Multicultural Affairs Newsletter - July 2023

Ensuring your multicultural community association contact details are correct

If there have been changes to committee members in your multicultural community association, or if you would like to be added to the multicultural directory, please advise the Office of Multicultural Affairs by emailing contact details to tfhc.multiculturalaffairs@nt.gov.au

The Office of Multicultural Affairs encourages all multicultural community organisations and associations to create a generic email address (if not yet created) for their organisations instead of using private email addresses Presidents and other Board members.

Building in the Northern Territory

Are you planning to build in the Northern Territory?

The Northern Territory Government provides information on planning rules, and requirements, permits and policies.

You can also contact a Northern Territory Government planner to get free planning advice.

Planners can help you with all of the following:

• questions about planning
• understand planning rules, plans and policies
• how to submit a planning application
• how to report a breach of the planning rules.

Further information is available at: Contact a planner | NT.GOV.AU

Report child safety and family and domestic violence concerns

In the Northern Territory, reporting child abuse is a legal obligation known as mandatory reporting. If you believe a child is or has been harmed or abused, you must report your concerns under the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007.

When making a report, provide relevant information about the child's safety and well-being. You don't need proof, but a reasonable belief that harm has occurred or is likely to occur.

If you're unsure whether to report neglect or harm, contact the child protection reporting line at 1800 700 250 to discuss your concerns with professional staff. The reporting line operates 24/7.

Making a report in good faith protects you from legal or professional liability.

To report child abuse:

• Emergency: Call 000 and ask for Police
• Non-emergency: Call Police on 131 444 or contact your local police station
• Child Protection Reporting line: Call 1800 700 250 (24/7)
• Crime Stoppers: Call 1800 333 000
• Report online: Visit CARE Services| NT.GOV.AU

For more information on child abuse, visit: Child abuse | NT.GOV.AU

Regarding domestic and family violence, if you believe someone has been seriously hurt or is at risk, you must report it to the Police under Northern Territory law.

When reporting, provide details, if known, such as the location, need for medical assistance, presence of children, involvement of weapons, victim's name, and their relationship to the perpetrator.

If you feel unsafe, ask someone you trust to call the police on your behalf. You can choose not to disclose your name and contact details.

To report domestic, family, and sexual violence:

• Emergency: Call 000
• Non-emergency: Call Police on 131 444

For more information and access to support, visit: Report domestic, family and sexual violence | NT.GOV.AU

Northern Territory Primary Health Network survey on multicultural health

The Northern Territory Primary Health Network currently has a survey for community members to complete regarding their usage of healthcare services.

The survey is available in 13 languages and will be available until 25 July 2023.

To access the survey go to: Survey Monkey

Australian Taxation Office resources

It is tax time again. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides helpful tax time resources in languages other than English.

• Tax time resources in up to 18 languages.
• Help for your first tax time audio guide – in Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Filipino, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
• Our Community Voices video series - in this video series people share their personal experiences, in their own words, about navigating life in a new country – from lodging their first tax return, to setting up a small business, and how the ATO has helped.
• Tax Help program helps eligible people earning $60,000 or less to lodge their tax return online.

National Tax Clinic program is a government-funded initiative to help eligible people with their tax affairs.