MEDIA RELEASE
Chinese-Australian Community Reflects on Advocacy for First Nations Voice to Parliament
17 October 2024
Yue Hu, a member of the Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV), took the stage at the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) Conference 2024, delivering a compelling presentation titled “Chinese-Australian community support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament”. The conference, themed “Our Experiences. Our Future”, was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 16-17, bringing together community leaders, organizations, service providers, researchers, policymakers, and public servants to share ideas and experiences on multiculturalism. Additionally, Yue Hu was interviewed by SBS during the conference, further highlighting the importance of community engagement and multicultural dialogue.
Yue Hu’s talk underscored the important role that multicultural communities play in supporting the First Nations Voice to Parliament. By sharing insights and examples from within the Chinese-Australian community, Hu reflected on the journey of Chinese-Australian community in advocating for the First Nations Voice.
The Voice Referendum has illuminated a significant gap in knowledge and understanding about First Nations communities among multicultural communities in Australia. This gap has hindered support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament and created challenges for broader Reconciliation efforts.
Drawing on the ethnographic experiences of volunteer advocates, this presentation focuses on the Chinese-Australian community’s efforts to bridge the information gap. Challenges such as community engagement, language barriers, and the spread of misinformation were identified as key factors that hindered the understanding of First Nations’ experiences. Education and clear communication became essential to overcoming misinformation and language barriers.
A campaign led by the Chinese Community Council of Australia – Victoria Chapter, the RMIT Chinese-Australian Studies Forum, and the Chinese Australians for Social Causes Network was instrumental in raising awareness. This campaign employed a variety of outreach methods, including:
- Media releases
- Online surveys
- Webinars
- Social media posts
- Short video productions
- Face-to-face events
- Collaborations with community organisations
- Engagement at voting stations
This diverse approach allowed the campaign to reach different segments of the Chinese-Australian community, providing clear and accurate information about the Voice to Parliament and encouraging informed voting.
The efforts of Chinese-Australian volunteers culminated in a shift in support for the Yes campaign, particularly in electorates with a large Chinese-Australian population, such as Reid and Chisholm. Both regions voted in favour of the Voice campaign, above the national average, demonstrating the effectiveness of focused education and engagement.
“This result shows the power of community-led advocacy,” said Jimmy Li of the CCCAV. “When communities are well-informed and engaged, they can become strong allies in supporting First Nations representation and reconciliation.”
The presentation concludes with key recommendations for continuing advocacy in multicultural communities:
- Increase Educational Efforts: Promoting education about Indigenous history and culture within multicultural communities is essential to foster understanding and solidarity.
- Strengthen Community Engagement: Regular events and discussions should be held to provide insights and encourage support for First Nations’ initiatives.
- Sustain Advocacy: Ongoing dialogue about Indigenous reconciliation and social justice must be maintained to ensure that the momentum of support continues.
Affiliations of the authors of the presentation:
- Jimmy Li – Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV)
- Jing Qi – RMIT Chinese-Australian Studies Forum
- Yue Hu – Northern Health, Melbourne
- Eric Fu – Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne
Ref:
- FECCA Conference 2024: https://www.fecca2024.com.au/program
- SBS Report: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/chinese/zh-hans/podcast-episode/fecca-conference-2024/44sa07bin
