2007 Media Releases
Tuesday 4 December, 2007
Five Councils and La Trobe University Centre for Dialogue to Launch Faith and Multicultural Network at Preston
Five councils are collaborating with La Trobe University’s Centre for Dialogue to launch seven faith and multicultural umbrella organisations on Tuesday 4 December from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Darebin Shire Hall, 286 Gower St, Preston.
The three-year project will develop a dynamic and sustainable interfaith /intercultural network for Melbourne’s northern region.
It is based on active collaboration between the Centre for Dialogue, the five adjacent municipalities of Moreland, Darebin, Banyule, Hume and Whittlesea, and seven partner organisations – the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the Uniting Church, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, the Buddhist Council of Victoria and the Victorian Council of Churches.
The Director of the Centre for Dialogue, Professor Joseph Camilleri, said inter-faith dialogue is a process designed to bring together people of different religious persuasions and traditions to promote mutual trust and more effective forms of co-operation. Although it has an obvious religious focus, is also closely connected with cultural diversity. In this sense the dialogue is both inter-religious and inter-cultural, he said.
Professor Camilleri added:
“This project builds on the marvellous work which has been going on for some time in each of the five municipalities, to which so many groups and individuals have contributed over the years. It will foster practical cooperation between people of different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and so strengthen our capacity and our confidence to meet the challenges of the future.”
The launch will present the aims of the project and outline some of the initiatives planned for next year, and the organisations to play a key role.
Mayors, Councillors and officers of the five municipalities, leaders of religious, community, business and professional organisations, and members of the media are expected to attend.