Victorian Multicultural Review advisory group
Miriam Suss has long been dedicated to working in the diversity sector.
Miriam Suss has been appointed to a targeted advisory group to support the recently announced Victorian Multicultural Review, which is seeking to improve social cohesion in Victoria.
The Multicultural Review will be led by former Victorian multicultural commissioner George Lekakis, and the advisory group consists of Suss, Hass Dellal, Carmel Guerra and Mark Duckworth.
Suss has long been dedicated to working in the diversity sector, having been the CEO of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, as well as a non-executive director of the Victorian Interpreting Service (Language Loop) and at Multicultural Arts Victoria. She has also worked extensively in leadership positions in the Jewish community including at Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, Jewish Care, United Israel Appeal and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
Suss told The AJN, “The review has been initiated by the Victorian government to address increasing social cohesion challenges and strengthen community harmony. The committee plans to ensure Victoria’s multicultural policies and institutions are equipped to reject division, build bridges and resolve conflicts. The committee will hold targeted consultations with key stakeholders including peak bodies and community organisations.”
As to countering antisemitism, Suss shared, “The committee held its first consultation with representatives of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, listened and took note of multiple concerns about anti-Israel and antisemitic statements, protests and social media activity that have taken place in Victoria since October 7, 2023. This feedback will inform the committee’s further deliberations and the eventual recommendations to be made by the review team.”
The committee will be seeking to improve social cohesion. “We strongly believe that communication and the building of personal relationships are key to improving understanding and that listening to the concerns of stakeholders can help improve the status quo,” Suss said, adding, “A social cohesion pledge will also be developed and organisations will have to implement an undertaking to this pledge in order to receive funding from the Multicultural Affairs portfolio.”
The committee will also be reviewing the Victorian Multicultural Commission, which was established in 1983 under the Multicultural Act 2011, and has acted as a conduit between multicultural communities and the Victorian government.
“Given societal and demographic changes, geopolitical stresses often caused by overseas conflicts and country of origin pressures, the Victorian government has deemed that the time is right to review its functioning, its role and to make recommendations regarding its future directions,” Suss said.
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