Dear all,
As mentioned previously, I understand some organisations have received letter from the Federal Government’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s seeking written submissions on “Inquiry into Multiculturalism in Australia” .
Your organisation may wish to put through comments on its own to this matter. Any individuals or organisations can send the comments. Please see the following link for more info. It is due by 8th of April.
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/mig/multiculturalism/subs.htm
Of course, FINACT intends to put through a submission to this regard.
Also, FINACT have been invited for a meeting with Multicultural Affairs Section Manager within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship next Friday 11th March.
Could you please Just let me know, if there are any relevant community issues/concerns that need to be raised in the meeting by 9th March 2011. We would really appreciate your comments to this regard.
Also on other note, we are pleased to inform you that FINACT had put forward a submission in connection with ACT Languages Policy Discussion paper. Hope to see some positive outcomes out of this. The suggestions include :
i) Hindi to be added in the ACT Primary Schools curriculum as a foreign language;
ii) Collection of foreign language books including Hindi be available in ACT school libraries & other public libraries, and
iii) Formation of an on-going advisory body to Government to monitor the policy, its implementation and its success. The advisory body could also monitor the language needs of the ACT community and provide advice on the ongoing development of the policy.
Having said that, I guess our job is still unfinished and sending comments is just one step ahead of many. We shall still strive and use all the possible avenues towards accomplishing our objective. We intend to raise this as one of the discussion items in our forthcoming meetings with Hon. ACT Chief Minister and the Hon. Multicultural Affairs Minister.
Thank you so much and look forward to your continued support and advices.
Thanks
Jacob Tharakan
