Happy Cultural Diversity Week! During this exciting time, Victoria's multicultural and multifaith communities will share their culture by hosting activities and events for the community to participate in.
With a broad range of art, food, exhibitions and musical performances, CDW is fun! But more than that, these events celebrate our differences, create a sense of belonging and empower us to be authentic, regardless of our background.Please take the opportunity to get involved and find your local events here
I also encourage educators to use our CDW Teacher's Resource Kit (available on our website) to bring this week to life in the classroom.
Perhaps the pinnacle of Cultural Diversity Week is the much anticipated Victorian Multicultural Gala. This magical evening of food, entertainment and connection brings our trusted community and government partners together in reflection, appreciation and solidarity. And I, for one, can't wait!
On another note, social cohesion is one of the most critical priorities of the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
That's why we are hosting a prayer and mediation service in the name of peace at Federation Square on Monday 20 March 2023 | 6-7pm.
This event is a direct response to the cooperation and conversations between the VMC, its Multifaith Advisory Group and faith leaders following incidents of disharmony and vandalism at places of worship and "hate speech" spread on social media.
We warmly invite you to join us in this visual display of connection and cohesion and be part of a movement to comfort those who have experienced exclusion.
We know that Victorians will do what is necessary to show that we are an inclusive and peaceful multicultural state, now and in the future.
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson
News and Events
VMC | ADVISING | Nominations for the Victorian Refugee Awards have been extended until Sunday! | nominations close at 11.59pm Sunday 19 March 2023
Do you know someone who arrived in Australia as a refugee or asylum seeker and has received excellent academic results, volunteered in their community, run a successful business, or supported other refugees to thrive?For these reasons and more, nominate them today for a Victorian Refugee Award, and ensure their achievements are recognised and celebrated!
Multiple awards will be presented across four categories: Achievement, Leadership, Youth Leadership and Business. The categories honour those who have excelled through study, work, entrepreneurship or volunteering in Victoria.
If you need support submitting a nomination, please call 03 8850 6164.
VIC | GOV | OFFERING | Translation and 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 will commence on 24 March, 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 on the link below.
MELB | AMCF | ENGAGING | African music and cultural festival comes to life for Cultural Diversity Week!
In celebration of Cultural Diversity Week, “AMCF at the Museum” will celebrate the rich cultures of Africa through food, music, fashion, art, poetry and reflective conversations around cultural identity.For families, there is kid’s entertainment, including African drumming classes, face painting, African board games and more!
Mental health
VIC | MHCC | TRANSLATING | Rresources for multicultural communities are now available.
The Mental Health Complaints Commission (MHCC) and people with lived experience from multicultural communities have co-produced a variety of in-language resources to make MHCC more accessible to all Victorians.Digital and print resources have been produced in 20 languages through community-approved translations that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for each community.
Volunteering and Employment
VOWE | LAUNCHING | Culturally inclusive volunteer toolkit
A collaboration between Volunteer West (VOWE) and its culturally and linguistically diverse partners has seen the launch of a culturally inclusive toolkit.This project is a continuation of Volunteer West’s research which has highlighted the potential of volunteering in CALD communities and identified the need to move away from traditional forms of volunteering (formal vs informal).
VIC | GOV | CALLING | Expression of Interest in regional Victoria job opportunities for the 2026 Commonwealth Games | submissions close 2pm Tuesday 28 March 2023
The Victorian Government has opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) process to the construction sector to deliver the Commonwealth Games villages across regional Victoria.The villages will be home to around 7,000 athletes and officials in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Morwell when the Commonwealth Games get underway in March 2026.
The EOI for these important civil works will create opportunities for regional contractors to be involved in construction, supporting hundreds of local jobs.
Interested parties can register via the Buying for Victoria website buyingfor.vic.gov.au, from which a shortlist of contractors will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal process.
Family Violence
Family Violence research opportunities available | applications open until 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.