HISTORY OF THE DAREBIN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL
'THE NORTHCOTE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL'
The Northcote Ethnic Communities Council (NECC) was formed in 1986,
the first municipal based Ethnic Communities Council in Australia.
Supported and resourced by Northcote Council, NECC's key role was
as an independent advisory, advocacy and monitoring 'peak body'
representing the views of Ethnic groups to Northcote Council. In
its early days NECC worked with Northcote Council to make sure services
were responsive to new communities.
FIRST CHAIRPERSON - NECC PHILOSOPHY
The first Chairperson was Roland Jabbour, a young leader and activist
from the Lebanese community. Czechoslovakian born John Zika was
the first executive officer linking NECC and the Northcote Council.
The Northcote Ethnic Communities Council representation was based
on language and ethnic identity, not country. All groups could be
represented and participate.
As a 'peak body' it was made up of representative groups from many
of the ethnic communities like the Italians, Greeks, Lebanese, Chinese
and Macedonians.
John Zika recalls, "some of our early work was to make council
workers conscious of the different language groups living in Northcote,
Thornbury and Fairfield. NECC lobbied and council workers then attended
Italian and Greek language classes. In the mid 1980s the Italian,
Greek and Macedonian community groups were meeting in cold and run-down
halls or shops. NECC lobbied and council either fixed halls or found
new premises. NECC was incorporated in 1990.
FROM NECC TO DECC
DAREBIN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL
With council amalgamations in 1994, The City of Northcote and The
City of Preston became 'The City of Darebin'.
The Darebin Ethnic Communities Council (DECC) was formed with Chinese
born Dr Stanley Chan as the Chairman. DECC has broadened its aims.
Today it represents over 80 ethnic groups and associations.
DECC'S AIMS
DECC's primary aim is to ensure that the needs of Darebin residents
from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are met.
DECC's secondary aim is to stimulate a multicultural perspective
on public policies and community programs. Thirdly, DECC plays an
important role as an advocate of multicultural values and practices.
To advise Darebin Council and other relevant organisations on the
needs of residents from culturally diverse backgrounds regarding
services in the local community.
To contribute to the development of policies determining the provision
of Council services.
To assist in the review of local services where they are related
to residents if non-English speaking backgrounds.
To provide effective channels of communications between local ethnic
groups and key community organisations.
To promote multicultural values and access and equity principles
and to assist local ethnic groups and organisations to support their
own communities.
DECC ACHIEVEMENTS
Ethnic Mental Health Forum in 1999
Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Darebin in 2000
Non English Speaking Background Artists register in 2001
Peace Vigil in 2001
Open Space forum in 2001
Information to Participation Project in 2002
Anti-terrorism Laws forum in 2002
Darebin Community Profiles Project in 2002
Arts and Cultural Diversity Forum in 2002
The Crisis in Sudan in 2004
Quo Vadis, Moreland Ethnic Communities Council & DEEC on
Multiculturalism in 2004
DEEC MEETINGS
Locally born resident Gaetano Greco is the current Chairman of DEEC,
the third Chairperson in its proud history. The DECC steering committee
meets monthly to discuss current issues regarding the local community.
At DECC meetings guest speakers are often invited to address specific
issues or an ongoing community project. Issues on gambling, crime,
the Multicultural Libraries Program or relations with Darebin's
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities Council-DATSICC,
are examples of topics discussed.
‘Darebin’s Australians’
Kulin, Indigenous, Italy, Greece, U.K, China, Vietnam, Macedonia,
Lebanon, N.Z, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Yugoslavia, Malta,
Croatia, Iraq, Egypt, Malaysia, Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia & Herzegovina,
Indonesia, Ireland, Somalia, Turkey, Fiji, Thailand, Poland, U.S.A,
Portugal, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Japan,
Singapore, Syria, Cambodia, France, Canada, Iran, South Africa,
Mauritius, Argentina, Afghanistan, Samoa, Korea, Bangladesh, Taiwan,
Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Albania, Austria, Ethiopia, Latvia,
East Timor, Ukraine, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Kuwait, Ghana,
Russian Federation, Norway, Tonga, Colombia, Laos, Kenya, Uruguay,
Sudan, Switzerland, Nigeria, Gaza Strip & West Bank, Peru, Israel,
Libya, Botswana, Sweden, Algeria, Jordan, Lithuania, Morocco, Brazil,
Estonia, Saudi Arabia, Burma, El Salvador, Seychelles, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Denmark, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Kurdish,
Belarus, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Eritrea, Zambia, Kiribati, Venezuela,
Cuba, Finland, Slovakia, Nicaragua, United Arab Emirates, Macau,
Maldives, Uganda, Armenia, Djibouti, Solomon Islands, Tunisia, Brunei
Darussalam, Georgia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Southern and East Africa,
Paraguay, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Naura, Tuvalu, Iceland, Bahrain,
Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Bolivia, Falkland Islands,
Guyana, South America, Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica,
Trinidad & Tobago, Chad, Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Angola,
Madagascar, Mozambique, Reunion, Swaziland.
