By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
WITH less than a week until voting booths open across Victoria, thousands of people are participating in a Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) initiative, and will be voting correctly for the first time.
The initiative aims to increase electoral enrolment in Victoria and is something that many African Australians wish had have been implemented much earlier.
Community educator for Gembrook Guil Deng says many of the people he teaches ask why a program like this wasn’t started years ago.
“Too many have been struggling to understand the system and have been filling out the voting forms wrong for years,” Mr Deng said.
“The people we teach complain that after they become an Australian citizen they are sent an electoral enrolment form but don’t understand why or how their vote counts,” Mr Deng said.
The initiative includes information sessions that teach people how to enrol to vote and vote correctly.
Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said this election would be the first time many people had experienced voting and enrolling to vote in an election.
“It will be the first time that they have a real understanding of what it’s all about and how elections work,” Mr Gately said.
The program is hoping to improve political literacy and civic participation among African Australians in Victoria, helping to overcome language barriers that often stop people from voting.
“We teach people of all ages from 18 years old, many from migrant backgrounds who have had past negative voting experiences overseas and many are not aware that it is safe to vote in Australia and that they are free to speak out,” Mr Deng said.
Community educator Etimad Jaffer said he enjoyed helping people in his community get involved in the State Election.
“It’s rewarding to hear about how I’ll be helping some women, now in their fifties or sixties, to vote for the first time,” Mr Jaffer said.
The sessions are a part of a new Democracy Ambassador program for this year’s State Election, in partnership with VEC and Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria.
“Often people come to the classes assuming they know the basics but once we start giving them the correct information they discover they have been voting wrong for the past few years,” Mr Deng said.
“It’s very important for us to teach how different the Australian democracy is and that their voices can be heard,” Mr Deng said.
The classes focus on increasing the understanding of what the Upper and Lower Houses do and the differences between the local, State and Federal governments. “Our main aim is to ensure African Australian voters understand that it is their responsibility to vote and that their contribution to Australia is important,” Mr Deng said.
“The African Australian community is very impressed with the initiative but wish it had been implemented earlier,” Mr Deng said.
Teachers from around Africa are involved in delivering the free information sessions, to book a session or to get involved email Asvin Phorugngam, VEC outreach and engagement officer, at asvin.phorugngam@vec.vic.gov.au or call 8620 1185.
Sessions are held at local community centres, social gatherings, meetings and English classes.
