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Supporting migrant and refugee women to engage with the energy market by removing barriers

Essential Services Commission

The Essential Services Commission has partnered with Women’s Health in the North (WHIN) to deliver the Power Up Victoria project, to support migrant and refugee women who have faced barriers accessing and participating in the energy market.

 

Victoria is a culturally diverse state and the absence of in-language and culturally sensitive support and information can make it difficult for consumers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to navigate the energy market, access a fair electricity deal and confidently manage their energy usage. This means they are often left paying more on energy bills.

 

The commission is partnering with WHIN’s multilingual educators to work within their communities to deliver workshops, share learning resources, and provide support to women in their engagements with energy businesses.

 

Partnering with community organisations means the commission can gain greater visibility, firsthand insights, and access to culturally diverse audiences through safe and trusted spaces. 

 

The workshops will cover a number of topics to help participants take control of their energy costs, including:

• guidance on what to consider before signing a new contract, including information on using the Victorian Energy Compare website
• tools and resources to help participants interpret their energy usage and charges
• information about available assistance, including support for payment difficulties, government concessions, and interpreter services
• practical tips to reduce energy use and costs
• guidance on resolving energy-related disputes and avoiding scams.

 

The workshops will also include information on family violence in the context of energy and utilities.

 

WHIN is well placed to carry out this program due to its networks in multicultural communities and established peer-led community education model. A series of free workshops will be held across the northern metropolitan region of Melbourne, with multilingual support available in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Arabic, Dari and Greek.

For more information, visit economicequality.org.au/.Individuals and organisations interested in attending a workshop can sign up here.

 

Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody

 

“We’re looking forward to working with Women’s Health in the North on this project and will use the valuable insights to strengthen how we regulate in ways that reflect and respond to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.”

 

“We want the energy market to work for all customers. This means removing barriers for people whose limited English proficiency makes accessing information and services more difficult.”

 

“Nearly half of Victorians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was. That level of cultural and linguistic diversity means the energy sector needs to communicate in ways that are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all communities.”

 

Quotes attributable to Women’s Health in the North Manager of Economic Equality Manasi Wagh

 

“We are delighted to partner with Essential Services Commission to raise awareness of the rights and responsibilities of multicultural people when engaging with energy providers. We will be delivering free workshops to bring communities into the loop in a setting that is familiar them and discuss financial support options directly in their first language.”

 

“Usually, newly arrived migrants or people who are not native English speakers are

unaware of support services that can help them understand the system better and prevent them from falling victim to scams. These workshops are an important initiative that will help multicultural communities better understand options to access financial support and better manage their energy consumption, especially under the current cost-of-living pressures.”

 

Contact details:

Anna Basil-Jones 

0437 677 385