Connecting Communities: Speaking My Language

The Connecting Communities team are thrilled to invite you to Connecting Communities: Speaking My Language!

• When: Thursday November 26th, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

• Where: The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Bourke St, Melbourne 3000

• Tickets: Free! 

Language is a cornerstone of primary prevention work. However, there is a specific, specialised skillset within our sector that is sometimes left out of the conversation and far too often goes unrecognised and underfunded: communicating in languages other than English, and with multicultural and faith communities more broadly.  

This full day, in-person event features a combination of panel discussions and group activities to uncover how language shapes, shifts and reinforces power, and the impacts of this on primary prevention practice.

We will discuss the challenges facing the sector around language as well as the creative, resourceful and successful approaches to translation and messaging that exist to help every member of our community engage in prevention in a way – and a language – that lets them be heard.  

Agenda

• 9:30- 10:00 am - Arrival and registration

• 10:00 - 10:50 am - Welcome, introductions and set up

• 10:50 am - 11:35 pm - Session 1: Panel - Prevention, translation and working with multicultural communities

• 11:35 - 11:50 pm - Morning tea break

• 11:50 - 12:35 pm - Session 2: Panel - Prevention, scripture and working with faith communities

• 12:35 - 1:20 pm - Lunch

• 1:20 - 2:30 pm - Session 3: Mini-workshop - Messaging and communications with multicultural and faith communities and Close

• 2:30 - 3:00 pm - Networking

Speakers and caterer to be announced shortly, but spaces are limited so please register now to secure your place!

Connecting Communities is a free program of wrap-around capability building and networking activities, delivered in partnership with the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health, for prevention practitioners who work with multicultural and faith-based communities.

The program includes Communities of Practice, workshops, events and other networking and peer-learning opportunities, available to recipients of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing's Supporting Multicultural and Faith Communities to Prevent Family Violence Grant.

You can learn more about the program and what we've been up to over the last few years on the MCWH and Safe and Equal websites!

The Wheeler Centre is Australia’s only dedicated hub for Books, Writing and Ideas – a place where audiences connect with leading writers and thinkers from across Australia and the world.

We are so excited to be able to be having this event at a venue that this all about communication and the power of language, and are very proud to be able to platform the amazing work of The Connecting Communities Networks and friends from across the state on the same stage as so many amazing writers, thinkers and storytellers that we admire.

Getting There

Located in the central business district, the Wheeler Centre is within easy walking distance of public transport, taxis and bicycle hire stations.

Train

Melbourne Central Station is directly opposite the State Library’s front entrance. Most metropolitan trains stop at this station. If you’re travelling from regional Victoria, you can transfer from your regional train to a metropolitan train at Southern Cross or North Melbourne stations.

Tram

Trams can be caught from the superstop outside the State Library on Swanston Street, between Little Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets. Other nearby stops include those a block away, at the corners of Elizabeth and LaTrobe Streets.

Bus

The nearest bus stops are located on Lonsdale, Russell and Exhibition Streets.

Bicycle

There are several bike racks close to The Wheeler Centre where you can lock up your bike. There’s also a Melbourne Bike Share station at the corner of Swanston and Little Lonsdale Streets, where you can hire or return a shared bike.

Taxi

The nearest taxi rank is on Elizabeth Street, outside Melbourne Central. Several private tricycle taxi companies also operate in Melbourne’s CBD.

Parking

Parking is available at QV and Melbourne Central shopping centres, both nearby, for a fee.

There are two disabled parking spaces on Little Lonsdale Street (just east of the Swanston Street corner), and three disabled parking spaces on Latrobe Street between Swanston and Russell Streets – all with two-hour limits during weekday business hours. (Please note that The Wheeler Centre is not accessible via State Library Victoria.)

For more information about car parking in the city, visit the City of Melbourne’s website.

Venue Accessibility Information

The Wheeler Centre’s foyer is accessible by either stairs or a 23 metre long ramp. At the front of the building, there are nine steep steps with a rail on either side. Each step is 25 centimetres deep. To the side of this, there is a ramp to the right-hand side of the front door as well.

Full accessibility details can be found on the Wheeler Centre's Access page here.