2010 IFTAR Dinner

The NSW Government's IFTAR Dinner for 2010 hosted by Premier Kristina Keneally was held at Parliament House on the 23rd of August 2010.

Click here for Premier Keneally's speech.

Alvaro Barba, Consul General of Uruguay in Sydney, Alberto Fajardo, (left) Ambassador of Uruguay to Australia, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair, CRC

Diplomatic Visitors from Uruguay

The Ambassador of Uruguay in Australia, Alberto Fajardo, and the Consul General of Uruguay in Sydney, Alvaro Barba, visited the Commission to hold talks with the Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

Discussion ranged over community issues, community harmony and discrimination issues.

Ambassador Fajardo expressed a special interest in the maintenance of the Spanish language in the third generation of immigrants from his country and other Spanish speaking nations and the formal teaching of Spanish to other Australian children as a major world language.

Applications are invited from not-for-profit incorporated organisations to receive a sponsorship of up to $5,000 for annual festivals or major cultural events scheduled no earlier than 1 December 2010. For more information and to obtain an Application Form, visit the website www.crc.nsw.gov.au/grants or any of the CRC offices below.

The 2010 Community Relations Symposium and Youth Leaders Day will be conducted over two days, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 September 2010, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Parramatta.

For more information on attending as a delegate or showcasing your community project click here.

Mr Liu Jieyi, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with CRC Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

Future Chinese Leaders hold talks with the Commission

A delegation of young political leaders from the Communist Party of China visited the Community Relations Commission for wide-ranging talks about multiculturalism on the 25th of June 2010.

The group was lead by Mr Liu Jieyi, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Mr Liu has worked at the United Nations office in Geneva and was later Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations in New York. Other members of the delegation hold senior party positions in various provinces of China and several have responsibilities for relations with western nations.

The discussions which involved Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair of the Commission and Warren Duncan, Media Officer of the CRC, covered many aspects of the work in New South Wales to foster and maintain community harmony.

The delegation was accompanied on its visit to the Commission by the Deputy Consul-General of China in Sydney, Madam Li Yanduan.

Stepan Kerkyasharian, CRC Chair, addresses the study group from the Royal College of Defence Studies at the Commissions Head office in Sydney

Visitors from the Royal College of Defence Studies hold talks with Commission.

Fourteen future military and civilian leaders from various nations met with the Commission for detailed talks about community relations in New South Wales. The group was led by Vice Admiral Charles Style CBE of the UK Royal Navy, Group Captain Guy Van den Berg of UK Royal Air Force Wing and Commander Chrissie Taylor of the UK Royal Air Force.

The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the United Kingdom's National Defence Academy.  The College’s mission is to prepare senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries, and future leaders from the private and public sectors, for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of defence and international security, and strategic vision.

The aim of their visit to Australia is to examine from a strategic perspective, the impact of contemporary national and international issues on the current and future stability, security and prosperity of key states and regions in the world.

The tour members were drawn from Jordon, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nepal, South Africa, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. Taking part from the Commission were Stepan Kerkyasharian (Chair), Richard Acheson (Director of Community Relations) and Warren Duncan (Media Officer).

(left to right) Consul General of the Netherlands, Jaap Frederiks, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair CRC, Ambassador Willem Andreae and his wife, Christine Gervoson De Sierven

Dutch Diplomats hold talks with Commission

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Willem Andreae, and the Consul General Jaap Frederiks visited the Commission’s Head Office on the 9th of June 2010.

The diplomats discussed issues affecting multiculturalism in Australia and the Netherlands, with Chair of the CRC, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

(left to right) Stepan Kerkyasharian, Ambassador Oguz Ozge and consul General Hikmet Ranan Sekeroglu

Turkish Ambassador visits Commission

His Excellency Mr Oguz Ozge The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Australia and Mr Hikmet Renan Serkeroglu Consul General have paid an official visit to the Commission’s head office in Sydney on the 1st of June 2010.

The diplomats held talks with Commission Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

The Attorney General and Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, at the launch of the 2010 National Multicultural Marketing Awards with Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair Community Relations Commission of NSW

Marketing Cultural Diversity Is Good For Business

NSW Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, today officially opened nominations for the National Multicultural Marketing Awards 2010.

The Community Relations Commission of NSW National Multicultural Marketing Awards competition is marking 21 years of unearthing winners from across multinational business, government and community sectors. “These Awards aim to encourage and reward businesses that focus on the cultural diversity of Australia as part of their marketing strategies,” Mr Hatzistergos said at the launch of the annual awards competition at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.

“They serve as an important reminder and incentive to businesses to promote an equitable representation of our diversity as a nation through appropriate marketing campaigns.”

The Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said successful businesses and Government Agencies realise the potential of innovative multicultural marketing techniques in mass media.

The Premier, Kristina Keneally, Minister Hatzistergos, Chairman of the CRC, Stepan Kerkyasharian and representatives of the Chinese Communities of NSW

Premier Keneally consults the Chinese Community

The Premier, Kristina Keneally, has had her first consultation with the Chinese community of New South Wales.

Nearly fifty representatives of a broad range of Chinese community organisations met Ms Keneally at the Premier’s Office in Sydney on March 26th.

The gathering was facilitated by the Community Relations Commission.

The Premier and the Attorney General, John Hatzistergos, were questioned about subjects as diverse as racism in the police force, the Federal Health Care Plan, the permanent home for the dragon boat fraternity in Sydney, public transport plans for Sydney, education for the Chinese community about ICAC and the treatment of Chinese overseas students studying in New South Wales.

(left to right) Richard Acheson, CRC, Reverend Lawrence K Bomett Commissioner, Stepan Kerkyasharian, CRC, Mzalendo Kibunjia Chair, Alice Nderitu, Commissioner, Yvonne Nambia Wamalwa Kenyan High Commission.

Important Commissioners from Kenya hold talks with CRC Chair and staff

The Chairman and two Commissioners from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission of Kenya held lengthy talks with CRC Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian, CRC Director of Community Relations, Richard Acheson and CRC Media Officer, Warren Duncan, about ways of fostering community harmony and acceptance of difference in multicultural societies.

The Commission was set up after the tragic clashes based on tribal difference that followed the disputed Kenyan election in 2008. Members of the Commission are visiting Australia to study policies for maintaining and promoting community harmony.

The Kenyan Commission Chair, Mzalendo Kibunjia, has been joined on the visit to Australia by Commissioners Reverend Lawrence K Bomett and Alice Nderitu.

The commissioners were accompanied at the talks at the CRC head office in Sydney by Ms Yvonne Nambia Wamalwa, Deputy High Commissioner of Kenya in Australia.

Harmony found in Darling harbour

Young dancers from backgrounds as diverse as Serbian, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Punjab and Egypt joined hip-hop and rap artists, gospel singers, lion dancers and street clowns, as part of the festival fun at Darling Harbour on Sunday 14th March, for the 3rd Youth Harmony Festival, organised by the Community Relations Commission of NSW

Click here for information on the event and a photo gallery.

Wajiha Ahmed, Seini Afeaki, the Premier, Kristina Keneally, Patricia Azarias and Samah Hadid

CRC Commissioners attend Premier’s reception for Interfaith Women at Parliament House

Four CRC Commissioners joined around 80 women at a reception in Parliament House for interfaith women, hosted by the Premier, Kristina Keneally. The women who are all engaged in inter-faith activities were drawn from many different religious backgrounds.

(Left to right) Former Consul General of Turkey in Sydney, Mr Niyazi Adali, Professor, Dr. Ali Akdemir, Professor Dr Mehmet Fatih Yavuz and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Erat. Foreground, (left) Stepan Kerkyasharian and Richard Acheson

Delegation from Dardanelle University, Turkey, visit the Commission

A delegation from the Dardanell University in Turkey paid a visit to the Community Relations Commission’s Head Office in Sydney to discuss aspects of multicultural policies in New South Wales.

The delegation, comprised of Professor, Dr. Ali Akdemir, Rector of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Professor Dr Mehmet Fatih Yavuz, Head of the History Department and Chair of the Management Committee of the Turkish Australian Culture Centre and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Erat, Wars/Gallipoli Expert, was accompanied by the Former Consul General of Turkey in Sydney, Mr Niyazi Adali.

The delegation held talks with The Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Mr Richard Acheson, Director of Community Relations, CRC and Mr Warren Duncan, Media Officer CRC.

The Attorney General and Minister for citizenship, John Hatzistergos, Dr Tony Pun, William Chiu, the Premier, Kristina Keneally, Wee Teck Teo and Mimi Zou

Premier's Chinese Community Service Awards for 2010 Presented at Government House

NSW Chinese community leaders have been recognised for their volunteer work,community service and achievement at the 2010 Premier’s Chinese Community Service Awards.

Premier Kristina Keneally and Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, announced the award winners at an official ceremony at NSW Government House.

The 2010 Chinese Community Service Award recipients are:

Young Chinese Volunteer Award – Ms Mimi Zou;
Victor Chang Community Service Award – Mr Wee Teck Teo;
Jack Wong Sue Award for Voluntary Service Beyond the Chinese Community – Dr Anthony Pun OAM; and
Quong Tart Lifetime Achievement Award in Community Service – Mr William Chiu.

(left to right) CRC Commissioner, Diing Bul, Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, SBS African Programme Presenter, Martin Kwakwa and the Premier Kristina Keneally

Ethnic media meet with Premier and Minister for Citizenship

The new Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, has invited representatives from the ethnic media - print, radio and television in New South Wales for a reception at the Premiers Department in Sydney. The new Premier Kristina Keneally addressed the gathering and met many of the media people present.

Commissioners of the CRC with Premier, Kristina Keneally and the Minister for Citizenship John Hatzistergos: (left to right)  Seini Afeaki, Michael Christodoulou, Diing Bul, Wajiha Ahmed, Minister Hatzistergos, Premier Keneally, Patricia Azarias (Deputy Chair), Ezel Jupiter, Stepan Kerkyasharian (Chair) and Vivian Pak

Commissioners Meet Premier and New Minister

The Commissioners of the CRC recently met with the Premier, Kristina Keneally, and the new Minister for Citizenship and Attorney General, John Hatzistergos.

(left to right) Stepan Kerkyasharian, CRC Chair, Jean Paul Ndayiragije, Young Volunteer High Commendation, Peter Primrose, Minister for Volunteering, Jasmeen Kaur, Young Volunteer of the Year, Perla Lombardi, Volunteer of the Year, Erin Chew, Community Service Award High Commendation, Nola Randall-Mohk, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, John Hatzistergos, Attorney General and Minister for Citizenship and Malaemie Fruean, Winner of Community Service Award

Top Volunteers Honoured In NSW Parliament

In his first official ceremony as Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, today recognised the enormous contribution made by volunteers in NSW by announcing the winners of the 2009 Community Relations Commission Awards for Volunteering.

Click here to read more about the awards.

The Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, addresses the Blacktown consultation, accompanied by Lalli Sethuram (left) chairperson of SydWest  Multicultural Services

Commission Meets Communities in Blacktown

The Community Relations Commission has held a community consultation in Blacktown to hear directly from locals about issues of concern and about ideas to enhance community relations in the area.

The Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Commissioners Afeaki and Christodoulou and Commission staff met with around forty-five representatives from the Sikh, Muslim, Filipino, Pacific, Indian and various communities from Africa, for a two-hour discussion.

Mr Kerkyasharian said after the meeting: "This was a very useful consultation. We heard a number of suggestions which, I am sure, the Commission will want to follow up. Youth issues, employment issues and experiences of discrimination were very candidly expressed by the participants.The Commission has a legislative responsibility to consult broadly with communities around the state. This meeting in Blacktown at the office of SydWest Multicultural Services was part of our regular consultation programme."

Winners of the 2009 National Multicultural Marketing Awards, Adrien Monet and Jacques Reynaud of Polyglot with Minister for Citizenship, Virginia Judge and CRC Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

Polyglot the 2009 Multicultural Marketing Champion

A Sydney company which has turned Australia's culturally diverse workforce into a major export earner has won this year's National Multicultural Marketing Awards.

The directors of Polyglot Australia were presented with their prestigious award at a gala dinner tonight in Sydney hosted by the NSW Minister for Citizenship, Virginia Judge.

The National Multicultural Marketing Awards have been conducted by the Community Relations Commission of NSW for the last twenty years and have unearthed winners from across multinational business, government and community sectors.

The company's award submission told the judges: "Polyglot's entire business model and strategy is based on promoting, and turning into an asset, the multiculturalism of Australian society. We are what we sell."

Click here to read more about the awards.

Welcoming address from Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairman of the Commission, at the 20th Annual National Multicultural Marketing Awards

In welcoming the 440 guests to the 20th annual National Multicultural Marketing Awards, the Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, recounted the history of the Awards and reflected on their ground-breaking nature 1990.

Click here to read this his speech.

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