Establishment of a Centre for Intercultural Dialogue and Diversity. To effectively pursue its key multicultural policy benchmarks of: • embracing and benefiting from the strength of Victoria’s different cultural traditions; • strengthening social cohesion; • making government services and programs responsive to the needs of culturally diverse communities within an access and equity framework; and, • utilising Victoria’s multicultural character to gain a competitive edge in an increasingly globalised world, ALP Victoria announces its intention to establish a Centre for Intercultural Dialogue and Diversity. Its mission would be to advance knowledge and innovation as it relates to managing cultural and religious diversity – first and foremost within Victoria, but also in Australia, its region and beyond. Its primary focus would be on the implications of cultural diversity for social cohesion, economy and trade, environment, education (at all levels), media and communications, national security, and international relations. The Centre would seek to use Victoria’s multicultural assets in developing intercultural projects and programmes with practical policy and community application. It would play a leadership role in research, education, public debate and policy development. Its underlying mission would be to explore how cultural diversity can be used to generate innovative research and training programs that support prosperity, conflict transformation, interfaith and inter-communal dialogue and a safe national and international environment. One of the Centre’s key interests would be young people, and how cultural diversity can be mobilised to advance education and employment, and reduce alienation and extremism. The Centre would be hosted by either one university or a consortium of universities, selected through a competitive process open to all Victoria universities. While maintaining its independence, the Centre would cultivate strong productive partnerships with: (a) community organisations; (b) the business community, professional bodies and unions; (c) government at all levels; (d) regional and international organisations; (e) other research institutions; (f) philanthropic organisations. The Centre would establish a Consultative Committee representative of these various constituencies to help inform its research, educational, community engagement and policy development activities. The Victorian State Government would provide $800,000 over a four-year period to support the establishment of the Centre. The successful institution would provide the Centre with additional support.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 22:16:53 +0000
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