New Commissioner brings hope to Victoria's African communities

The Victorian Multicultural Commission has appointed African community leader Sisay Dinku to its leadership team as part of efforts to fix relations with newly arrived communities.

VMC Commissioner Sisay Dinku and Chair Helen Kapalos. Source: SBS

Standing alongside the Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott, Sisay Dinku shakes hands and greets the dignitaries like old friends.

It's the launch of a new state government initiative and a truck offering members of the public a virtual reality experience of the life of a new migrant takes centre stage.

VMC members and state government officials experience virtual reality Source: SBS

It's one of Mr Dinku's first official functions as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, but the Ethiopian born migrant has long been an advocate for the state's various African communities.

Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Helen Kapalos said Mr Dinku's appointment forges an essential link with the communities.

"It's an important community, they do need our help. That community's intelligence and seeing that leadership back in the community is an incredibly potent symbol for them."

And it couldn't come at a more important time, with the state's African communities - in particular the Sudanese-born communities - experiencing unprecedented levels of negative media attention.

Sisay Dinku (centre) greets state government officials Source: SBS

The 2015 census shows Sudanese-born citizens make up just 0.11 percent of Victoria's population.

But Victorian Crime Statistics report the group is over-represented in its data - accounting for 5.65 per cent of car thefts, 7.44 per cent of  home invasions, and 13.9 per cent of aggravated robberies.

Sisay Dinku said more support is needed for integration and settlement programs.

"There's a lack of understanding, a lack of awareness of the rule of law, especially with young kids engaging with the justice system. But in terms of the majority of African communities, they are law abiding."

He said addressing negative perceptions of African-Australians is a major first step in his battle to promote social cohesion.

Sisay Dinku among AFL Multicultural Commissioners Source: Supplied

Chairman of the African Think Tank, Dr Berhan Ahmed, said a lot of misconception about Australia's African-born communities comes down to cultural differences.

"We come from a communal society. And as a communal society we go as friends and brothers, in groups. In a western system, going in groups is gangs. Yes crime is crime, and I'm not saying crime is not bad but to label them that way is to fail them."

Sisay Dinku sees his role as not just a conduit for the community, but to also come up with new ways to promote social cohesion with the wider Australian community.

Mr Dinku said a whole of community approach is the best way to achieve integration.

"Not only focusing on African communities working across the spectrum of all society, between African communities, between Vietnamese communities, between Chinese community."

Sisay Dinku (far right) with Victoria Police Source: Supplied

As part of his role, Mr Dinku will be representing the interests of these communities to the government.

But Dr Berhan Ahmed said the commissioner's appointment also provides youth in the African-born communities a role model.

"This is a step in the right direction, that our kids will be inspired to dream big and see that the future is brighter because they can get into parliament, they can get in to government."