UPDATE: Yellow balloon 'Everyone's welcome' stickers launched in support of refugee community. Learn more
Believe in Bendigo and Bendigo Community Health Services have begun a campaign to support the city’s Karen community after a series of COVID-19 related incidents.
Bendigo Community Health Services has received reports of Karen community members being verbally abused, coughed on and called names linked to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The incidents have centred around blaming people of Asian Australian appearance for the origin of Coronavirus,” BCHS Cultural Diversity and Relationships team manager Kaye Graves said. “It’s ludicrous, unfair and it’s dangerous. It has left a lot of Karen community members upset and frightened.”
Mrs Graves said given the unsettled and unsafe life experiences of most of Bendigo’s Karen community before arriving in the city they were hesitant to speak with police because of their unfamiliarity with reporting processes.
“We understand that and have been busy working with them and the amazing staff at the Bendigo police station,” she said.
“Inspector Shane Brundell has helped us make a video for our website to encourage the Karen community to report these incidents and remind the community of the laws and penalties for such behaviour.”
Believe in Bendigo came to the fore during the protests surrounding the approval of the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre in 2015.
The successful anti-racism campaign, which has been copied in cities around Australia, focussed on a positive message and showed the world that Bendigo condemned hate and violence.
And it is doing it again.
“If you belong to a minority group, a minority culture or a minority religion, you are welcome in Bendigo,” Believe in Bendigo spokesperson Margot Spalding said.
“And we want to show the Karen community that today. The Karen community is one of Bendigo’s biggest success stories, and they offer our community so much.
RELATED: To watch a statement of support for Bendigo's refugee communities from Bendigo Mayor Margaret O'Rourke click here
RELATED: Bendigo Coronavirus Refugee Resource Centre - translated information sheets and videos: https://bit.ly/CoronavirusRefugees
RELATED: Learn more about BCHS refugee services: https://www.bchs.com.au/refugees
RELATED: Welcome to Bendigo video made by the Karen community with our support. Beautiful: http://bit.ly/WelcomeToBendigo
SPECIAL VIDEO: See a video we have made with Victoria Police Inspector Shane Brundell from Bendigo Police Station explaining prejudice motivated crime such as racism to the Karen community and how they should report any incidents at the bottom of this post. Thank you.
“Unfortunately, we always knew Believe in Bendigo wouldn’t be a one-off, and we want the Bendigo community to join us and step up again.
“Over the next weeks and months, we will be running a very public campaign to show the Karen community, our entire Asian Australian community, and every culture in Bendigo, that they are welcome, and they are valued.”
As a first step, Believe in Bendigo is urging locals to take to social media to pledge their support to Bendigo’s Asian Australian community using the #BendigoTogether hashtag.
“Over the next little while we’ll be giving people plenty of opportunity to show their support publicly and show the world what Bendigo is really about,” Mrs Spalding said.
“We are community that digs deep to help others. We build, we don’t destroy. We promote, we don’t denigrate.”
Bendigo Police Inspector Shane Brundell said the incidents may constitute prejudice motivated crime.
“Victoria Police takes all incidents of racism, discrimination or vilification based on religion, culture or ethnicity seriously,” he said.
“Everyone has the right to feel and be safe in the community.
“If anyone is a victim of crime involving racism, discrimination or vilification, we encourage you to report this to your local police.”
Anyone under immediate threat should call 000 immediately while anyone wishing to report an incident after it's occurred should call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
A video for the Karen community on prejudice motivated crime
Watch this special video with Victoria Police Inspector Shane Brundell from Bendigo Police Station explaining prejudice motivated crime such as racism to the Karen community and how they should report any incidents:
Bendigo Community Health Services thanks Inspector Brundell and Victoria Police for their support with this video.
Last updated: July 23, 2020