The easing of restrictions has allowed Victorians to start meeting up in person again. This is great for our multicultural communities.
Message from the Chairperson
We have all discovered innovative ways to stay connected through technology over the last 16 months, but coming together in the same space is still so special.
Yesterday, I attended the Installation of the new Bishop for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. It was a privilege to witness such an important moment for this faith community in the beautiful SS. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.
I hope we all follow the public health guidance, check in with QR codes and get vaccinated if you're able to, so we can continue to meet in special places for important moments like these.
We've got a packed Community Update this week.
This Thursday, 15th of July, we'll be holding a COVID-19 Community update for the multicultural and multifaith community members. You'll have an opportunity to ask questions about vaccines, QR codes, restrictions & more. Register in advance for this meeting.
The Premier's Sustainability Awards are now open – they recognise and celebrate Victorians who are leading the way to a sustainable future.
The Victorian Government has developed a draft Victorian Volunteer Strategy as well, which is now open for feedback. Volunteers are indispensable to multicultural communities, and this strategy hopes to ensure the enriching pastime of volunteering continues to thrive.
We also have announcements of two federal grant programs – the Safer Communities Fund and the CALD COVID-19 Health Small Grants Fund.
Further, we can share that the Australian of the Year Awards are now open for nomination; we have information on wage theft and the importance of the flu shot; and a dementia awareness film project is still seeking feedback from Spanish and Vietnamese speakers.
Take care and stay safe.
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson
COVID-19 Multicultural & Multifaith Forum
We're holding another fortnightly update with the Department of Health to keep our communities informed about QR Codes, Vaccines, requirements if entering from other states and more.
You'll have the ability to ask questions to a panel of experts. You can also pre-ask your question when you're registering. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registering helps us inform future outreach work.
Premier's Sustainability Awards 2021 | applications now open until 30 July 2021
Do you know of a person, business or community that has undertaken an innovative sustainability project in the past year and should be recognised for it?
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards are back again this year and categories have been revamped to link with global best practice to give projects of any size the chance to be rewarded.
Community consultation for volunteers | Thursday 22 July 2021 | 10am-12 pm
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, the Hon Luke Donnellan and Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers, Anthony Carbines MP, will be conducting a community consultation to hear from volunteers, community members and organisations to inform development of the Victorian Volunteer Strategy.
Grant alert: Safer Communities Fund + CALD COVID-19 Health Small Grants Fund
Applications for the latest round of grants from the Safer Communities Fund are now receiving applications. The program will give schools and pre-schools, places of religious worship, community organisations and local councils grants of up to $500,000 for crime prevention initiatives aimed at reducing crime, violence, anti-social behaviour and other security risks driven by racial or religious intolerance.
In another opportunity, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) is working with the Australian Government and other organisations to administer the CALD COVID-19 Health Small Grants Fund. This Fund will help multicultural community groups to lead grassroots communication activities around COVID-19 and the vaccination rollout, targeting CALD communities.
FECCA will administer grants of $2,500, $3,500 or $5,000 to groups or organisations to fund short-term, one-off communication and outreach projects.
Australian of the Year nominations now open
Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year Awards has provided a focal point for Australia Day celebrations and a forum for the recognition of outstanding achievement.
The awards seek to highlight inspirational Australians who have made significant contributions to their communities and the nation.
Nominations for the Australian of the Year Awards 2021 are now open.
You can watch subtitled promotional videos about the awards below:
Protect yourself and others this flu season
In the past year, we’ve learned a lot about how to stay safe and stay healthy. We know to wash our hands properly and sanitise often. We know to stay at home if we don’t feel well and to keep our distance from others.
But even with these precautions, the seasonal flu is still a concern. And the best way to avoid it is to get your flu shot. So, to protect yourself and the people you love this flu season, don’t forget your flu shot.
If you would like to see and share in-language posters promoting the flu shot. To share in-language social media posts.
Wage theft is now a crime in Victoria
From 1 July 2021, it became a crime for an employer in Victoria to dishonestly withhold wages or other employee entitlements, such as allowances, annual leave and long service leave. It also became a crime to falsify employee entitlement records to gain a financial advantage.
Wage Inspectorate Victoria provides information about these laws to ensure employers and workers know their rights and obligations, and holds to account those who break the law.
Read through the Wage Inspectorate Victoria website for information about wage theft, long service leave, child employment permits and more. You can follow them on Facebook, where they post translated materials.
Job alert: Senior Adviser, Multicultural Communities Engagement
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) is now recruiting a senior adviser for multicultural communities engagement. It's a fixed term role on a six-month contract.
The successful candidate will be support multicultural communities and faith leaders to develop and deliver COVIDSafe Events.
For a confidential discussion, please call Sam Jackson – Manager, Business Events and Community Events on 0431 204 304.
Vietnamese and Spanish speakers: Give your feedback on vital short films | evaluation closes 8 August 2021
Researchers from Curtin University and the National Ageing Research Institute are seeking people from Vietnamese and Spanish speaking backgrounds to evaluate three short films aimed at raising dementia awareness online.
They need your input to ensure that the films are relevant and meet the needs of the community. The evaluation should take no more than 30 minutes. Participants can choose to be part of a draw to win one of four $50 gift cards.
- To complete the Vietnamese evaluation in English, in Vietnamese
- To complete the Spanish evaluation in English; in Spanish.
Coronavirus hotline
- Coronavirus hotline: 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.
- Coronavirus in-language information
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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