Statement of Support for ECCV’s All One Together campaign
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional owners of the lands, sky and waterways where Wyndham Community & Education Centre is based and operates from. I pay respects to ancestors past and present and acknowledge that these lands, sky and waterways were never ceded by First Nations People.
Founded almost 50 years ago, Wyndham Community & Education Centre (Wyndham CEC) is one of Victoria’s largest adult and community education providers and a leader in supporting people and communities to make positive changes for their futures. Over time, the City of Wyndham has experienced exponential growth and is home to people from every part of the globe. Our programs, services and activities aim to be responsive and inclusive and to provide opportunities for participation and enhanced well-being.
Wyndham CEC embraces diversity by creating a welcoming and inclusive culture where everyone can belong. We’re committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and racism in our community and workforce. Inclusion and respect are two of our key values. These values focus our efforts on working together, connecting communities, and celebrating diversity.
Wyndham CEC supports and promotes these principles through leadership of the Wyndham Humanitarian Network, the Wyndham Interfaith Network, through its leadership of the Wyndham Anti-racism Support Network, and by being a signatory to Australia’s, Racism. It Stops with me campaign.
However, we acknowledge there is more work to be done across the community to tackle racism. Australia still has a culture of systemic racism. Not everyone experiences it, but it exists. It’s our responsibility to raise awareness and to challenge racism when we see it. We cannot move forward equally until we acknowledge the harm racism has caused in the past and continues to cause.
Wyndham CEC pledges to work with our diverse communities to improve our responses to racism and to work hard to foster a more equal society where everyone participates and thrives.
Jennie Barrera, CEO
