This week we commence our Cultural Diversity Week activities and celebrations, showcasing the cultural diversity of our people and the contributions they make to this wonderful state and nation.
Message from the Chairperson
At the same time, we continue to reach out to our Ukrainian community and work with them during this difficult time.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Multicultural Gala Dinner this Saturday, and extend my well wishes to many of the Holi Festival of Colour and Lailat al Bara’ah events across metro Melbourne and regional Victoria, celebrated by Indian, South Asian and Muslim communities this weekend. I also hope that our Jewish communities had joyous Purim celebrations earlier this week, and wish all Irish communities a happy St Patrick's Day today. What wonderful diversity in one week!
If you’re out and about, please take extra care with covid safe measures and reach out if you need help.
Take care,
Viv Nguyen AM, Chairperson
SUPPORTING | COVIDSafe Plans | Thursday 17 March
The Victorian Government is offering a free support service for small to medium businesses to ensure your COVIDSafe Plan (CSP) is up to date and reflects current COVIDSafe Settings.
As part of this service, we are conducting support via a variety of methods.
- Information forum - covering updates to the COVIDSafe Plan, the requirements, best practice advice, and how to implement the Plan in your business.
- Workshop session (optional) - at the end of the information forum you can book this workshopping session to assist with your current COVIDSafe Plan or support you in developing a new Plan.
Upcoming information forum dates:
- Thursday 17 March @ 10am
- Tuesday 22 March @ 2pm
- Thursday 24 March @ 10am
TALKING | Rental rights with Tenants Victoria | Thursday 17 March | 7-8pm
VMC invites you to a helpful online forum on rental rights. The talk will be held in partnership with Tenants Victoria, the peak body for our state’s renters.
Find out about:
- How to get urgent repairs done in your rented home
- How to deal with disagreements with the landlord or real estate agent that you can’t resolve yourself
- Going to VCAT
Tenants Victoria’s expert lawyer Ben Cording will discuss these topics and more - and answer common questions on renting.
This forum will include a discussion on the experiences of a local renter from our Arabic-speaking communities. All multicultural communities are welcome to attend and learn more about the rules of renting a home in Victoria.
GRANTING | Multicultural Festivals and Events | applications close Wednesday 13 April 2022
Coming together as Victorians and showcasing our state’s proud multiculturalism has never been more important.
The Victorian Government has announced more support for multicultural communities to celebrate, share and preserve their culture and customs.
Applications are now open for grants up to $50,000 for multicultural organisations to design, deliver and partner on events that celebrate and strengthen our state’s cultural diversity.
All applicants are encouraged to think creatively about the ways they can host an event that reaches all Victorians – either online or via a hybrid event.
This funding round includes $50,000 in dedicated grants to support Hindu festivals and events, highlighting the cherished Hindu values of compassion, harmony and respect.
LAUNCHING | Victorian Government Next State Disability Plan
People with disability from multicultural communities can face added discrimination and disadvantage.
Victoria’s new State Disability Plan is about building a more inclusive community that supports all Victorians to lead the lives they want to live.
The plan has steps that everyone can take to create an inclusive state. This includes people working for governments, organisations and those in the community.
HEARING | Parents say on COVID-19 Vaccination for Children | closes Thursday 17 March 2022 at 5pm AEDST
The Victorian Department of Health is seeking your opinion about COVID-19 vaccinations for children in Victoria.
The VMC encourages parents and guardians of 5-11 year old children to complete this important survey in your preferred language at the link below.
The survey will take 5-7 minutes.
Victorian Production Fund
The Minister for Creative Industries has announced a new era for screen in Victoria in a suite of announcements that will develop local talent, grow screen businesses and support more local stories to reach our screens.
The $40 million Victorian Production Fund will increase support for Victorian-led film, television, digital games and online content created in the state. This initiative is an expansion of the Assigned Production Investment program and will deliver more diverse and compelling content for local and international audiences.
Responding to the growing demand for skilled workers across the screen industry, a new $2.06 million Specialist Placement Program has also been established to address critical skills gaps in the industry.
This will grow the local talent pool to fill in-demand roles including production accountants, location managers, script editors, post-production supervisors and games marketers.
Both programs are supported as part of the Victorian Government’s VICSCREEN strategy announced in May 2021.
To deliver this strategy, Film Victoria will evolve into VicScreen.
The Victorian Production Fund and Specialist Placement Program are now open for applications
CALLING | Refugee Awards open for nominations | closing on 12 April 2022
The Victorian Refugee Awards recognise and promote the achievements and contributions of Victorians who arrived as refugees or asylum seekers.
Proudly coordinated by the VMC, these annual awards recognise those who have excelled through their study, work, entrepreneurship, or volunteering.
If you know a person, business or organisation that deserves recognition, please visit our website to nominate them for a Victorian Refugee Award.
Capturing Culture: Multicultural Victoria in Focus | submissions close 17 April 2022
The resilience of Victoria’s multicultural communities is something to be celebrated and remembered. That’s why we are so excited to launch this new photography competition; Capturing Culture: Multicultural Victoria in Focus.
For emerging or established Victorian multicultural artists, Capturing Culture will recognise the resilience and lived experiences of multicultural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and create a visual record of a unique time in Victoria's history. It will also capture the vibrancy, significance and connectedness of multicultural communities that existed before the pandemic, and which will prevail long afterwards.
MORE:
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
Address: Level 3, 1 Macarthur Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9651 5901
Email: contact@vmc.vic.gov.au