There are over 3 million migrant women in Australia
We are doctors and nurses, cleaners, childcare educators, scientists and teachers. We work in every industry and live in almost every town. We are part of Australia and our voices are important in deciding Australia’s future.
We have families and loved ones that depend on us, at home and overseas. We have dreams and hopes for our future, and for the future of our children. We have values that we hold dear and we have lived experiences that have shaped our stance.
In making the commitment to be a citizen, we agreed to help be the keepers of Australia’s future, to play our role in shaping a country that we can all be proud to call home. Australia is a shared dream and part of that dream is our democratic system.
Our hopes for Australia include:
- Leadership that promotes love and respect, where diversity is championed and everyone gets an opportunity to participate
- A healthcare system that looks after us when we are most vulnerable and is responsive to our cultural and linguistic needs
- A fair, efficient and effective migration system, where no one is permanently temporary and an end to the citizenship backlogs
- A zero-tolerance stance on violence against women and children and support systems to help women from migrant and refugee backgrounds (no matter their visa type)
- A system that enables our full participation in social and economic life, including access to English language learning, employment support and skills recognition.
Active citizenship
In the lead up to the 2019 federal election, the Harmony Alliance is calling on all women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to use the power of our votes
Voting in elections is an opportunity for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to have a say about who makes decisions on our behalf. Harmony Votes calls on women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to exercise active citizenship. Active citizenship means being involved in making society a better place – paying attention to issues that affect us, our families and our communities, and working for change.
Voting in elections is a key part of being an active citizen. In Australia, there are three levels of government elected at regular intervals: federal, state or territory, and local. Each level is responsible for different issues, and can make laws about these. However, some responsibilities are shared, such as roads, environmental management and public health issues.
You can find out more about the governments in your state or territory here
Understand the levels of government
Federal Government
Decision making body:
Federal Parliament
Leader:
Prime Minister
Lower House:
House of Representatives
Upper House:
Senate
The federal Parliament is divided into two houses – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In order for a law to be made, it needs to be approved by both houses.
Federal government responsibilities include: immigration, most social services, pensions, defence, foreign affairs, and trade. The Federal Government is also involved in health, education, environmental issues and industrial relations.
State or Territory Government
Decision making body:
State Parliament
Leader:
Premier
Lower House:
Legislative Assembly
Upper House:
Legislative Council
Most state parliaments are divided into a lower and an upper house, like the federal parliament.
In order to create laws regarding state issues, the law needs to be passed through both houses.
State and Territory responsibilities include: schools, hospitals, environment, roads, railways and public transport, community services, police and emergency services.
Local Government
Decision making body:
City Councils/Shire Councils
Leader:
Mayor/Shire President
Councils look after the needs of a city or local community. Council representatives are called aldermen or councillors. Council meetings are usually open to the public.
Local government responsibilities include: local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, public health and community facilities such as swimming pools. The ACT does not have local councils.
Getting ready to vote?
Make sure you are enrolled
Make sure you are know how when and where to vote
Make sure you think about what issues you care about, and find out which candidates and parties represent your values
Not eligible to vote?
Even if you’re not a citizen yet, it is still important to understand how Australia’s democracy and voting systems work. You still participate in civic life. Understanding elections and what motivates political parties can help you to drive change.
Acknowledgements
The material on this website draws on resources and publications of the Australian Electoral Commission, Women’s Electoral Lobby and the Centre for Multicultural Youth.
Harmony Votes is an initiative of the Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change, Australia’s national migrant and refugee women’s coalition, in partnership with the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC).
