GECC – the first 10 years
In late 1975, representatives from five ethnic groups met in Geelong West to discuss a number of issues. They were concerned that government departments, organisations and service providers were unaware of the needs of migrants, they were interested in making their existing services more accessible to their members, and they wanted to share community resources on a more equitable basis. As services for migrants were expanding rapidly in Melbourne but virtually non-existent in Geelong, there was a concern that our region’s migrant population was disadvantaged.
This meeting resulted in the formation of the Geelong Migrant Planning Committee in early 1976. In April of that year, the Geelong Migrant Advisory and Information Centre opened at 102 Pakington Street, Geelong West. Membership had already increased from the original 5 communities to 11 communities. The planning committee was headed by Mr. George Angelovich who was elected President of the group in July 1976. In August 1976, a grant of $26,000 from the Australian Assistance Plan was made available to employ a full-time coordinator, three part-time interpreters, and rent and administrative expenses for a small centre in Geelong West.
The Geelong Migrant Planning Committee developed a strong reputation in providing services to migrants, their communities and other organisations in the community and was accepted as an integral part of the human services network in Geelong. Because of the scope of activities and functions of the Geelong Migrant Planning Committee, a new constitution and title was proposed for the group. In December 1977 the Planning Committee was wound up and at the Annual General Meeting in 1978, the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council was officially launched.
As is the case with most newly-formed communities, the Council suffered greatly from growing pains and financial restrictions. They were most grateful when, early in 1978, the Geelong West City Council approved a grant for $1000 enabling them to keep their doors open for a while longer.
In September 1978, Geelong Ethnic Communities Council officially opened the Geelong Migrant Resource Centre in Pakington Street, Geelong West. Following the expansion of the Geelong Migrant Resource Centre’s services and activities, and as a result of a strong need and demand for a service equally accessible to clients, a satellite office was opened in the Bell Park area, an area of Geelong with an extremely high concentration of migrant residents.
In its first 10 years, Geelong Ethnic Communities Council consolidated its position and experienced steady and healthy growth. Their membership grew to 23 communities and client contact increased from 900 in 1976 to over 20,000 in the 1985/86 year. At their annual general meeting in 1976, it was announced with pride that “…tonight’s gathering is in itself testimony to our Council’s commitment to harmony and cohesiveness and its active encouragement of cooperation and sharing amongst all members and sectors of our community”.
Today, Diversitat is the peak regional body representing 45,000 residents in the South Western Region. In addition, we provide education, training and employment opportunities for both the CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) and CALM (Culturally and Linguistically Mainstream) communities. On the event of our 30th anniversary, Diversitat is proud to be the largest, integrated community network in regional Victoria.
By 2004, Geelong Ethnic Communities Council had undergone a remarkable transformation. No longer were we solely focused on providing support and services to migrant and newly-arrived communities, we were now operating programs for youth, offering aged care, providing training, promoting employment, organizing arts and events as well as operating 94.7 The Pulse, Wholefoods organic produce and Waste Werks, a creative recycling venture.
We were now providing services to people of all ages, and from all backgrounds. Our work was taking us beyond Geelong to places like Warrnambool, Colac and Ballarat. Yet our name, Geelong Ethnic Communities Council, didn’t reflect our new diversity of operation.
Staff were involved in re-branding workshops held in April and September 2004. They worked to define a profile of the organization and propose a list of names that best described our new scope of operation, and allowed the flexibility for further expansion. The groups felt it important that the new name, while not having an exclusively ethnic name, should reflect our rich cultural heritage.
The name Diversitat was voted to be the most appealing new trading name for the organization. Staff also liked the idea that, by changing only a letter or two, it could be understood in many languages.
Diversitat - Catalan
Diversity - English
Diversitas - Latin
Diversiteit - Dutch
Diversité – French
Diversità – Italian
Diversidade – Portuguese
Diversidad – Spanish
Diversitate – Romanian
Divezitás – Hungarian
A Brief History of Migrant Welfare in Australia
Prior to World War 2, Australia’s migrant intake was relatively small, U.K. and Ireland being the main source countries of migrants. The official government policy and community expectations were clearly defined: immigrants/newcomers had to fully assimilate and comply with the social and cultural mores of the general community, virtually negating their previous life experience and patterns of social behaviour.
Post-war migrant intake increased dramatically. From 1949 to the early 1960’s more than two million people came to Australia from throughout Europe as permanent residents. It was a sheer physical and social impossibility for the Australian community to absorb so many newcomers, particularly those from non English-speaking countries. Migrants could not simply be assimilated. Yet successive governments as well as the general community did not change their attitude and official position on the issue of inter-community relations. The policy and mentality of assimilation prevailed until the late 1960’s.
Within that time, ethnic groups came to realise that they had to get together and provide whatever support they could to individual members, families and groups of their respective communities. Ethnic, social, religious, cultural, educational and sports clubs started to develop and establish themselves. Within that social/cultural organisation, the ethnic communities began to cooperate with each other and share their common concerns. Further, they started to exert political pressure and articulate their needs and concerns to the government. Second generation migrants were going through the education system and taking up positions within the Public Service and private business sector. The migrant presence was being clearly felt on all aspects and levels of life in our society.
Gradually, the shift from the mentality of assimilation to that of integration was affected. In the early 1970’s the policy of assimilation was officially abandoned by the government and the policy of multiculturalism was strongly promoted on a bipartisan political approach.
The government recognised the legitimate concerns of the ethnic communities and migrants in general, accepting responsibility for their welfare and well-being. A practical expression of this acceptance and recognition culminated in the Galbally Report (1978) which recommended a number of measures to alleviate the plight of migrants.
As a result, financial support and resources were provided for, among other things, the employment of social welfare workers (G.I.A. Scheme) and the establishment of Migrant Resource Centres throughout Australia in the late 1970’s. At the same time, community attitudes towards migrants and within migrant groups gradually improved through:
• Enforced interaction (living together in the same community, neighbourhood and working together on the factory floor etc.)
• Inter-marriage
• Appreciation of the fact that, irrespective of one’s background, people had more things in common than in difference. In one way or other, no one could escape from the multiracial nature of the community. Migrants and members of the general community could not simply wish each other away.
153 Pakington Street, Geelong West 3218 Phone: 0352216044 Fax: 0352232848
ABN 29 252 806 279 REG No: A0000022L Geelong Ethnic Communities Council - GECC trading as Diversitat