[Edited extract from public address]
I take this timely opportunity to express our congratulations to Professor Margaret Gardner AC on the occasion of the inauguration as the 30th Governor of Victoria today.
The new Governor wants to listen and learn from all voices and I hope we all will take note and take action to ensure our voices are heard.
For now, across the world, countries are dealing with high inflation and interest rates – and Australia is no different.
We know this has been a real challenge in Victorian households, and the issue is commonly raised with our engagement team and through forums like our Regional Advisory Committee meetings.
Foodbank is reporting 1 in 4 Australian households struggled to access food in the last year.
It’s no surprise that Foodbank has also seen a 27% increase in their food distribution programs.
The VMC will continue to advocate and provide information for our multifaith and multicultural communities during this shift in our economy, so keep talking to us and we’ll keep talking to Government.
We’ll also continue to provide information to help everyone understand the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This month, the VMC and the Australian Electoral Commission will hold information sessions on the Voice of Parliament.
This will be for the Regional Advisory Committee, Multicultural Advisory Group, Multicultural Youth Network and other key community organisations in Victoria. There will be further sessions in the coming weeks.
I'm excited to share that this year marks 40 years of the establishment of the VMC, from its early days known as the Ethnic Affairs Commission to present day’s Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).
Since 1983, we have seen great leadership through the Chairs, Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and Commissioners who have overseen significant changes for Victoria’s growing diverse communities.
We know you and your communities have played a big role in the VMC’s journey and so I'm asking for your kind assistance in this research project.
The VMC is proud to showcase the stories from our diverse Victorian filmmakers, and to share this with the public for the very first time, so please come and join us for the premiere!
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.
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 | CALLING | Applicants for 2024 Victorian Government graduate program | applications close 1159pm AEST Sunday 27 August 2023
The Victorian Government graduate program is a 12-month opportunity to experience the Victorian Public Service, grow potential and gain new skills.
Applications are open now for people with a range of skills, backgrounds and lived experiences. In round 2, the program is recruiting graduates into the generalist stream.
The program also has graduate pathways, with tailored support if you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant or applicant with disability.
As a graduate in the program, you’ll work in 3 roles across different departments, with access to future career opportunities that are only available to people who work in the Victorian Public Service.
Apply your skills to work that really makes a difference. Don’t miss out – apply today!
For graduate stories and information about the program, including eligibility and how to apply, visit the Victorian Government Graduate Program website.
AUST | GOV | SUPPORTING | The work of local community organisations inclusion and awareness
Volunteer Grants support the work of local community organisations by enabling the inclusion of vulnerable people and promoting awareness to increase participation in volunteering.
The 2023-24 Volunteer Grants Opportunity is expected to open for applications in the second half of 2023.
Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 will be available to assist eligible not-for-profit community organisations support the efforts of their volunteers.
The Grant Opportunity Guidelines are on
GrantConnect with other supporting documentation to be published when the opportunity is open for application.
To receive the latest information for this upcoming grant opportunity, please subscribe to the Community Grants Hub or GrantConnect.
AUST | ABS | HEARING | Your say: 2023 Census topic review directions | phase two consultation open 27 July–8 September 2023
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently published the
2026 Census topic review: Phase one directions. The publication will provide outcomes from the consultation undertaken earlier this year, including the topics shortlisted for inclusion or change and topics being considered for removal from the 2026 Census. It will also outline where more information is needed to inform our recommendation to the Government on the topics in the 2026 Census.
Phase two consultations is seeking information on the benefits and impacts of topics being considered for change or removal from the 2026 Census.
The ABS will also be hosting a live webinar on 3 August 2023 at 2pm – 3pm AEST. This webinar will provide an overview of what information the ABS is requesting on the shortlisted topics and guidance on how to prepare a high-quality submission.
More information on the 2026 Census topic review is available on the ABS website.
Gender Equality
VIC | GOV | More support for diverse women to thrive at work
The Victorian Government is helping women from diverse backgrounds reach their leadership goals and overcome barriers to economic security.
More than $1 million investment has been announced for initiatives aimed at helping women find work and for programs to enhance leadership opportunities.
For women locked out of the labour market, initiatives including education, mentoring, training, small business and employment opportunities are crucial inroads to employment and financial security.
These leadership programs will help First Nations women, women of colour and women from multicultural communities to identify and navigate barriers to advancement, including discrimination and poor workplace culture. They will also support women to use their skills and connections to progress their leadership journey.
The investment supports recommendations made by the Inquiry into Economic Equity for Victorian Women and will help drive the large-scale cultural change needed to tackle the systemic barriers that hinder women’s economic security and leadership advancement.
VIC | GOV | SUPPORTING | Women leaders in sport and recreation | applications for program close 5pm AEST Monday 28 August 2023
The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation's Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program is now open, and we would love your support in attracting applications from across the sport and active recreation sector.
This program aims to increase the number of women leaders in the sport and active recreation sector, and provides a valuable opportunity for women to participate in specialised skill development and training.
The program is designed for women at different stages of their career and leadership journeys, offering four different streams: learning, next generation leaders, executive, and governance.
Grants of up to $5,000 and $10,000 to complete professional development courses are available through the Learning and Executive streams.
Please note that applications for these streams must be submitted by organisations on the behalf of eligible individuals.
Information on the program and eligibility is attached to this email (including posters), together with social media tiles. We would be most grateful if you could share this information with your networks and through your communication channels where relevant.
Education and Training
VIC | GOV | ANNOUNCING | First Nations names selected for new Victorian schools
The Victorian Government is ensuring better representation of Aboriginal culture and language across the state, with Aboriginal language names to be used for all 14 new government schools set to open their doors next year.
For the first time, the 2024 new school naming process consulted on a short-list of Aboriginal language names, receiving more than 7,000 submissions.
For more information, a full list of the translation of the Indigenous school names can be found on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
VIC | GOV | CALLING | Eyes On The Prize – Students To Share In Anzac Spirit | entries close 5pm AEST Wednesday 6 September 2023
Secondary school students in Victoria will be given an opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the Anzac legacy and Australia’s connection to Türkiye with the 2023 Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize competition.
Today, Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman announced the opening of the prize - an annual award program for Victorian students in Years 9 to 12.
Supported by the Andrews Labor Government, this year’s Prize is a celebration of Türkiye’s Centenary of Independence and the significant ties between Australia and Türkiye.
Ten students will be selected to embark on an unforgettable journey to battlefields and commemorative sites in Türkiye, retracing the experience of Australian men and women at war on the Gallipoli Peninsula and surrounds and learning about the making of the Anzac legend.
The Spirit of Anzac Prize also offers students the opportunity to participate in a unique educational program that fosters understanding and appreciation for our nation's Anzac spirit.
By entering the competition, students can convey their interpretation of the Anzac spirit via written, creative, or digital formats.
Students are encouraged to seize this opportunity to explore the Anzac legacy and strengthen their connections to Australia’s veteran community.
Family Violence
VIC | GOV | SUPPORTING | Community-Led Family Violence Programs
The Victorian Government is supporting multicultural and faith organisations with extended funding to prevent family violence using innovative approaches across the state.
23 multicultural and faith organisations will share in $1.61 million to continue programs under the Supporting Multicultural and Faith Communities to Prevent Family Violence Grants Program.
Organisations will be able to build on existing community projects which address the gendered drivers of violence by challenging harmful gender stereotypes and strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.
The funding will strengthen community-led approaches to prevent family violence and violence against women, including engaging with men and boys, and faith and community leaders to create positive change.
Health and Wellbeing
AUST | NARI | SUPPORTING | Carers of people with dementia in CALD communities
The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) are looking for dementia family carers, professional care workers and health care professionals to participate in a user testing study for the e-DiVA Virtual Assistant research project.
This will be a great tool to support carers of people with dementia, especially those from Vietnamese and Indonesian communities.
Justice and Community Safety
AUST | GOV | GRANTING | Improved security at faith-based settings so communities can be free from harassment
The Securing Faith-Based Places program is a grant opportunity is to support religious schools, pre-schools, places of worship and faith-based community centres to reduce the risk of crime and violence motivated by religious or racial intolerance.
Successful applicants will benefit from up to $500,000 that can go towards the installation or upgrade of security infrastructure and/or the engagement of security guards for their site.
MORE:
Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
Address: Level 3, 1 Macarthur Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9651 5901
