We are entering a time of year where cultural diversity is in focus.
Message from the Chairperson
Monday 21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The VMC is holding a series of activities for Cultural Diversity Week on the theme 'Connecting through Culture', from the Melbourne Convention Centre to schools across Victoria. Please join us to celebrate our multiculturalism, showcase the richness of our communities, and challenge the status quo.Tuesday 8 March was International Women’s Day, yet another reminder that it's time to take action on gender equality. I salute, appreciate and am honoured to collaborate with the trailblazers who are doing the much needed work to improve the lives of many and pave the way for future generations. History will judge harshly those standing on the sideline, and even more so those doing it knowingly.
There's a lot going on in the world of multicultural Victoria. Join in, tune in and take action.
Take care, Viv Nguyen AM, Chairperson
LAST CALL | For tickets to Multicultural Gala Dinner | Saturday 19 March 2022 | from 6pm
The final release of tickets for the Victorian Multicultural Gala Dinner (previously the Premier’s Gala Dinner) are now open for general sale. Community members and organisations are able to buy up to ten tickets each.The Gala Dinner will be at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Join us for an unforgettable night of music, entertainment and networking and officially kickstart Cultural Diversity Week 2022 with the theme ‘Connecting Through Culture’.
Purchase your tickets today before they sell out!
CONNECTING | Through Culture – Cultural Diversity Week | 19-27 March 2022
Cultural Diversity week is coming up! We invite everyone to reconnect, share and express themselves through the 2022 theme; ‘Connecting Through Culture’.We encourage you to hold your own COVIDSafe events and share pictures on social media using the hashtag #CDW2022. Event resources are available at our website, where you can search by local council to find events near you.
Each day of Cultural Diversity Week, we will feature one of its diverse Commissioners as they reflect on the ‘Connecting Through Culture’ theme. You can read their insights and stories on the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s website and social media.
Victorian schools can use the Teacher’s Resource Kit to spark conversations between students. Cultural Diversity Week is also the perfect time to nominate an outstanding community member for the Victorian Refugee Awards, submit a photograph to the Capturing Culture competition, or create a film for the Multicultural Film Festival.
WATCHING | VMC Podcast: Conversations with Commissioners
Conversations with Commissioners is the VMC's new thought provoking podcast series about current issues through a multicultural lens.For International Women’s Day, we spoke with Dr Niki Vincent, Victoria’s Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Victorian Public Service about women’s achievement and this year’s IWD theme #BreakTheBias. Tune in to hear Dr Vincent and Viv Nguyen discuss the impact of actively calling out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it.
GRANTING | Multicultural Festivals and Events Program | now open, applications close Wednesday 13 April 2022
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence has announced the opening of the next round of funding for multicultural communities to deliver COVIDSafe events between July and December 2022.Grants of up to $50,000 are available to host face to face, digital or hybrid events that share culture and traditions and help revitalise Victoria’s events industry. The program also includes $50,000 to deliver the fourth and final round of the Hindu Festivals and Events Program. Applications from regional and rural communities, as well as new and emerging communities, will be prioritised.
GRANTING | COVID Response | applications close Sunday 10 April 2022
Applications are now open for Priority Response to Multicultural Communities during COVID-19: Phase 4 (PRMC 4.0). This program offers grants to support multicultural and faith groups’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic impacts. Funding up to $100,000 is available.Eligible organisations that previously received PRMC funding can apply for PRMC 4.0 if they have completed and acquitted their previously funded project.
GRANTING | Multicultural Media
The Multicultural Communications Outreach program funds multicultural media, community members and organisations to produce informative, engaging content that provides information about the COVID-19 vaccination program and encourages COVIDSafe behaviour.The program will support the production and distribution of content by multicultural communities, for multicultural communities. Content should be guided by culturally and linguistically diverse community members telling their own stories.
HEARING | Your say: dementia prevention video in your language
Researchers at the National Ageing Research Institute are seeking people from Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italia, Spanish, Vietnamese, Greek, Tamil, Arabic and English-speaking communities in Australia and overseas to help evaluate a short, animated film on dementia prevention.We need your input to find out how effective the animation is in showing people how to reduce the risk of dementia.
The online evaluation will be of great help to people living with dementia.
CALLING | Chinese speakers to participate in electoral research
Want to help identify ways to support Chinese-speaking voters with enrolling and voting in the upcoming Victorian State election? Take part in this 10 minute survey and enter the competition to win a $500 gift card.MORE:
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
Address: Level 3, 1 Macarthur Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9651 5901
Email: contact@vmc.vic.gov.au