GEIFN: VMC | UPDATING | Community on festivals and events grants, help for energy bills, racism information sessions, leadership survey and more

[Edited extract from public address]

As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to drop across the state, it is hopeful that Victoria is regaining control over the spread of the virus.

Message from the Chairperson

We're seeing these positive signs 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.

I'm looking forward to opening nominations for this year’s Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence early next week. This year we have introduced 7 new categories, including sport, justice, health, emergency services, arts, refugee advocacy and community response and recovery.

There are diversity heroes in every facet of Victorian society and too often we don't give them the recognition they deserve. I look forward to seeing your nominations and reading the stories of the amazing work Victorians do to support multicultural communities.

We have been overwhelmed by the response to our Racism: Understanding your rights and taking action information sessions. Thank you to those of you who have registered for a session. If you missed out, I encourage you to sign up for the waiting list should places become available.

Today, we're pleased to share the VMC submission to the Family Violence Reform Monitor on Monitoring the Family Violence Reforms. We're also sharing multilingual resources from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, which outline help available for Victorians struggling to pay utilities bills.

Other resources you'll find in this update include information on the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Multicultural Festivals and Events grants and Business Victoria’s Hospitality Business Grants, a survey from Victoria University and Diversity Council of Australia on women’s leadership in sport as well as links to RACGP’s multilingual campaign to encourage Victorians not to delay health care during lockdown.

Stay well and look out for each other,
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson

Financial assistance for utilities for Victorians

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have prepared translated materials that highlight available financial assistance for utilities for Victorians during this difficult time. Please share this information widely with your networks to support Victorians facing financial challenges in paying for their basic necessities.

Find out more

Submission — Monitoring the Family Violence Reforms

The Commission welcomed the opportunity to provide a supplementary submission on Monitoring the Family Violence Reforms. Based on key findings from VMC consultations, the submission covers how the family violence service system, and multicultural communities experience of it, has changed since the Royal Commission as well as the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Read our submission

Grants — Multicultural Festivals and Events

Does your organisation hold cultural or religious festivals and events for multicultural or multifaith communities? Apply now for a Multicultural Festivals and Events 2020-21 grant and receive funding of up to $50,000 to hold a digital cultural or religious festival/event for your community or increase your organisation’s digital capability. Applications close midnight, 13 September 2020.
Find out more and apply

Racism information sessions

To educate and empower multicultural and multifaith communities in Victoria, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission are coming together to run a series of information sessions. Participants will learn how to recognise racism, how to report it and where to seek advice and support.
Find out more and register

Leadership survey — culturally diverse women

There is a large underrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women, in leadership positions across the sports sector. Victoria University and the Diversity Council of Australia are undertaking research to gain insights from diverse women on what would attract and retain them as leaders in sport to increase their representation in these roles.
Complete the survey

Hospitality Business Grant Program

This Business Victoria program supports food service businesses that have been affected by the return to Stage 3 and Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria. Eligible businesses will be provided with one-off, $25,000 grants to pay for business costs to support the continued operation of their business. An additional $5,000 is available for each additional premises, capped at a total of $20,000.
Find out more and apply

RACGP — Expert Advice Matters campaign

The world may have changed, but one thing remains the same: GPs are a great source of information and support when it comes to your health. Delaying care is a serious problem, and could cause worse health issues for patients in the future.

The RACGP have extended their Expert Advice Matters campaign to reach CALD patients. A website for patients, has been translated into Arabic, simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese, and has practical information on how to access a local GP, telehealth and interpreter services.
View the website

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.
Testing locations: Find a testing location near you.
Triple Zero: Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.

Victorian Multicultural Commission
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

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