The significant uptick in the vaccine rate has brought the end of lockdown restrictions forward to this Friday.
Message from the Chairperson
I hope this week’s Community Update comes to you in a time of optimism.There is significant work underway surrounding pop-up vaccine sites at local levels as well. As always, please continue to get tested if you have any symptoms.
Like many of you, I am pleased to see my children back at school, being able to visit my family and having a yarn with some friends in-person.\
Thank you for your collective efforts over the last several months. Please enjoy the opening up this weekend.
More news for multicultural communities can be found below.
Take care and stay safe.
Viv Nguyen AM, Chairperson
Community Hubs – building thriving communities through a pandemic
The National Community Hubs Program supports migrant and refugee families, particularly mothers with young children. They connect women with their children’s schools, with each other and with organisations that can provide health, education and support.
The Community Hub at Dandenong West Primary School has been one of Victoria’s leaders in building a thriving virtual community through the pandemic.
The VMC caught up with the school’s principal, Bev Hansen and Community Hub co-leaders Rahima Rizai and Abby Rezek, to learn how they turned their Hub into the focal point of the school’s new migrant community, despite six lockdowns.
Fortnightly COVID-19 Update Forum
The Victorian Multicultural Commission, in partnership with the Department of Health and Services Victoria invites you to an online community information session discussing Victoria’s current COVID-19 status tomorrow night from 7:00 – 8:30pm.
These updates have been held every fortnight throughout the pandemic.The intention of this week's information session is to keep you informed on the latest developments relating to easing of restrictions, the Moderna vaccine and vaccine certificates.
Youth Engagement Grants | open now, submissions close 13 December 2021 at 4pm
Small multicultural and Aboriginal clubs and community organisations are invited to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support young people make positive life choices and reach their potential.
The Youth Engagement Grants are an initiative under the Victorian Government’s Crime Prevention Strategy. The grants provide funding to support projects that use cultural connection, sport, arts, music or other creative activities to engage young people aged 8-24 years old.
The program will involve an initial expression of interest (EOI) process, followed by support for selected organisations to plan activity and develop a quality grant proposal, which will be assessed for funding suitability.
Job alert: Victorian Skills Authority
The new Victorian Skills Authority is seeking talented applicants with expertise in community engagement, data, policy and programs to help strengthen links between industry needs and high quality skills for all Victorians.
Work with the new Victorian Skills Authority to really make a difference to skills-based training pathways that align with what businesses, communities and individuals need.
Applications close for several ongoing roles soon.
Jobs Victoria wage subsidies deliver jobs
Scores of Victorians are finding permanent work each week with the help of a Victorian Government program that pays part of the worker’s wage – providing a major boost to small businesses gearing up as the economy re-opens.
More than 800 businesses across Victoria have successfully applied for a wage subsidy of up to $20,000 for some 1,300 new workers – including hairdressers, warehouse staff, bookkeepers, solar technicians and butchers.
The wage subsidies are part of a landmark $619 million investment in Jobs Victoria that is helping to connect people looking for work with employers seeking staff.
Respecting diversity in the coronial process
The Victorian Government has welcomed recommendations from the Coronial Council of Victoria to improve the experiences of multicultural and multifaith communities during the challenging coronial process.
Last week, the Council released its report on the appropriate handling of deaths in multicultural and multifaith communities by the Coroners Court. Its consultations identified ways to better respond to cultural and religious considerations throughout the coronial process, as well as how to improve communication with families.
This includes abiding by cultural and religious practices during investigations, ensuring timelines for release of the body better meet religious and cultural needs and favouring non-invasive post-mortem examinations where possible.
Job alert: Join the VPTA board
The Victorian Public Tenants Association is currently seeking Expressions of Interest from people who are interested in joining their Board.
They're particularly keen to hear from people who have lived, or currently live, in public housing in Victoria.
Membership of the VPTA Board is voluntary, and suited to people who have a strong interest in public housing and homelessness, as well as (ideally) some previous governance experience.
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