NAVIGATION

NAVIGATION

VMC | UPDATE | Community Easing of restrictions, new translated materials and innovative arts initiatives | Wednesday 13 May 2020

[Edited extract from public address]

As Victoria begins to slowly and cautiously ease coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, we are now able to spend some quality time with our loved ones, with up to 5 guests allowed to visit private homes and up to 10 people allowed to gather outdoors. 

Places of worship, of all denominations, can now open for pre-arranged small religious ceremonies of up to 10 people (plus those required to conduct the service). Outdoor recreational activities are also allowed, including walking groups, boot camps, golf, fishing and hiking. (Read the Premier's full statement.) We will also see a phased return to school for Victorian students, beginning Tuesday 26 May.

For many of us, the ability to reconnect with family and friends will have a positive impact on our outlook and hopefully help us all cope with these challenging times.

We're able to make these changes thanks to everyone's hard work, however we cannot become complacent. It's up to all of us to use our judgement, continue to maintain physical distancing and be vigilant with hygiene.

Acknowledging support from Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence in supporting multicultural communities during this pandemic. The $11.3 million funding package announced last week was a welcome contribution to supporting multicultural and multifaith Victorians.

Thanking all the community organisations, individuals and faith organisations who have stepped up to support people who are in need, especially those who are not eligible for other support, whether from their own, or other multicultural communities. It is a clear demonstration of the strong social cohesion and social fabric we have built in Victoria.

Sharing multilingual resources from the Staying Apart Keeps Us Together campaign, which celebrates how our efforts and actions are making a difference and reiterates the importance of staying the course. Support by sharing these campaign assets through your networks.
Other resources we're sharing this week include new multilingual fact sheets from the Australian Human Rights Commission on Complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act , as well as the comprehensive COVID-19 multilingual information available from Health Translations in 70 languages.

Encouraging you to take a look at two great Multicultural Arts Victoria initiatives, Distance Between Us, a new corporate wellness program, and Shelter, which is currently open for expressions of interest from culturally diverse artists.

Please continue to reach out to the Commission with any feedback and check out the reorganised coronavirus section on our website with resources for multicultural communities.

Stay safe,
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson

Staying Apart Keeps Us Together campaign

The Staying Apart Keeps Us Together campaign thanks Victorians for their commitment to staying home, and demonstrates how the state has remained a community through supporting neighbours and vulnerable people. Social media graphics, audio messages, a photo library and print materials are available, translated into a range of community languages.
Download the stakeholder pack

Translated factsheet — racial discrimination

Racial discrimination harms the ability of all Australians to work together in this time of unprecedented crisis. It is vital to speak out against racism wherever we see it.
However, some people in our communities may face challenges accessing information about how to report racially incited incidents. The Australian Human Rights Commission has worked with the Australian Government to translate information on how to make a complaint into 64 languages.
Download the translated resources

Distance Between Us

The latest data indicates $280 million in lost income and 255,000 cancelled gigs for artists due to the pandemic. They are facing a long period with no public performance opportunities. Multicultural Arts Victoria are currently working with over 50 local diverse musicians to bring music, art, poetry and discussion into workspaces. Distance Between Us is an innovative new program providing companies a short performance from an artist of colour, who will phone in to scheduled video meetings as a creative way to inspire a team to maintain cohesion.
Find out more about #distancebetweenus

Health Translations — multilingual resources

Health Translations is a Victorian government initiative that provides high quality consumer focused translated materials on health and wellbeing.  While the coronavirus (COVID-19) information is changing rapidly Health Translations is a comprehensive collection for all up-to-date translated materials. Facts sheets, videos & posters are currently available in over 70 languages.
Visit Health Translations

Shelter - expressions of interest now open

Multicultural Arts Victoria is inviting expressions of interest from writers, visual artists, music and sound producers, songwriters and composers of diverse cultural backgrounds to create new works that can be shared online for Shelter.

Shelter is a new commissions program that will reflect on and respond to this unique moment in time in which we find ourselves confined to our own homes.
Find out more about Shelter

Coronavirus hotline

Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned, call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 (24 Hours).
Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
Triple Zero: Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.


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Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
Address: Level 3, 1 Macarthur Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9651 5901
Email: contact@vmc.vic.gov.au
Website: www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au