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Family harmony comes to Shepparton

Date : 13 Oct 2010

Media release

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is running information sessions in Shepparton about family law issues for newly arrived migrants, including those from Sudan, Burundi and Congo.

A storytelling approach that allow people to identify familiar scenarios and issues and highlight legal problems is a key component of the education and information process in the Family Harmony sessions.

'The Family Harmony sessions have been designed for families to understand their rights within their relationship, parental obligations, and the rights of children. The information is relevant to all as family is the foundation of communities and great importance is placed on it,' said Ian Michaelson, Managing Lawyer at VLA’s Shepparton office.

'I will be using the stories as a springboard to discuss the law and answer questions, while Angela Costi, VLA’s Community Legal Education Coordinator, will be hosting the session and initiating the storytelling.

'Stories, music and food are all important components of the sessions, and encourage an environment filled with meaningful community engagement,' said Mr Michaelson.

The community education sessions have been nationally recognised as a model of good practice for African-Australian communities in the 2010 Australian Human Rights Commission's national report In Our Own Words – African Australians: A review of human rights and social inclusion issues.

The free Family Harmony sessions are the latest in a series of four sessions held over the past year in Shepparton which covered topics such as Centrelink payments and prosecution, discrimination and immigration law. They were attended by over 300 people.

The sessions are run in partnership with the Ethnic Council of Shepparton, Greater Shepparton City Council, Uniting Care Cutting Edge, Goulburn Ovens TAFE and St Paul's Lutheran Church.

There are two sessions, with the first taking place on Sunday, 17 October from 1 to 4 pm with French, Swahili, Lingala and Kurundi translators. The second session will be held on Saturday, 23 October from 1 to 4 pm with Sudanese-Arabic, Arabic and Dinka interpreters

All sessions will be at Scots Uniting Church Hall, 134-140 Fryers Street Shepparton and food and drinks will be provided, including Halal food. For more information please call (03) 9269 0223.

Please note:
Ian Michaelson available for interviews and photo opportunities.

For more information contact Dina Jaballah, Communications Co-ordinator: (03) 9269 0435 or DinaJ@vla.vic.gov.au