People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds frequently experience barriers to justice when participating in court and tribunal processes.
This event is for VCAT members only.
Intercultural communication skills can mitigate the challenges that people from diverse backgrounds experience.
In this workshop, you will explore the concept of cultural competence in a court and tribunal setting. You will also learn culturally responsive strategies to help you work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
You will explore:
- the concept of culture
- practical skills for adopting a culturally responsive approach
- unconscious bias
- how to work with interpreters.
Speakers.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Senior Member Reynah Tang
Reynah Tang is a Senior Member at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and is Deputy Head of the Legal Practice List. Prior to his tribunal role, Reynah was a partner in the taxation practice at Johnson Winter and Slattery.
In 2013, Reynah served as the President of the Law Institute of Victoria, a director of the Law Council of Australia and was a founder and inaugural president of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, a national association focused on promoting cultural diversity in the law and legal profession. In 2019, he became a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the law and professional legal associations.
Reynah represents VCAT as a diversity advocate and member of the Diversity and Inclusion Justice Network, and was a member of the working group which prepared the second edition of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion’s Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Senior Member Reynah Tang
Reynah Tang is a Senior Member at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and is Deputy Head of the Legal Practice List. Prior to his tribunal role, Reynah was a partner in the taxation practice at Johnson Winter and Slattery.
In 2013, Reynah served as the President of the Law Institute of Victoria, a director of the Law Council of Australia and was a founder and inaugural president of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, a national association focused on promoting cultural diversity in the law and legal profession. In 2019, he became a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the law and professional legal associations.
Reynah represents VCAT as a diversity advocate and member of the Diversity and Inclusion Justice Network, and was a member of the working group which prepared the second edition of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion’s Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals.
Social Policy Group
Monica Rivas
Monica Rivas is the Training Manager with the Social Policy Group (SPG). Monica develops and delivers training programs that aim to build the capacity of various sectors to provide population-responsive services and to work effectively with population cohorts in all their diversities. She has been working in the community services sector for the past 13 years. With a background in training and assessment and tertiary qualifications in psychology and social work, Monica applies effective methodological approaches to developing training and frameworks with a focus on driving change within individuals and organisations.
Monica has also delivered national frameworks, such as the National Youth Settlement Framework which was developed to assist service providers to work more effectively with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Social Policy Group
Monica Rivas
Monica Rivas is the Training Manager with the Social Policy Group (SPG). Monica develops and delivers training programs that aim to build the capacity of various sectors to provide population-responsive services and to work effectively with population cohorts in all their diversities. She has been working in the community services sector for the past 13 years. With a background in training and assessment and tertiary qualifications in psychology and social work, Monica applies effective methodological approaches to developing training and frameworks with a focus on driving change within individuals and organisations.
Monica has also delivered national frameworks, such as the National Youth Settlement Framework which was developed to assist service providers to work more effectively with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Polaron
Eva Hussain
Eva is a prominent expert in the fields of language services and European citizenship. She is the founder of Polaron and its Director of Relationships and Growth and plays an active role in the global development of the company. Eva is a certified practicing translator and interpreter, as well as an examiner and a member of NAATI’s Regional Advisory Council. She is a member of various networks and boards, including Victorian Refugee Health Network, Southern Homelessness Services Network and the Association of Polish Jews. Winner of several business and equity awards, in March 2022, Eva was appointed as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Victoria. Over the years, Eva has made a tremendous voluntary contribution to the translation and interpreting industry and the Polish and Jewish community globally. Her lived experience as a refugee from Poland fuels her passion for community work and bridge building.
Polaron
Eva Hussain
Eva is a prominent expert in the fields of language services and European citizenship. She is the founder of Polaron and its Director of Relationships and Growth and plays an active role in the global development of the company. Eva is a certified practicing translator and interpreter, as well as an examiner and a member of NAATI’s Regional Advisory Council. She is a member of various networks and boards, including Victorian Refugee Health Network, Southern Homelessness Services Network and the Association of Polish Jews. Winner of several business and equity awards, in March 2022, Eva was appointed as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Victoria. Over the years, Eva has made a tremendous voluntary contribution to the translation and interpreting industry and the Polish and Jewish community globally. Her lived experience as a refugee from Poland fuels her passion for community work and bridge building.