A huge thank you to everyone in our community for getting us to the 90% double vaccination rate. This milestone has allowed us to reconnect, share and celebrate together.
Message from the Chairperson
Still, there are important updates we need to be aware of, and our COVID-19 information sessions outline these every fortnight. You can register for the Thursday session here.Next Monday, the VMC is hosting an important Mental Health forum with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria. Our speakers will help explain the Royal Commission on Mental Health Report and its impact on multicultural communities. You can register for that here.
Take care and stay safe.
Viv Nguyen AM, Chairperson
FORUM | Multicultural Mental Health | Monday 29 November 2021 | 6.30-8pm
The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV) and the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) invite you to an online Mental Health Forum.The session will explore how to best ensure reforms to Victoria's mental health system are inclusive and responsive to the needs of our multicultural communities.
This forum will look at the road ahead for mental health policy-making, mental health system design and service delivery.
Our guest speaker will be Professor Harry Minas, Head of the Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit at the University of Melbourne, who will speak about the Royal Commission Report, reforms, challenges and opportunities for the mental health system in Victoria.
The discussion will be facilitated by ECCV Chairperson Eddie Micallef and VMC Chairperson Viv Nguyen.
ENCOURAGING | Be Well Stay Well in-language videos
In September 2021, a team of six bicultural workers came together to produce several in-language videos to promote COVID-safe behaviour and wellbeing.Over the past two months, the working group have held weekly meetings and worked collaboratively to co-design video messages and content. You can find links to the completed in-language videos below:
HEARING | Your Say on the Victorian Government's Anti-Racism Strategy | submissions close 6 December 2021
Together with Victoria's Anti-Racism Taskforce, Engage Victoria are developing Victoria's first ever Anti-Racism Strategy.Due to be released in mid-2022, the strategy will seek to proactively prevent and address racism in Victoria and improve the lives of the state's multicultural and multifaith communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Over the next few months, the Anti-Racism Taskforce will be holding targeted consultations with communities, organisations, academics and subject matter experts.
It is vital that a wide cross section of the Victorian community provides input into the strategy development. Engage Victoria and the Anti-Racism Taskforce are now inviting Victorians to anonymously share their experiences of racism, as well as their ideas for reducing racism in our state. Your input will inform the focus and strategic direction of the strategy.
PLEDGING | Make human rights real
International Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Every year in December, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) recognises and celebrates this day through a week of events, connection, and advocacy.
During Human Rights Week, VEOHRC invites all Victorians to engage in activities and start and continue conversations about human rights.
This year, they will be hosting a week of action to make rights real. You are invited to sign up to a week of small daily tasks. Each day, you will receive a small action you can take to help make human rights real.
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