An anti-racism campaign within the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone.
The Pharmacy Guild (Victoria branch), Latrobe Community Health Service, Latrobe Health Assembly and the United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley have partnered to deliver an anti-racism campaign to the Latrobe Valley and beyond.
COVID-19 has created fear, which is a key ingredient for amplifying existing racism in any society, and has uncovered social and political fractures within communities with racialized and discriminatory responses. Locally, it means that the spread of COVID-19 has increased discrimination towards people from South East Asian backgrounds. This has included refusing services from people of certain nationalities, discrimination in service provision, and micro aggression or direct acts of violence.
Following some reports of such incidents in Gippsland, and discussions with relevant services, a campaign to promote unity has been developed with the support of front-line workers with the statement “We don’t discriminate, and neither should you”.
The poster campaign features local Pharmacist Vinh Nguyen, Federation University nursing student Kacie Duncan and Senior Constable Tiago Albano from Victoria Police. It also includes important information for reporting racism related incidents.
The campaign is being offered to front-line service organisations, retailers, schools, cafes and local community organisations. It is a chance for these organisations to demonstrate their unity to stamp out unacceptable racial discrimination.
An online launch event for this important community topic was held on Thursday July 30. A powerful livestreamed forum was held that unpacked the experiences of racism and discrimination by our First Nations and multicultural communities. The webinar initiated a discussion on how we can all break the silence and work together to create an inclusive community in Gippsland, and beyond, that cares for every member of the community regardless of their colour and race.
Downloadable copies of the ‘We don’t discriminate, neither should you’ poster and an online recording of the webinar are available at: www.healthassembly.org.au/standupforhumanity
