About Us
The or Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICs, make up the global network of field offices of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Department of Global Communications (DGC) which was originally established as the Department of Public Information in 1946, by , to promote global awareness and understanding of the work of the United Nations. DGC undertakes this goal through radio, television, print, the Internet, video-conferencing and other media tools.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Information Centre (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC) in Australia was established in November 1948 in Sydney. Later moving to Canberra, it is the formal Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ presence in Australia and the principal local source of information about the United Nations system. Its information-related responsibilities also extend to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu.
An internationally recruited Director heads Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC, and is the official representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Australia and the South Pacific. With the United Nations playing an ever-increasing role in many of the world¡¯s conflict zones to resolve key political, social, and economic issues, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC aims to help people in the region better understand what the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is doing to make a difference in their lives. It¡¯s activities include:
- disseminating information on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and the general public.
- assisting the media on all Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ-related issues.
- promoting better public awareness and understanding of the aims and principles of the United Nations by organizing public events, coordinating seminars and conferences etc.
- speaking engagements and addressing events organised by government, non-governmental organisations and other community groups.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC network gives global messages a local accent and helps bring the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ closer to the people it serves.