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Executive Officer Melba Marginson |
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Melba Marginson is of Filipino background and has worked in the area of multicultural and women’s affairs since migrating to Australia in 1989. She facilitated the formation of several women’s organizations including the statewide advocacy body, Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition, which she served as Chair for 9 years.
Her own journey as an Australian woman was an example of how most immigrant and refugee women settle in this country. They invest their skills and wisdom in voluntary work for many years while bringing up families and trying to get decent jobs, while maintaining their passion and commitment towards equality and social justice in this country. Her advocacy for immigrants and refugees has been recognised by the Labor Government in Victoria under Premier Steve Bracks by appointing her as one of the first new Commissioners of the Victorian Multicultural Commission in 2000. She has served the Commission for 5 years.
Ms Marginson has a Master's Degree in Social Science (Policy and Management) at RMIT University. She is a Director with the Victorian Women’s Trust Board, member of FECCA Women’s Committee and Deputy Chair of the Network of Immigrant and Refugee Women of Australia. She has served in a number of Ministerial Advisory Committees and Reference Groups on important aspects/issues of women's lives.
Ms. Marginson was selected for the First Women's Honour Roll by the Victorian Government in celebration of Australia's Centenary of Federation in 2001.
Ms. Marginson’s work on around Filipino women’s issues was the subject of extensive media coverage and academic research in the late 1980s through to the 1990s. Her public appearances in the media and in her various speaking engagements inspired many Filipino and migrant women to be stand up and be counted. Her perspective on women’s organizing and advocacy was the reason she was asked to write the Filipino chapter by Dr. James Jupp for the 2001 Australian Encyclopedia. In 1994, the national campaign she led to protect Filipino women from violence helped bring about the Domestic Violence Provisions to the Immigration Act of 1982.
Ms. Marginson continues to advocate for the Filipino community in Australia through her position as national spokesperson of the Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia, which has offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. She was the one who helped the ABC bring together the team of Filipino community leaders who last saw Vivian Alvarez Solon before she was deported in 2001.
Ms. Marginson is well-known in the community sector as the Executive Director of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition. Through this organization, Melba provides organizational leadership, mentoring and advocacy for and on behalf of numerous migrant and refugee women who trust her engaging and humble style of leadership. Melba has pioneered the development of a Women’s Leadership Course and a Multicultural Community Leadership & Advocacy Course tailored for migrant and refugee women and men. She has directly delivered these courses to more than 400 migrants and refugees in Victoria.
Many migrant and refugee women who are now in important roles in the Victorian community and government sectors have been mentored by Ms. Marginson. She is one of few migrant woman leaders who kept up to her values of working with the grassroots, individually and in groups.
Contact details
P. 9654 1243
E.
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