Cultural Diversity Week (CDW) – Victoria’s premiere, annual, statewide celebration of diversity and community – is now in full swing.
Proudly presented by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the week-long program of events and activities provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and embrace the rich diversity which defines and animates our state.
I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone involved – from those who have organised events to those who are helping spread the word or share their respective stories through our user-generated, digital campaign.
If you are yet to share your story, please feel free to do so.
Find more information – and don’t forget to tag the VMC!
CELEBRATING | Our community voices
For inspiration, check out some existing digital posts: video messages shared by government departments, VMC Commissioners and community leaders; stories that highlight the importance of multiculturalism and the power of diversity. Standout contributions include:
We encourage you to watch, share, and join the conversation by sharing your own story. Your voice matters!
A highlight was the incredible CDW staff forum. It was truly inspiring to witness leadership across major Victorian government departments, actively embracing cultural diversity and championing the work of their staff networks. Victorian government departments including Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) CALD Network, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Multicultural Network and Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) and People of Colour Network (PoCN) came together to host this forum to hear from their diversity champions. Departmental Secretaries and CEOs were also in attendance.
It gave me great pride and optimism to see the visibility of the leadership across major government departments. These departments are actively embracing diversity, supporting diverse workforces and serving diverse communities.
CELEBRATING | Victorian Multicultural Festival, 21-23 March 2025
Cultural Diversity Week 2025 culminates this year – this weekend – with the Victorian Multicultural Festival at Grazeland, Spotswood. I invite you to take part in this vibrant celebration of culture, community and unity at the foodies’ playground that is Grazeland. The weekend festivities will include a diverse program of entertainment and activities, for people of all ages. There will be activations, too, courtesy of our much-valued sponsors and partners.
REFLECTING | International Women’s Day
This year’s
International Women’s Day celebrations were a testament to the strength, resilience and leadership of women across Victoria. I had the privilege of attending the
Silent Heroes event, with VMC Commissioners
Silvia Renda and
Krushnadevsinh (Kano) Ravalji . The event, held at South Library, Parliament of Victoria, focused on family violence awareness, the unsung contributions of women, and included a discussion that reinforced the importance of continued advocacy and action. Additionally, I had the honour of participating in several IWD events, including:
- Rotary International Women’s Day Function, where I had the opportunity to speak about the importance of gender equality and the vital role of community in driving change
- Alfred Health International Women’s Day Event, where I was joined by former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon in a panel discussion moderated by Patricia Karvelas from the ABC. Together, we explored challenges and opportunities, and the important role of mentoring women in leadership.
While these events showcased the achievements of women, they also served as a powerful reminder that there is much more work to be done to ensure true equality and representation.
Thank you for your ongoing support. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events and continuing these important conversations.
Warm regards,
Viv Nguyen, Chairperson
News and Events
VIC | VMC | HOSTING | Victorian Multicultural Festival - This weekend | Friday 21–Sunday 23 March 2025
Join us for the Victorian Multicultural Festival 2025, the flagship event of Cultural Diversity Week, happening 21–23 March 2025 at Grazeland, Spotswood. Expect delicious food, live entertainment and cultural experiences in a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.
VIC | PTV | LAUNCHING | New Passenger Safety campaign - Department of Transport and Planning
A new Passenger Safety campaign by
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) will roll out across Victoria’s public transport network from Monday, 17 March 2025, as part of a long-term strategy to improve safety and encourage reporting of unwanted sexual and anti-social behaviours.
The campaign aims to educate public transport users on what constitutes inappropriate behaviour while empowering vulnerable communities — including women, girls, LGBTIQA+, and multicultural passengers — as well as bystanders to report incidents to Victoria Police’s STOPIT service.
Designed to enhance perceptions of safety across the network, the campaign will appear across out-of-home placements on and around public transport, as well as on digital, social media, search, and regional press. It will also include targeted audio advertising on CALD and LGBTIQA+ radio, digital radio, and podcasts.
In alignment with STOPIT service in-language materials, multicultural campaign assets have been developed in Arabic, Dari, Karen, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
VIC | TAC | REDUCING | Road Fatigue campaign
The
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) developed a public education campaign in 2024 with the aim to highlight the risk associated with fatigue to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
As part of the Victorian Government Road Safety Action Plan Two, delivery of this campaign will focus on the key area of ‘Ensure all Victorians are safe and feel safe on and around our roads.’ with the aim of ‘keeping us on a pathway to halving deaths and reducing serious injuries by 2030’.
The campaign will serve as a reminder on the amount of sleep a person requires before getting behind the wheel to keep safe on the roads.
The TAC has a dedicated section on the website for multicultural audiences to share information about this important road safety issue.
AUST | STEMSIS | CALLING | Nominees for 2025 STEM Sisters Ambassador Program | applications close 22 April 2025
A prestigious program is designed to empower and support Women of Colour (WOC) in STEM by providing unique opportunities for leadership, professional development, and advocacy.
The
STEM Sisters (STEMSIS)
2025 Ambassador Program is now open for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for WOC in VIC, NSW, and SA!
As an ambassador, you’ll play a crucial role in driving diversity and inclusion, serving as a role model and mentor to the next generation of women in STEM.
Why Join?
The STEM Sisters Ambassador Program has a proven track record of success! Many of our ambassadors have thrived in their careers, securing leadership roles, scholarships, and industry opportunities.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for passionate and dedicated Women of Colour in STEM who are:
- Active in the STEM community
- Committed to advocating for diversity & inclusion
- Ready to inspire and lead by example
Become part of this transformative journey!
AUST | LALO | SEEKING | Language Superheros?
Are you passionate about languages? Do you have the dedication and drive to use your language skills to make a lasting impact?
If so,
LanguageLoop is the place where you can turn your words into possibilities. A Victorian Government Business Enterprise with 50 years of experience. We provide services nationwide with a focus on community interpreting and translations. Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to essential services and information, regardless of the language.
We want you! We are currently seeking talented bilingual and multilingual individuals, who are ready to join our team and contribute to our mission of breaking down language barriers in the community.
Languages We Need
We are looking for speakers of the following languages:
Acholi, Afar, Afrikaans, Anuak, Armenian, Bari, Bislama, Chin (Falam), Chin (Hakha), Chin (Kuki), Chin (Lautu), Chin (Mara), Chin (Matu), Chin (Mizo), Chin (Tedim), Chin (Thado), Chin (Zo), Chin (Zomi), Chin (Zotung), Dari, Dinka, Dutch, Fiji Hindi, Fijian, Filipino, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Indonesian, Karen (Pwo), Karen (S’gaw), Karenni/Kayah, Khmer, Kinyarwanda, Kiribati, Kirundi, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Kurdish (Sorani), Laotian, Macedonian, Malay, Maori (Cook Island), Maori (NZ), Nepali, Oromo, Portuguese, Punjabi, Samoan, Solomon Islands Pidgin, Spanish, Swahili, Telugu, Tetum, Tibetan, Tok Pisin, Tongan, Ukrainian, Uzbek.
Why Join LanguageLoop?
- Impactful Work: Use your language skills to help people communicate effectively and access essential services.
- Diverse Opportunities: We need speakers of a wide range of languages.
- Supportive Community: Join a team of like-minded individuals who are passionate about languages and making a difference.
- Access to Development: You’ll gain access to our exclusive training and development opportunities.
- Treated with Respect: Our language professionals consistently report feeling valued and respected by our professional team.
How to Apply:
Interested? We hope you will join us and be a part of a growing community that values your skills and dedication. Apply now by emailing: apply@languageloop.com.au or apply below.
