Welcoming the announcement from the Victorian Government on a number of initiatives. This includes the 5 million dollars to fund Regional Multicultural Festivals.
More details will come through soon as eligibility details are being prepared. The VMC will be advocating for multicultural and multifaith community organisations to be considered for this initiative.
We will also be coming to you for your feedback and advice on the Multicultural Framework Review.
We have made a commitment with the Expert Review Panel to ensure that regional Victoria’s voices will be included at upcoming sessions.
Stay tuned and I hope to see you at these sessions soon.
Recently, I attended the Australian Karen Organisation's Silver Jubilee to celebrate 25 years of helping Karen refugees with settlement and community development.
It was a great reminder of what emerging communities can bring to regional areas.
Just one example is the growth in diversity and inclusion that Bendigo has seen since it welcomed its first Karen Burmese refugee in 2007.
Fifteen years later, this community has grown to more than 1600 people.
With 177 full-time jobs developed and nearly 70 million dollars added to the economy, the effect on the community is undeniable.
At the VMC, we continue to collaborate with regional multicultural communities through our Regional Advisory Councils (RAC).
Our RACs are currently having their second round of meetings for the year. This is a great forum to raise regional issues and celebrate regional successes.
Get in touch with us or join and raise the voice of regional Victorians.
Finally, nominations for the 2023 Multicultural Awards for Excellence are now open.
Please nominate the heroes in your communities so we can celebrate their achievements together.
Thank you and keep reading below for the latest on VMC news and events and remember to sign up for the VMC database below.
Warmly,
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson
News and Events
JOINING | The VMC database!
In the last couple of years, the VMC has played a significant role in supporting, engaging and informing the multicultural and multifaith communities during extremely tough circumstances, like the floods, fires and the pandemic.
In order to continue this effort, we need a robust and up-to-date Multicultural Communities Database.
Please help us by providing your organisation's contact details.
There are two questionnaires – please only fill out ONE.
You can complete a questionnaire on behalf of an organisation you represent OR as an individual.
If you have any questions, please email the VMC
You must complete the above questionnaire and consent to the VMC having information about your organisation to be among the first to know of relevant Governmental or community resources, awards, grants, news, events, programs, and other opportunities, including VMC-hosted events such as the Multicultural Gala Dinner.
The VMC and DFFH will contact people on the database from time to time to ask for their views on important issues.
VIC | GOV | ANNOUNCING | Delivering Even More Housing For Regional Workers
The Victorian Government is delivering a comprehensive $2 billion package to ensure regional Victoria receives all the legacy benefits that would have been facilitated by hosting the Commonwealth Games.
This includes investments such as:
- $150 million in the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund
- $1 billion in the Regional Housing Fund
- $150 million towards the Regional Tourism and Events Fund
- $60 million for Regional Tourism Infrastructure
- $70 million in Visit Victoria
- $10 million to grow our food and fibre exports
- $5 million for Regional Tourism Industry Development
- $5 million for Regional Multi-Cultural Festivals
- $60 million in the Regional Community Sport Development Fund ($35 million for Regional Community Sport Infrastructure, $25 million to deliver Community Sport Programs)
- $20 million in the Aboriginal Economic Development Fund
- $10 million in Tiny Towns
- $25 million on Council Support Packages
Gender Equality
GATHERING | Women Deliver to deliver for Victoria
Advancing the rights of women across the Pacific and in Australia will be the focus of an Oceanic Pacific delegation at Women Deliver 2023.
The Victorian Government, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, is the Regional Convening Partner for the Oceanic Pacific region – mobilising diverse gender equality advocates across the region to identify priority issues affecting women.
Held every three years, the global conference brings together thousands of activists and decision-makers from communities, governments, philanthropy, the private sector and international agencies.
Women of all backgrounds, with expertise and experience, coming together at forums like Women Deliver, is critical for finding the solutions needed for a better future for women and girls.
Education and Training
CALLING | New kinders boost bilingual learning benefits | expressions of interest close 13 August 2023.
Language immersion has a profound positive impact on children’s learning – and the Victorian Government is providing more language education to help give early learners the best start to life.
An investment of $3.7 million in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 will double the footprint of the successful Bilingual Kindergarten program from 10 to 20 services – giving more children across the state increased cultural, social and educational skills and knowledge.
Kindergartens interested in applying are further encouraged to deliver a local Aboriginal language program and will be supported to seek Traditional Owner approval to do so.
ADVISING | Melbourne, the number one city for international students
Melbourne is officially the best international student city in the country after the recent release of global rankings highlighted our unmatched educational opportunities, affordability, and cultural diversity.
The Victorian capital has been the QS Best Student City Index Australian leader since 2015 with growing numbers of students from around the world making Victoria their number-one choice.
Last year the Victorian Government also launched the International Education Recovery Plan 2025, backed by almost $53 million in funding for numerous initiatives. This includes the expansion of Victoria’s Global Education Network to 19 locations, with extra resources in Colombia, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Multiculturalism
GATHERING | Australia's largest ever event on multicultural communications – Ethnolink Summit 2023 is coming to Melbourne this August.
For one transformative full-day, be part of the historic gathering of 200+ government and not-for-profit communications professionals united by a common passion — multicultural communications.
Draw inspiration from their expertise, innovation, and passion, uncover cutting-edge strategies, and leave with a fresh perspective to your approach to multicultural communications and community engagement.
You don’t want to miss it. Tickets on sale now!
BECOMING | An ambassador for the occupational rights of Victorian migrant communities | applications for 2023 close 30 July 2023
The Bicultural Work Rights Ambassadors Program is run by the Migrant Workers Centre to train and support migrant leaders in Victoria to deliver education sessions on workplace rights and safety to their communities.
The program employs and trains active and trusted members of Victorian migrant communities to become Bicultural Work Rights Ambassadors, who are supported to deliver information sessions to their peers on workplace rights, occupational health and safety, and how to access culturally and linguistically appropriate support services.