Western Sydney MRC launched a Community Civic Participation Toolkit at the conclusion of a Meet the Candidates Forum on May 4.
The toolkit was co-designed by Western Sydney MRC and the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA).
Kamalle Dabboussy,, CEO of Western Sydney MRC, was joined by Dr Janecke Wille, Senior Research and Policy Officer from FECCA, to outline the toolkit’s vision and development.
The toolkit guides newly arrived refugee and migrant groups to understand civic participation processes such as setting up an organisation, lobbying politicians, gaining support and fundraising, community leadership and advocacy.
It provides information on institutional processes such as the levels of government in Australia, the democratic system of government, the House of Representatives and references to translated materials.
Most uniquely, this toolkit provides a snapshot of some of the local government areas of Western Sydney to highlight the unique strengths and challenges of the local CALD communities.