APCO (NSW Australia)  News Updates

APCO shines at ECC NSW 40^th bash

By Richard J Ford (PRO-APCO Inc)
NSW-Australia
May 27, 2015



The state peak body representing the interests of all ethnic communities, the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, recently marked its 40 years of multicultural community services with a gala dinner at Conca D’Oro Event Centre. 

Attended by some 300 guests representing various ethnic communities including NSW Ministers, MPs and consular officials, the event’s highlight was a tribute to the men and women who over the years have supported ECC NSW in its advocacy for a pluralistic and multicultural society.

Fourteen members of the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO) headed by Dr Cen Amores, its founding president and a member of the ECC NSW 40^th Anniversary Organising Committee, attended the celebration in their distinctively regal traditional Barong and Filipiniana.  Marcus Rivera, a member of the APCO delegation, captivated the audience with a repertoire of Broadway songs.

Among the guests are Social Services Parliamentary Secretary Senator Concetta Fierravanti –Wells;  Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello, Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian, MP Michelle Rowland and others.

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APCO joins Organ and Tissue Donation Campaign

By Richard J Ford (PRO-APCO Inc)
NSW-Australia
May 27, 2015
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed recently between the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO) and the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) and the Organ and Tissue Donation Service (OTDS).
As part of the Organ and Tissue Donation Multicultural Campaign, APCO will target the Filipino community leaders and members and the media by running information sessions. After the talks and video presentations, an Expression of Interest to potential voluntary donors will be distributed to be filled out and submitted.
Ms Jesusa Helaratne, Media Manager of NSW Multicultural Health and Communication Service asked Ruben Amores, APCO President to identify a bilingual trainer from APCO to undertake training on how to effectively deliver this campaign.

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APCO in regional peak meeting

By Richard J Ford (PRO-APCO Inc)
NSW-Australia
May 27, 2015
A breakfast meeting for members of Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF) was held at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery on 30 April 2015 to talk on making the peak body more effective.
Dr Cen Amores, APCO Inc. founding  president with about  20 community workers and volunteers representing a variety of service providers gathered together to  re-engage with WSCF staff and give feedback on the things that are important to them.
To respond effectively to the many changes happening in the Community Sector, participants were divided into small groups and talked about what they thought  needed  to be done differently to enhance the work they do on a daily basis. More importantly, how WSCF can be part of that change and how the community workers and WSCF can better work together.
It is expected that a summary of the proceedings from the meeting will be provided to the members and will eventually be used in planning projects and programs that are responsive to the needs of the community that they represent.