As March comes to an end, thankyou to everyone who got involved in our Cultural Diversity Week celebrations.
Whether you organised or attended an event, big or small or attended the VMC's flagship event, the fabulous Multicultural Gala, your participation in our state's cultural diversity is much appreciated. And I encourage you to attend or to organise another event next year.
In this culturally diverse state, we often move from one religious or cultural celebration to another.
At the moment it is Ramadan, and in the coming weeks, I hope you will show love and respect to your Islamic neighbours and friends; perhaps even join them for an Iftar.
This week, it was my privilege to attend the Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp for her Iftar dinner at the Dairy and Produce Hall at Queen Victoria Market.
I was touched by her words as she spoke about respect and continuous learning.
These themes resonate with me and are at the centre of all of our work - especially our work as members of the Victorian Government's anti-racism taskforce.
I recently spent an evening at the Nelson Mandela Australia Day Anti-racism conference committee.
It was a special reminder of the great man who spent his whole life fighting for racial justice in South Africa.
His legacy is part of what guides us here in Victoria in 2023 as we work towards eliminating racial discrimination.
I encourage us all to reconcile with our own biases and self-awareness and join each other to challenge the structures and systems surrounding us.
We need to respect each other and consciously recognise the goodness and humanity in one another.
That goodness was on full display in Canberra this week as I proudly took part in a panel discussion with amazing women at the Public Sector Women of Colour Leadership & Allyship Summit.
I have to say the term allyship sits a bit uncomfortably with me, but we all agree that "we can’t be what we can’t see" so we need to support culturally diverse women to reach their potential.
We need to put a spotlight on equity and name the structural barriers they face.
Thank you
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission
News and Events
MELB | PERFORMING | Natty Dolaiasi and Charles Maimarosia in concert with Jimi Nare and Ron Reeves | Friday 28 April 2023 | 7.30–9.30pm
The Solomon Islands, a close neighbour to Australia, is a treasure trove of traditional music and song, largely unknown in Melbourne.
The exception is the work of Charles Maimarosia, an extraordinary musician from the island of Malaita, who has made Melbourne his home. Charles is a multi-instrumentalist, playing Western instruments as well as the traditional pan-flutes that characterise the Are’are’ music of Malaita.
Last year, Charles received Music Victoria’s 2022 Diaspora Award for his most recent release Haiamasina (Loving). His previous recording Are’are’ is named after his own tribal group in the South part of Malaita.
Tickets are on sale now!
- Where: The Oratory, Abbotsford Convent 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford VIC
- Cost: $20 Concession, $25 Full
- Get your tickets
VIC | GOV | TRANSLATING | Language support available for the Power Saving Bonus
The Victorian Government is providing in-person and over-the-phone support for Multicultural communities to apply for the power-saving bonus.
A new round of support has begun, with eligible Victorian households able to receive a new $250 payment.
There is in-language support for 31 languages.
- For access to translation support call 131 450 or click here
Mental health
Walk-In At Brimbank Mental Health And Wellbeing Local
Brimbank Mental Health and Wellbeing Local centre is now open for walk-ins.
Initially opening late last year for telehealth and outreach support, the Brimbank service can now provide support for the whole community, including the weekends.
Volunteering and Employment
Teaching programs available for Victorian graduates
Aspiring teachers (with an undergraduate degree in another field) are invited to apply for Victoria’s Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow programs. These programs offer participants scholarships and paid part-time employment in schools to provide an income while completing their studies.
In these programs, participants are employed in schools as paraprofessionals or education support staff while completing a postgraduate teaching degree across 18-24 months. Participants are paid as paraprofessionals or education support staff (as applicable), and may be eligible to receive a department scholarship of $2,400 to support their intensive study period.
Family Violence
VIC | GOV | GRANTING | Family Violence research opportunities available | applications close Monday 3 April 2023
The Victorian Government is inviting academic and sector partners to apply for research grants.
The government has identified multiple family violence areas with data and evidence gaps. These include children and young people as victims, family violence experienced by people from diverse communities and sexual violence and harm.
Applicants are required to demonstrate how they will incorporate lived experience in their proposed research projects.