History of the Chinese
Unity Association of Victoria.
ECLS is a Saturday Chinese Language School established by Chinese Unity
Association Of Victoria Inc. (CUAV). Mandarin and Cantonese classes started
in February 1994, held in the premise of Doncaster East Secondary College,
Doncaster East, Melbourne.
CUAV was one of the earliest overseas Chinese community group formed in
the mid 1950s, committed to caring and providing social services to new
Chinese migrants who first settled in Australia. The earlier activities
of CUAV was held in a rented club house near Melbourne’s Victoria market
and later moved to Latrobe St, Melbourne. Activities included social gatherings,
debates, China tours, film shows, Chinese musical instruments, folk dancing
and Chinese language classes.
The main club objectives of CUAV include fostering and strengthening friendship
between the people of China and Australia and migrants of other countries,
promoting understanding and of the Chinese culture to people of all countries.
With the popularization of language learning in the early 1990s in Australia,
CUAV has decided to recommence Chinese language classes on Saturday mornings
in ECLS in Doncaster East, Melbourne. ECLS is currently run by a group
of dedicated volunteer-staff and parent group who help to keep the school
going. Paid teaching staff, originally from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
are mainly recruited locally, after attending compulsory on-going professional
development teachers training courses organized by the Department of Education,
Victoria and Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria. This school is made
possible by the funding of CUAV, Education Department and donations from
other friendly associations and individuals. ECLS warmly welcome all parents
and friends to join CUAV and ECLS in making this school a success for all
our children.
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