Professor Michele Grossman has been appointed to a $4 million state government research institute established to tackle violent extremism and strengthen multiculturalism.
Professor Grossman, director of VU’s Centre for Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing, said she was honoured to join the interim advisory board for the Social Cohesion and Multicultural Research Institute.
She is part of a team of academics, researchers and evaluators conducting research into issues facing Victoria, including those relating to multiculturalism, intercultural relations, youth affairs and extremism.
The institute is an initiative of the social cohesion and community resilience ministerial taskforce, and forms part of the Andrews Government’s $25 million plan to promote multiculturalism.
“While exploring challenges for the wellbeing of our communities, the institute has opportunities to emphasise positives such as strengthening resilience, promoting the benefits of multiculturalism and creating better community cohesion,” she said.
Professor Grossman is also invited to be a panellist in Sydney later this month at Australia’s regional summit to counter violent extremism.
She will discuss the roles women and families can play in countering and building resilience to violent extremist propaganda, and how they can be better supported.
The summit is an invitation-only forum for the Asia-Pacific region following an international summit led by US President Obama in February.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Attorney General George Brandis opened the 11 June event.
