MELBOURNE, 15 March 2022: Vasan Srinivasan is among the 17 members who will serve on the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) for its next three-year term, an Australian Government media release from the office of Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke. 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 (2022-2025).
“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, ” the Minister says.
The Australian Multicultural Council members for the 2022-2025 term are:
Ms Rosemary Kariuki, Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos*, Ms Nathalie Samia, Mr John Searle, Ms Martika Shakoor, Mr Vasan Srinivasan*, Mr Anthony Sukari OAM & Mr Jason Yeap OAM*
(*Members of the previous AMC)
Mr Srinivasan is the Chairperson, also on the Board of the Mental Health Foundation Australia and Chairperson of the Australian Indian community Charitable Trust. He is a well-known community leader active in mental health and multicultural sectors throughout Victoria and was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for Excellence in multicultural affairs by the Victorian Government in 2013.
Mr Srinivasan served as a President of the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria and was a founding member of the Federation of Indian Multifaith Organisations Victoria Inc. He is also the current Chair of the Confederation of Indian Australian Organisations of Australia (CIAA).
Mr Srinivasan has been a member of the Australian Multicultural Council since 2014.
According to the AMC site, it focuses On
– strengthening public understanding of a shared ‘Australian identity as a unifying characteristic of Australia
– harnessing the economic and social benefits of our diverse population
– advancing programs and policies aimed at building harmonious and socially cohesive communities
– promoting the importance of mutual respect and responsibility, which foster our shared Australian values, identity, and citizenship
– building stronger and more cohesive communities and addressing barriers to participation, including racism and discrimination
– promoting greater intercultural and interfaith understanding and dialogue.
– The Government may request the AMC take on specific additional responsibilities in response to emerging multicultural and social integration policy issues.
Alex Hawke, Australia’s Multicultural Minister speaks about the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC):
