most council services.

She is also the chairperson of the City of Melbourne Disability Advisory Committee. Before her election to the council in 2001, Ms Redwood was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and served as the Executive Director of Australian Red Cross, Victoria. From late 1993 until her Red Cross appointment she was Executive Director for the Victorian Council of Social Service. She was awarded a Centenary Medal earlier this year for services to local government.

Maria also interviewed diversity consultant, and member of the Melbourne City Council Disability Advisory Committee, Ms. Margherita Coppolino:

Margherita is four foot tall in a six foot world. She has overcome barriers in her personal and professional lives by continually stepping out of her own comfort zone and taking responsibility for what she creates.
Margherita spoke of her work as an employment counsellor and training consultant and project manager within both the public and private sectors. Throughout her working life, Margherita has been involved with a number of community groups. Since 1981, Margherita has performed the role of public speaker on a number of occasions, presenting to Corporate
presentations, Education Institutions, Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Councils and numerous other audiences. She has undertaken Television and Radio interviews and has also appeared in videos regarding disabilities. Also featured in "The Australian Magazine" Life Lines section early 1999 and Noel Wait's book "The Gold Within" launched in 2000.

Background:

Graeme Wise, is owner and Managing director of The Adidem Group, which
owns and operates the 71 Body Shops in Australia. Graeme is also
Chairman of Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships and Chairman of The Big
Issue Australia street newspaper.

"I want to run a business the sort of way I'd like to be treated if I were an employee".

In this interview, Graeme Wise, reflects on the importance of happy and motivated employees as a significant part of good business practice. Graeme also spoke extensively with Maria of the current campaign campaign to Celebrate Cultural Diversity.
The aim of the campaign was to promote a welcoming and supportive attitude towards refugees, recognising the amazing journeys many have undertaken and highlighting the positive contribution refugees make to Australian society.
During the course of the Celebrate Cultural Diversity campaign, The Body Shop showcased refugees' personal stories and collected 'stamps of welcome' to those people in need of our protection. Over 70, 000 stamps were collected in a 3 week period.

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