Ellen calls for funding the Melbourne Employment Forum
My question is to the Minister for Employment. One of the most common issues my constituents bring up with me is a lack of employment for people from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Unemployment among migrant communities is much higher than the state average. Community leaders have recognised employment as their biggest challenge, and with my support and the support of the federal member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, have created the Melbourne Employment Forum (MEF).
The forum has brought people together under the leadership of MEF president Abeselom Nega, senior vice-president Farah Warsame, vice-president Yasir Mahmoud, joint secretaries Cam Nguyen and Sainab Sheikh, treasurer Ibsa Hassan, and board members Abdi Ali, Ayyanu Ali, Daniel Haile-Michael, Omar Farah and Ruay Amet-Atem. These people are all impressive leaders.
The MEF has received funding from the City of Melbourne but it needs further funds to run targeted migrant employment programs. My question to the Minister for Employment is: will the government support the multicultural community of inner Melbourne by funding the Melbourne Employment Forum’s targeted employment programs?