What’s News?

The AMF team has been busy developing and working on a number of different projects

that celebrate Australia’s diversity, promote tolerance and understanding, and advance

social cohesion.

The AMF continues to work with its valuable networks and partners to identify and

address emerging issues, as well as undertake projects that benefit the community.

Peer to Peer: Building Capacity and Resilience

The Peer to Peer: Building Capacity and Resilience Program, funded by the Building

Community Resilience Grant Program through the Attorney General’s Department, is

currently being run by the AMF. This program engages 10 Muslim youth from across

Australia in a 12 month program to develop their leadership and community

engagement skills.

Community awareness manual: Building Resilience in the Community

The AMF has been working in consultation with community members, religious leaders,

police and government stakeholders to develop a community awareness manual.

Victoria Police engaged the AMF to develop this manual which will be a guide for

community leaders to use. The community awareness manual will help communities

build up resilience. As a ‘train the trainer’ resource, it will give communities the

awareness and understanding to be able to do this and seek help.

Participants have had the opportunity to take part in a workshop which helps develop their media skills

This program enables the participants to build up their networks and contacts

AMF News May 2013

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The Baklava Bake Off is an initiative of the Australian Multicultural Foundation and

the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, and is a celebration of our state's

rich cultural diversity and love of a common sweet. The event was proudly sponsored by

the Commonwealth Bank, Federation Square and Multicultural Arts Victoria.

Victoria’s first Baklava Bake Off competition took place on Sunday

21st April 2013 in the Atrium at Federation Square. The competition

included five ‘Home Cook’ finalists and five ‘Professional Pastry

Chef’ finalists from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including:

Greek, Lebanese, Turkish and Malaysian/Chinese. The judging

panel included acclaimed chef and food writer, Greg Malouf and

PM24 restaurant’s head pastry chef, Cécile Veyrat.

The AMF wishes to congratulate Sia Pantos (Home Cook category) and Jacques Abd El

Nour (Professional Pastry Chef category) for taking home the top prize in their

respective categories.

We are pleased to announce that following the success of this year’s competition, the

Baklava Bake Off will be held again in 2014. Further details will be announced at a

later date.

The Baklava Bake Off was received very positively by the Victorian community. Some of

the feedback included:

“What a fantastic initiative!” “It was great to see people of all cultures and backgrounds come together.” “I would like to thank you all so much for creating the Baklava Bake Off Competition. It was a fantastic event, extremely well run and nothing but sheer fun to be a part of.” “Congrats to the organisers. A terrific event, well run. Everyone enjoyed the day. People from so many cultures, but all Melbournians. Today showed our city and its people, at its absolute best!”

Home Cook category winner Sia Pantos with family members, MC’s Lee Chan and Greg Malouf, and head judge Cécile Veyrat

Professional Pastry Chef category winner Jacques Abd El Nour with Lucy Miller from the Commonwealth Bank and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the Hon. Nicholas Kotsiras, MP

AMF News May 2013

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AMF News May 2013

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The 2014 Diversity Matters Conference venue: Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey

2014 Diversity Matters Conference

The aim of the Diversity Matters conferences has been to encourage discussion about

issues of significance within Commonwealth countries, including how they can bridge

gaps and strengthen social cohesion. However, given that matters of cultural diversity

and social cohesion are relevant to all countries, the AMF will be inviting non-

Commonwealth countries to participate the next Diversity Matters Conference which is

to take place in 2014.

The conference will be hosted by Mimar

Sinan University in Istanbul, Turkey, in

partnership with the AMF. The AMF is very

pleased to have Turkey involved in the

event, as this will be the first time that a

non-Commonwealth country has attended

and hosted a Diversity Matters conference.

The theme of the conference will be ‘the

preservation of culture and heritage through

the generations.’

A legacy of Australia’s Bicentenary – Established to promote a strong commitment to Australia as one people drawn from many Cultures

Australian Multicultural Foundation Limited A.C.N. 007 071 169 A.B.N. 28 007 071 169 Level 1, 185 Faraday Street, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia Telephone: (613) 9347 6622 Fax: (613) 9347 2218

Email: info@amf.net.au Website: www.amf.net.au Postal Address: PO Box 538, Carlton South VIC 3053 Australia