Two community stalwarts appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council
Nathalie Samia and John Searle are among the 17 members appointed by the Australian Government to serve on the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) for its next three-year term.
John Searle
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, said the new AMC membership offered both continuity and renewal, with six former serving members and 11 new members, including two youth members, appointed for the Council’s next term.
He said: “The AMC brings together leaders from a diverse range of business and civil society backgrounds who will provide independent advice to the Government on multicultural affairs and social cohesion policy and programs.
Australia is one of the world’s most successful liberal democratic and multicultural nations. In upholding and actively striving to further build the strong cohesion of our diverse society, the Australian Government aims to harness the benefits of this diversity and foster our shared Australian values, inclusive national identity, and citizenship as a common bond.
I look forward to working with the new and returning members of the Council to build on Australia’s strong social cohesion, by strengthening the Government’s engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities and encouraging harmonious relations across the whole of Australian society.”
Melbourne community identity John Searle told J-Wire: “I am honoured to have been requested to serve as a councillor on the Australian Multicultural Council.
Nathalie Samia
The importance of providing robust advice to the federal government on matters relating to multicultural affairs, social cohesion and integration cannot be understated. Every day we see events relating to discrimination that should not be occurring. Sadly, many such events and incidents which often stem from systemic discrimination are not even recognised for what they are.
We all have a role to play in breaking down barriers, supporting each other and ensuring that our community thrives as a vibrant, accepting group of people from a wide range of backgrounds.
We need to recognise the many positives that diversity brings with it. I have no doubt that the Council, under the wise chairmanship of Dr Bulent Hass Dellal will make a very significant contribution in this regard.
I feel that my service as Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Equal Rights Commission gives me an excellent background to face the challenges that will be confronted as a councillor on the Australian Multicultural Council.
There is no doubt that being a member of the Jewish community has also provided me with a wide-ranging set of experiences (not always positive) that I can draw on as I serve my term as a councillor. Indeed, I am very proud to be speaking as a member of the Jewish Community and bringing our community’s knowledge, experiences and lessons to the table.
Nathalie Samia is the Vice-President of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies.
She added: “I am honoured to have been appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council. I look forward to working with other members and advocating for multicultural communities across Australia.”
