Membership - Why don’t you join us?

Become a member

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria is the peak advocacy body for multicultural, refugee and migrant issues in Victoria. With over 35 years’ experience, the eccv enjoys an extensive network of members and contacts enabling it to advocate on multicultural issues in Victoria at the highest government levels. With over 200 member organisations from all regions of Victoria, eccv represents the issues affecting multicultural communities at a state level.

In Victoria 23.8% of the population were born overseas and 43.7% were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. Victorians come from over 200 countries, speak over 230 languages and follow over 120 religions. As at February 2011 the eccv had a total of 200 members made up as follows;

18 individual members

22 Associate members

160 full members (organisations)

A survey of members shows that our membership represents more than 60 ethnicities including many of the new and emerging communities like the Oromo, Sudanese, Somali, Zimbabwean, Eritrean, Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese.

We have 12 metropolitan and regional ethnic communities’ councils and a large organisational membership that identify themselves with 61 ethnicities. We can claim to represent over 65,000 people across the whole of Victoria.

We invite membership applications from individuals, students, ethnic and multicultural organisations, service agencies providing service to our diverse community, other peak bodies, refugee advocate organisations, migrant resource centres and foundations.

Why Join?

As a member you'll enjoy the right to vote to elect members of the governing Executive.

As a member your concerns will be the focus of our advocacy to government.

As a member you'll be eligible to join one of our policy committees. Currently we have policy committees that focus on Health, Women, Youth, Aged Care and New & Emerging communities issues.

As a member you will be invited to take part in the regular eccv Leadership training programs designed to assist communities establish, operate and grow their community organisations.

As a member you'll be invited to join our web-based member forum where you can have your say on issues that interest you and have conversations with other members and the eccv.

As a member you'll received regular newsletters and information about upcoming events, forums and grant opportunities. In addition you will receive a FREE copy of "Many Hopes: One Dream" the history of the eccv (2009)

These are just some of the benefits of joining the eccv. More importantly, you'll be a part of the growing membership of the peak body that exists solely to represent your interests to government.

How do I join?

Just click here to access an application form, complete and return it for the Executive to consider your membership application.

Click here to read the eccv constitution which includes more information about different types of membership and the process for applying for membership.

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARDS NOW OPEN

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria announces its new Lifetime Membership Awards in  recognition for outstanding contributions to the ECCV or objectives of the ECCV.  

Lifetime Membership is an honour bestowed upon organisations or individuals way to express gratitude to member organisations, associate members, stakeholders or past ECCV staff who have given of themselves to the benefit of the ECCV beyond the norm expected of volunteers or staff.

How to nominate

Nominations should be lodged using the nomination form below and include a synopsis of the person’s activities within the ECCV or activities and achievements associated with the objectives of the ECCV including the length of time of their contribution.

Nominations should be completed using the Online Award Nomination Form no later than 30 September 2011.