Civics Education Workshop Empowers Chinese Australians on Democracy and Media Literacy
公民教育讲座助力澳洲华人提升民主意识与媒体素养
On a hot summer Saturday afternoon, 22 February 2025, the Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV), and the Chinese Professionals Club of Australia (CPCA) successfully hosted a Civics Education Workshop at the Novotel Glen Waverley. The event attracted approximately 120 attendees and focused on key aspects of the Australian democratic process, civic participation, and media literacy—particularly the ability to critically evaluate information, identify misinformation and disinformation, and develop fact-checking skills.
Dr. Eric Fu, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, led the workshop, offering his expertise in Civics and Citizenship Education. His presentation was widely praised for its clarity and depth, providing attendees with valuable insights into democratic engagement.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from MC Lisha Dittberner, who acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, recognized the support of the Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, and outlined the workshop’s program.
Opening speeches were delivered by Tony Pang OAM, Vice President of CAF; Qi Chen, President of CPCA; and Jimmy Li, President of CCCAV. Tony Pang emphasized CAF’s mission to foster a socially cohesive society and combat racism, while Qi Chen underscored the importance of unity among Chinese Australians. Jimmy Li highlighted the community’s contributions to Australia and stressed that understanding democratic principles is both a right and a responsibility of citizenship.
The workshop received highly positive feedback, with attendees commending the informative and engaging content. Dr. Fu’s session, in particular, was recognized for its insightful approach to explaining Australia’s democratic process and the role of media literacy in civic engagement.
