Author: Kerri

#HarmonyWeek #EveryOneBelongs

Harmony Week, 20th to the 26th of March 2023, is a Week of celebration.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.  During Harmony Week we bring together Australians from all different backgrounds and recognise our diversity.  It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Whilst Harmony Week is a uniquely Australian event, it coincides with Harmony Day, which takes place on the 21st of March each year.  Harmony Day is also known as the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  The world observes this date as the Day freedom from racial discrimination should be acknowledged and maintained as a human right.  However, many people still face racism. Whilst Harmony Week is a celebratory event, it also serves to campaign against discrimination.

Australia has an incredible history of multiculturalism; from the oldest continuous culture in the world of our First Nations people to the cultures of our newest arrivals from many countries around the world, Australia is a vibrant, multicultural land with more than 300 ancestries and more than 70 Indigenous languages spoken.

This Week reminds us that we should celebrate this and work together to promote the message of harmony.

At Illawarra Legal Centre, we are committed to fostering an environment where “everyone belongs”.  We strive to assist people to realise their legal rights, promoting social justice for all and providing a safe and inclusive environment.

We continue to actively protect the human rights of those who are vulnerable and seek to change the structures that systematically undermine those rights.

The message of respect and belonging can be lived by each of us, every day, not just during Harmony Week

#HarmonyWeek

#EveryOneBelongs

#HarmonyDay

To find out more visit: 

https://www.harmony.gov.au/about

https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day

International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day to raise the awareness about the issues that women still face today, such as gender inequality, violence and abuse.

On this day we also celebrate! We celebrate and recognise the economic, political and social achievements of women past and present.

This year, the UN’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.

‘Cracking the Code’ highlights the need to disrupt the current codes of behaviours, beliefs and systems that foster entrenched inequality through generational and systemic gender-based discrimination.

To crack the code to gender equality, we need transformative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education.

So, on this day we ask you to;

Celebrate women’s achievement.
Raise awareness about discrimination.
Take action to drive gender parity.#EmbraceEquity

Staff from ILC embracing equity. #EmbraceEquityIllawarra Legal Centre (ILC) provides free legal advice and services, so if you or anyone you know is being impacted by gender discrimination, violence or abuse, contact us on 4276 1939.

Happy International Women’s Day!

#CrackingTheCode

#IWD2023

#EmbraceEquity

To find out more visit: 

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

https://unwomen.org.au/get-involved/international-womens-day/

“Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice”

World Day of Social Justice is held on 20 February every year to focus on the progress of social justice throughout the world and to press for improvements and solutions.

This year’s theme is “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice”.  So, the 2023 World Day of Social Justice provides an opportunity to foster dialogue on actions needed to strengthen the social contracts that are meant to protect the rights of workers.

Poverty and inequalities within and among countries are on the rise in many parts of the world. The economic and social crises of recent years have been exacerbated by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters due to accelerating climate change, geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts.

Beyond the human tragedies associated with them and their impact on the world of work, these crises have highlighted the interlinkages and dependencies of economies and societies around the world.

Social justice makes societies and economies function better and reduces poverty, inequalities and social tensions.

As a community legal centre, Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC), assists some of the most disadvantaged people in our community and our workers know all too well how social injustice and inequalities affect the people of the Illawarra.

Over the last 3 years, we have seen the impact of COVID-19, bushfires and flooding on our community. The needs of those we help have become that much greater.

People who were already living with disadvantages, including unemployment or underemployment, high levels of existing debt, homelessness, or difficulties with access to health and social services were further marginalised.

We know that during times like these serious legal issues can escalate quickly.

We need long term systemic change that affords people a sense of security in their lives.

We need to reduce inequality and end poverty. 

ILC strives to advance social justice through the delivery of our free legal services to members of our community.  We assist people to realise their legal rights, with a particular focus on reaching people who are experiencing social and economic disadvantage and live in the Illawarra and surrounding areas.

By acknowledging this important day, we recognise the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, employment, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.

To find out more visit: 

United Nations – Social Justice Day

The ILO and the Quest for Social Justice

#IDPwD

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations (UN) recognised day held on 3 December each year to celebrate the contributions and achievements of people with disability.

The UN theme for IDPwD this year is ‘‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’.

Around one in six people, or 4.4 million Australians, have disability. Not all disability is the same, and some disabilities are invisible.

By joining the conversation and listening to the stories and lived experiences of people with disability, we can challenge our own perceptions about disability and help make positive changes in the community.

We encourage everyone to get involved and join the celebration! Together, we can all take action to make our community more accessible, challenge stereotypes, remove barriers, and promote inclusive and respectful attitudes and behaviours in our community.

For more information about IDPwD, including resources, stories, videos and social tiles, visit www.idpwd.com.au or follow @idpwd on Facebook and Twitter.

You can also help spread the word and join the conversation online using #IDPwD!

By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the millions of Australians with disability and contribute to positive change in our community.

#IDPwD  #IDPwD2022   #IDPwD22  #lookbeyond

Join us in recognising National Student Volunteer Week (NSVW).

Join us in recognising National Student Volunteer Week (NSVW).

The theme this year is Passion. Opportunity. Change. which explores how students can realise their dreams and effect change across the world…and it all starts with the act of giving their time to a cause they believe in.

Volunteering is an activity with immense economic, social and cultural value and Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) would like to acknowledge the specific impact that student volunteers make through their volunteering with our centre.  Thank you!

We would also like to recognise the significant skills, ideas, enthusiasm, creativity, and time that student volunteers contribute through their volunteering with us.  The dedication of student volunteers is even more extraordinary given the additional pressures of studying.

When student volunteers donate their time with ILC they are not only helping us with our cause, but they are gaining new knowledge, new skills and an opportunity to connect with people who share their passion and interests.

Thank you to every Student Volunteer who donates their time!

For ideas on how you can get volunteer your time, visit our volunteer page.

#NSVW2022

#NationalStudentVolunteerWeek

Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

NAIDOC Week celebrations are being held across Australia from 3-10 July to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in the celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year’s NAIDOC theme is – Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!– calls for systemic change. Whether it is seeking proper environmental/ cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.

It must be a genuine commitment by all of us to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms.

You can support NAIDOC Week and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country.  This year you will find Illawarra Legal Centre participating in the following NAIDOC events:

Monday 4/7/22 11am-2pm – Shellharbour City Council NAIDOC Event at Shellharbour Civic Centre

Tuesday 5/7/22 10am-1pm – NAIDOC Family Fun Day at Greene St Warrawong (in front of our office)

Thursday 7/7/22 10am-2pm – CareWays NAIDOC Event at Koonawarra Community Centre

Friday 8/7/22 10am-2.30pm – Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service NAIDOC Event at Dapto Showground

#NAIDOC2022

#NAIDOCWeek

#NAIDOC