CPCA has been through over a decade of commitment and remarkable growth in the face of challenging tasks, maintaining our philosophy as an organisation and meeting the growing needs of the Filipino community. Last year marked the 10 years as an organization, which started with a humble beginning, rich in enthusiasm, vision, and dedication.
Hear are some of CPCA’s major achievements and events in the last ten years.
2001 - Assisted in the establishment of Young Filipino Association of Victoria (YFAV) in their launching and celebration of the National Youth Week in April. The cultural event “FRESH” 2001 showcased the diverse talents, contributions and achievements of our young people in Victoria.
Took part in Philippines-Australia Research Conference attended by academics and professional bodies from La Trobe University and Ateneo de Manila University to discuss the research undertaken by representatives from both universities regarding issues of poverty, health and governance in Australia and the Philippines. Conducted information session and community consultation for Filipino women in the La Trobe Valley Region in coordination with La Trobe Valley Community Health Centre.
Participating and a signatory to a petition regarding Parent Migration Intake. Parent Reunion Appeal Network (PRAN) is a network of ethnic communities urging the House of Representative in parliament to bring back the Parent Migration intake to its 1996-97 level and to increase correspondingly to the level of Skilled Migration intake.
We are proud to have established partnerships with organizations who have affiliated with us;
- YOUNG GENERATION FILIPINO ELDERLY GROUP
- FILIPINO WOMEN ON THE MOVE
- B.E.S.T ( BASKETBALL ENTHUSIAST SPORTS TRAINING)
- FASCOLC (FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL CLUB OF LODDON CAMPASPE)
- FAWI ( FILIPINO ASSOCIATION OF WYNDHAMVALE INC.)
2000 - Convened the “Filipino Consultative Issues Network- a network of Filipino organizations aimed at tackling pressing issues confronting the Filipino community.
Received funding from the Department of Transport and Communication in Victoria a Domestic Violence Project covering the Victorian Central Highlands and Wimmera region. The Project is a recommendation to better assist the Filipino Women and children experiencing family violence in rural Victoria. First published “Ang Tinig” ( The Voice) a quarterly Official Newsletter of CPCA, focusing on our work in the community, experiences and views of Filipino Migrants, plus cultural as well as moral and spiritual features. The aim is to link with our members and the larger community and encourage participation in discussing relevant issues in our midst today.
Participant in “Project Respect”, a project based in Melbourne with the aim of assisting sex workers with regards to their rights and information on safe sex. We have established links and partnerships with Hobson’s Bay Multicultural Advisory Council, Central Highlands Cultural Network, West Casa (Centre Against Sexual Assault) Cultural Consultancy Group, Ballarat Child and Family Services.
Participated in the International Conference entitled Religion and Culture in Asia Pacific: Violence or Healing, jointly sponsored by Pax Christi and RMIT University. Joined other theatre arts enthusiasts in a theatrical workshop organized by Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) held at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Actively attended VMC’s State Youth Conference 2000 Report. CPCA was represented by two of our young people, Reyvi Marinas and Daniel Allender. The report centered on exploring ways in encouraging participation of young people in the community as well as developing strong leadership for the new century.
1999 - Comprehensively documented and presented to the community our report on the issue of drug amongst Filipino youth through a joint project between CPCA and the Victorian State Government Community Support Fund. We have established DEFY (Drug Education with the Filipino Youth) to continuously conduct educational campaigns in our community on how to effectively approach the issue.
Formalised inter- agency agreement with (a) Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre (MJJC) for the provision of culturally sensitive and co-coordinated direct response to Filipino youth in the Juvenile Justice center; (b) Women’s Liberation Halfway House- a crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence; (c) Lyndale Secondary School at Dandenong- Filipino youth school based peer program; (d) Victorian Parenting Centre- provision of culturally sensitive parenting education with Filipino parents and grandparents.
Assisted in the establishment of Young Generation, a young at heart, energetic, fast growing, elderly group based in the Southeast region. This brings us in touch to the needs of the elderly people in our community today.
1998 - Moomba Festival saw us dancing and chanting in the Swanston Walk from the beat of the Ati-Atihan group from the southeast (SEFNA) were joined by CPCA and Kabayan Members.
Nominated for National Community Links Award presented by the National Australia Bank in recognition of our Volunteers and the value of volunteering work in the community. Joined and worked closely with $old Out Youth Theatre in the staging of “Hunyango”, Tales of a Traveling Chameleon, directed by our very own Jenny Decolongon. The performances highlighted the Philippine Independence Day Centennial Celebration attended by close to 500 people.
1997 - We headed an anti-gambling task force (the first Filipino organization) jointly supported and participated by key leaders of our community as well as the Vietnamese and Chinese communities. This effort highlighted to increasing effects of gambling in our community and the need to respond to the issue collectively. Provided funding grant by the Department of Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) for the provision of settlement assistance to newly arrived Filipino migrants and long established Filipinos with persistent settlement issues. This funding continuously provided us an opportunity to extend our resources to the ever growing needs of our community today especially with the women, elderly, and the Filipino youth.
Steered and organized a statewide campaign against One Nation Party’s attack on “Multiculturalism”. Coordinated a Filipino-Australian (FAVAR- Filipino Australians in Victoria Against Racism) campaign against racism. Radyo Kabayan and CPCA participated in the very colorful Maribyrnong Festival and contributed our very own “Jeepney Lantern” chosen as the most interesting and colorful one in the Spring Carnival in the Western Suburb.
1996 - CPCA was a recipient of a Certificate of Merit presented by the Australian Heads of Government for Project “Campaign Against Murders and Disappearances of Filipino Women.
We have signed up membership with Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV), a broadly based statewide umbrella organization of ethnic communities. Its primary roles include support and information, lobbying and advocacy in areas such as access and equity, discrimination, education and training, community services, law and justice, arts and culture.
1994 - Organised the National Conference on Stopping Violence Against Filipino Women. CPCA is today a member of the International Network that monitor sex trafficking of women and children.
1992 - Our office in Queensberry Street housed six Filipino stonemasons and offered support to them against a Melbourne business that hired them from the Philippines and locked them into sub-standard contract. The office also served as temporary emergency accomodation for many women who sought refuge from their violent partners.
1991 - Brought to the attention of the Australian media and the public issues of martial murders, serial sponsorships, Australian sex tourism and domestic violence.
CPCA Victoria had been associated with a number of other organizations instrumental in its existence and have shared resources and worked in specific areas. It is just appropriate to pay tribute to these organizations, Collective of Filipinas for Empowerment and Development (CFED); Philippine Help for disaster relief; the Filipino Youth and Students Association of Victoria (FYSAV); the Philippine Australian Cultural Interaction Network (PACIN); Philippine Christian Support Group (PCSG); Women in Australia in Solidarity with Pilipinas (WASP); Solidarity Philippine-Australian Network (SPAN); CPCA in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, NT and Perth. Some of these groups have gone, some still exist.
Above achievements highlights the extent of our work in the community today, which reflects our common vision and established philosophy since it’s founding.