This year marks 40 years since the Racial Discrimination Act was passed and SSI will be supporting the Australian Human Rights Commission’s conference convened to reflect on the Act’s significance.
At SSI we work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including people from refugee backgrounds and asylum seekers. We consider the Act an important piece of the social framework that provides rights to all Australians.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane has embarked on a series of national consultations to hear first-hand people’s experiences of race discrimination. These stories will be incorporated into a conference the Commissioner will convene this month, from February 19 to 20.
At SSI we consider this a good opportunity for our clients, staff and the communities they are a part of to participate in the consultation and share their experiences in confidence. By sharing real-life stories about racism and cultural harmony we can continue to build our great multicultural society.
SSI’s workforce, clients and volunteers bring a wealth of knowledge and life experience that will be invaluable to such consultations. As an example, 83 languages are spoken by our staff, our volunteer group speaks about 35 languages and our clients identify with at least 83 different nationalities or cultural groups.
SSI is based on values of social justice, diversity, respect, compassion, quality and ethics, so we consider any discussion of race and discrimination in Australia something our organisation should be a part of.
Warm regards,
Violet Roumeliotis GAICD
Chief Executive Officer