To wrap up this year's Refugee Week, deep appreciation is extended to all the community organisations who hosted and organised Refugee Week events.
Message from the Chairperson
Your efforts have put a spotlight on refugees, their stories and their contributions. I would also like to honour the Ukrainian, Afghan and Myanmar (Burmese) communities, and many other people in our community who have witnessed great wars and conflicts in recent memory.On a celebratory note, I warmly invite you to take the time to read about the Victorian Refugee Award recipients for 2022. Each recipient has made inspiring contributions to our state. I extend my congratulations to them, and the 2021 winners who we were finally able to celebrate with in person.
I'd like to draw your attention to a number of ministerial changes in the Victorian government that took place over the weekend. On behalf of the VMC, I'd like to congratulate the Minister for Multicultural Affairs the Hon. Ros Spence MP, who now adds Prevention of Family Violence to her portfolio. Family violence is a key priority for the VMC and we look forward to collaborating with the Minister on this portfolio.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released data from the 2021 Census today. Importantly, it shows demographic changes in our population which will be valuable for public policy consideration, representation and civic engagement. The VMC will look at this data closely to inform our work to advocate for multicultural communities in Victoria.
Until we next meet, take care and stay safe.
Viv Nguyen AM, Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission
AUST | ABS | REPORTING | Results from the 2021 Australian Census
Today the Australian Bureau of Statistics released data from the 2021 national Census.The Census provides a valuable snapshot of information about Australians that reflects our community at the time the Census was undertaken. The Census was conducted on 10 August 2021.
The ABS said the data reveals a "fast-changing, growing and culturally diverse nation" of 25 million people, where more than half of all Australians are now first or second-generation migrants.
From 2017 to 2021, over one million people arrived in Australia, and India has now become the third-largest country of birth behind Australia and England.
VIC | VMC | EXHIBITING | Photography Exhibition extended | now open until August 2022!
The VMC is proud to announce that our photography exhibition, Capturing Culture: Multicultural Victoria in Focus, has been extended until August thanks to our friends at the Immigration Museum.Capturing Culture recognises the resilience and lived experiences of multicultural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and creates a visual record of a unique time in Victoria's history.
We are very proud to announce that the winner of our Capturing Culture People's Choice Award is Irihipeti Waretini (@irihipeti_waretini), for her work 'Kaitiaki' submitted in the Resilience Category! Close to 1,400 people casted their vote for this award - congratulations to Irihipeti and thank you to all those who voted.
- Where: Atrium of the Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Cost: free to view
- More about the exhibition
VIC | VMC | CALLING | Nominees for Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence 2022 | nominations open July 2022
The Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence recognise the outstanding achievements of people and organisations who strengthen multicultural communities across multiple categories. Categories include the Youth Leadership Award, Sport Award, Business Award and Refugee Advocacy Award.The awards are proudly coordinated by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Follow the VMC on social media for more updates in the coming weeks.
VIC | VEOHRC | ENABLING | Reducing Racism in Victoria - The Anti-Racism Race video
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) has partnered with Cinespace to deliver a fictional short film that tests contestants on their knowledge of racism.We encourage you to watch and share this thought-provoking 6 minute video which has been created to spread awareness of how to report racism in Victoria through VEOHRC.
Visit the Reducing Racism information hub, to understand your rights, know the options available to report your experiences, and obtain help.
- Watch the video (6 mins)
AUST | NEMBC | TRANSLATING | Audio explainers for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations
The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council (NEMBC) has published translated audio explainers of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations on SoundCloud.This winter it’s important to stay up to date with your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. More travel and more socialising means that the flu as well as COVID-19 is circulating in the community.
The best way to protect your family and your community this winter, and help give your immunity a boost, is to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Translated audio available includes Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, Dinka, Hindi, Mandarin and Vietnamese.
MELB | ASRC | CALLING | Members to join the ASRC Grants Program Fund's Governance committee
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is looking for people with lived experience of forced displacement to volunteer as members of the Grants Governance Committee for their new Refugee Leadership and Capacity Building Fund.This committee will assess the ranked applications for the Refugee Leadership and Capacity Building Fund and make recommendations to the ASRC Board for the disbursement of funds.
The fund will support ambitious Refugee-Led Organisations to grow in maturity and deliver results by providing them with leadership coaching and training to improve service delivery and impact.
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