Accessible Government Services for All Annual Report
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Reporting analysis: FACSIA Symposiums
FaCSIA developed a number of symposiums under the Bringing Communities Together strategy in line with the recommendations of the former Muslim Community Reference Group (MCRG). The symposiums were designed to bring Australian communities together by promoting awareness and understanding of the culture and values of Australian Muslims and sharing achievements and success stories on their social integration in the wider Australian community. The symposiums commended in early 2007.
DIAC is an active partner in the symposiums and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has offered its support for the production of a publication on Australian Muslims. The symposiums have also earned considerable support from the business community through the Prime Minister's Community Business Partnerships (PMCBP), the Council for Australian- Arab Relations (CAAR), the Muslim Community Co-operative (Australia) Ltd (MCCA), IBM, ActewAGL, and some state and local businesses.
The symposiums were complemented by community service expos to provide the wider Australian community with information on programmes and services available from all levels of government, not-for-profit, community and business sectors. A number of government agencies extended their assistance by holding information booths. These included the Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Sports Commission, the Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Human Services, the Child Support Agency, Centrelink, the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and FaCSIA.
In addition to promoting agency programmes and services, the expos provided an opportunity for agencies to gather community feedback on their services, and enhance partnerships and collaboration among all sectors in the community, including government, business, not-for-profit sectors and the Australian Muslim community.