9 November 2017

Message to the Indian Crescent Society of Australia

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. FECCA’s role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of its constituency to government, business and the broader community. I was recently elected as FECCA’s new Chairperson at the FECCA 2017 AGM in Darwin. It is my pleasure to provide this message to ICSOA members and extended networks in this edition of the ICSOA newsletter.

My appointment to this role comes at an exciting time for Australia’s multicultural community and, under my leadership, FECCA will continue to contribute to a positive public discourse around citizenship, acceptance and migration. The newly elected FECCA Executive includes: Mr Peter Doukas, Senior Deputy Chair; Ms Hina Durrani, Senior Deputy Chair (Women); Mr Mohammad Al-Khafaji, Hon Secretary; Mr Siddique Panwala, Hon Treasurer; Ms Sandra Elhelw-Wright, Women’s Chair; Ms Suzanne (Sue) Graham, Disabilities Chair; Mr Waqas Durrani, Youth Chair; Ms Catherine Poutasi, Regional Chair; Mr Parsuram Sharma-Luital, New and Emerging Communities Chair; Ms Marion Lau OAM, Healthy Ageing Chair; Mr Joe Caputo OAM, Hon President. The FECCA Executive also includes the chairperson of each state and territory member ethnic or multicultural community council.

Over the coming years, the FECCA Executive and I will work hard to ensure FECCA continues to give voice to Australians from CALD backgrounds across a broad range of policy areas, including ageing and aged care, rural and regional issues, disability, youth, new and emerging communities, gender and employment. FECCA frequently consults directly with communities and I look forward to working with the the Indian Crescent Society of Australia to ensure the voices of the Indian community are heard at the Commonwealth level.

I wish all of the ICSOA community the very best for the coming year.

Mary Patetsos
FECCA Chairperson